Page 53 of The Troublemaker

Maybe in a way he hadn’t fully noticed before. Because he had endeavored to make her wholly nonsexual. So it was really something to realize that she was so in tune with her body. With smells and tastes...

“I expect that by next week Byron will be the one assisting you on calls like this.” He said that as a reminder to himself as much as anything.

“Remember,” she said. “I said I didn’t need assistance. I just like it today. I like that you’re driving.”

“I was just observing. We probably won’t see each other much when he’s around.”

“I don’t see why not. I’d like it if you got to know him a little better. He’s a good guy, Lachlan.”

That rankled. “I’m sure he is.”

“You don’t sound overly certain.”

“No. I’m certain.” He just didn’t care. It didn’t fundamentally change the way that he felt about the guy, or about her attachment to him, or any of that. That was all. He could be as charming as could be. Hell, he could be the Pope. Well, except he couldn’t be the Pope, because then he couldn’t be married to Charity.

He would prefer that.

Right.So what is it you want exactly?

He didn’t want to answer that question; that was for damn sure.

They drove through the little town of Copper Ridge, then continued on down the coastline, out a ways to the seaside equine facility called Windemere.

It had a pretty damned uppity-looking sign—in his opinion. Clearly people who were hugely impressed with themselves. But he had to admit that it was awfully pretty. Rolling green lawns and a view of the ocean. Pristine white stables and a matching house with green corrugated metal roofs.

“You’re just doing...”

“The horsey equivalent of yearly physicals. They have about twenty animals. It’s an all-day job.”

He got a full appreciation for the physicality of her work that day. She attacked it all with ferocity, even feeling not all that great.

He could tell that she was still kind of low ebb, even though she had rebounded a bit.

By the time they finished up, it was nearly dark.

“You want to stop and get some food?”

“That’s okay.” But then he heard her stomach growl.

“Come on. We’ll stop in Copper Ridge.”

“I’m really all right.”

“Why are you being ridiculous?”

“Because I’m okay. You keep fussing over me like a hen, and I don’t need you to fuss over me. We’re friends, Lachlan. You’re not my father. You’re not my fiancé.”

He gritted his teeth. “I’m aware. But that doesn’t mean... You know what. I’m hungry. I’m stopping somewhere, and if you don’t want to eat, you can sit in the truck and pout about it.”

She practically hissed, the wretched creature. How had they gone from not having a fight ever to things being this touchy between them? He didn’t know.

Or maybe he did, and he didn’t want to identify it.

They decided to stop over at the little crab shack on the beach that served hot crab sandwiches with lemon on the side. It was right next to a little stand that served fish and chips.

The crab was on cheap white bread that didn’t really need to be there, but it was all good in his estimation. Charity angrily tucked into hers, her expression while eating fresh seafood so fiercely angry that it was almost hilarious.

“Smile, Charity. We’re sitting by the fucking ocean.”

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