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pulls out an orange piece and holds it up between his thumb and forefinger. “Oh, like this?” “Yes, like that.” He tosses it up in the air, leans his head back, centers himself, and catches the candy in his waiting mouth like an overgrown child playing with his food. He stares at me as he chews a few times and nods. “Oh yeah. The orange ones are good.” For a moment, I watch his throat work as he swallows. I swallow, too. Then I mouth dick in his direction, and all it does is make him throw his head back and laugh. The most full, carefree laugh I’ve ever heard. In a world that’s so manufactured,
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“You look fine.” “I do not look fine.”
“Okay, you look fabulous.”
If you ask me, she looks downright beautiful.
“I have yet to meet a single person in the world who doesn’t look fabulous in a Sparkly Turquoise Unicorns hat,”
“Newsflash—people are going to say it whether or not you read it.”
“And you looking doesn’t make it any truer.
“Real good, Doris. How about you?” “Knees are sore. Otherwise, can’t complain. Got a roof over my head, food in my belly, and a husband with a big dick.” Skylar makes a shocked choking noise from across the table right as I bark out a laugh. Good ol’ Doris. She never misses.
So help me, Weston, if I catch you shotgunning these cans out here…” “Doris, my shotgunning days are over.” The woman hits me with a droll look and my head tips from side to side. “Mostly.”
Skylar’s mouth opens like she’s going to say something, but she closes it. Then again. Open. And closed. “Cat got your tongue, fancy face?”
“I need to channel her energy. Find my inner Doris.” “Okay, well, you’ve got a roof over your head at the bunkhouse. I’m about to buy you a plate of wings. And I have a big dick, but I can’t marry you.”
“First, I am scandalized by that question. Second, I don’t like to talk about it because then people start asking to see it and shit just gets weird.”
“Oh, do you not usually show your friends your dick?” I bite down on my inner cheek and clench my biceps. “I have many friends. Of many sorts. I’m a friendly guy.” She quirks an eyebrow at me. “Spit it out, fancy face. Ask away.”
Her gaze moves from my hand clasped around my arm up to my face, and her attention stops me in my tracks for a moment. Fuck, she’s pretty.
“And there was nothing stupid about that kiss. In fact—” “Oh lordy, dropping and running. Pretend I was never here,” Doris grumbles as she sets our drinks on the table and bolts.
swelling.” With his opposite hand, he nudges the other can in my direction. “One for each side. Sips of chardonnay in between. Doctor’s orders.”
I think if you’re going to be in a solid relationship with someone, you need to be friends on some level. Like…enjoy each other’s company. You know? My parents are so solid that way. They bicker with each other, but at the end of the day, there’s no one they’d rather bicker with. Ford and Rosie are the same. Those two were peas in a pod before they even realized they were in the same pod.” That makes me smile. I could see their connection, and I barely know them.
bet you’re wondering how I could be so gullible.” “That’s not what I’m wondering.”
That part I remember quite clearly. But West crouched before me, hands gently cupping my elbows, tattoos on display, looks a lot more intimate than I remember.
I can hear him saying, “Breathe through your mouth, Sky,” and feel his thumb rubbing soothing circles on the inside of my arm.
“Sky.” With that one word, West reaches across the table and takes my hand in his. He catches my eye as he squeezes and releases in a slow and steady rhythm. Slow and steady. That’s what this man represents. No chaos. No panic. He soothes me. “It’s okay. Here.”
“I’m starting to understand why Britney shaved her head,” I blurt out in a tearful voice. “Being treated like you’re just an object for people to behold is fucking demoralizing.”
West makes a deep, growling noise. It rumbles in his broad chest and vibrates through his hand where he’s still gripping mine. He swipes the phone from my limp hand in one smooth movement and tosses it out into the inky expanse beside us.
“No, Skylar. How dare anyone—anyone at all—make you feel like an object. That man has failed you at every turn. He calls himself a father? He’s supposed to love you.”
“No. But I like you.” He emphasizes the word and points across the table at me. “I might like you more than you like yourself. Like you enough to tell it like it is.”
“Fuck. You.” He doesn’t even flinch. He just studies me. “That’s better.”
“What’s better?”
“Your eyes. This is the first time they don’t look sad. Or blank. Or fake. You look like you’re ready to light me on fire...
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“No, fancy face. Those”—he points at my face, finger flicking from side to side—“are wild eyes. The eyes of a woman who just chose fight over flight. Don’t smother that. Keep ‘em and you’ll come out on top. Trust me.”
“You’re buying me a new phone,” I hiss through gritted teeth. “One week.” “Come again?” “One week with no phone.” He gestures his chin at me and smirks this obnoxious, self-satisfied smirk. “I dare you.”
“Fuck you.” I let the f-bombs fly, each one releasing a weight from my shoulders as it sails from my lips. His full mouth twists in a wry smirk. “Yeah, you’ve mentioned that.”
“It’s a safety issue.” “So long as you don’t try to pet a wolf next, you should be fine.”
“I don’t know you at all, but it feels like I do.”
“Hey, can you send me Skylar’s email?” Ford’s gruff voice filters back through my receiver. “Why? Doesn’t she live within spitting distance of you? Ask her yourself.” “I want it to be a surprise.” “This may come as a shock to you, but women don’t actually like surprise dick pics.” “Get outta here. I have never sent a dick pic in my life.”
It’s coming from the bunkhouse, and I break into a sprint down the gentle slope toward Skylar.
“It’s what?” “It’s…nothing.” I take a few steps toward her, propping my hands on my hips and giving her my best you have to be fucking kidding me look that I practice on Emmy all the time. “Nothing?”
“I made a promise. I do have some integrity, you know.”
“Stop assuming I’m always thinking the worst of you. I’m not—”
“His name is Scotty. He just surprised me. Pretend you don’t know about him. If you set a trap, I will never forgive you.” “You and my sister want me to pretend I don’t know there is a mouse named Scotty living in my bunkhouse?”
“Yes. I like her, and I won’t let you kill her mouse. Walk away and pretend this never happened.”
“Erase it from your mind, West.” “Yeah? Just erase it?” “Yes.” “Like the kiss?”
“That’s how we’re gonna play this, fancy face?”
“Where are you expecting me to sleep? The barn?” I shrug. “Won’t stop ya if that’s what tickles your fancy.
“What about not wanting anyone around your kids?” “My kids aren’t here this week.” “And next week?” I toss her a wink. “Maybe Scotty will be dead by then.”
It’s right when I get to the door that Cherry pipes up with her filthy little beak. “Fuck Coach Thick Thighs!” I pause before turning back to Skylar, who is struggling to keep her face blank. “You were talking to your bird about me?”
Instead, I leave smiling. And later, when I see her walking through the barn doors, I smile even bigger.
but the minute I walked to the barn and he smiled at me, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.
He wanted me to feel better for me, not for him. He wanted me safe under his roof, but he didn’t force my hand. He let me make my own decision. And that was refreshing.
I’ve known this man for two days and I’m instantly jealous. It’s ridiculous.
BREAKING NEWS: Small town jerk is sorry for throwing Skylar Stone’s phone in the lake. I snort. That’s all it says. I consider writing him back but realize I don’t know what to say. Instead, I just grin at the screen, basking in the glow of the world’s most adorable apology.
