“We’re in our thirties. That’s fucked up.”
“What’s fucked up is that we’re alone for the first time in weeks, and you’re fully dressed still.”
Despite her expensive-looking trousers and shoes that don’t belong on a ranch, she sits down on the grass and squints in the sun. “Well, get back to work, and maybe watching you pull wrenches will be sexy enough I won’t be able to stay dressed for long.”
“You’re a weirdo.”
“So I’ve been told. Anyway, how is this different from you watching me in my office? Go back to work now.” Her hand flaps to shoo me away. “Turn the wrench, or change the thing, or whatever it is you’re doing.”
“Yes, boss.” I duck under the bumper, skidding across the cardboard laid over rocky ground. “Let me just turn the wrench and change the thing.”
“Good boy,” she coos.
“If I get a hard-on while changing the oil, I’ll never be able to live it down.”
Her laugh reverberates through the chassis overhead, and I steal glances from under the truck as a steady stream of engine oil flows out into a bucket.Fuck,she’s gorgeous. Leaned back on her hands in the grass, more freckles than stars in the galaxy, and the tiny natural uptick on the right side of her mouth.
It’s always been her for me. I just need to prove I’m still the one for her.
When I climb out from under the truck, I wipe my clean-ishforearm against my sweat-soaked forehead. And Blair, my perfect weirdo, eye-fucks the shit out of me.
“As fun as it’s been to watch you with that backwards hat, covered in dirt and grease, duty calls. I have to head to theclinic to meet with a patient, then go pick up Jonas because Whit’s convinced he’s going to cause trouble if he sits around alone all summer. Plus, I need to work out….” Her nose crinkles, and if she didn’t look quite so concentrated, I’d offer up that riding me could count as exercise. “Oh, and make dinner because Dad’s working late.ThenI promised Mom I’d do puzzles with her tonight. If I skip it, this will be the one time she remembers that I told her I’d do something.”
“And then, and then, and then…” I roll my eyes playfully. “And then, when you’re ready for bed, you’re going to text me so I know it’s a safe time to sneak in your window.”
She salutes. “Yes, sir. I’ll add it to the to-do list for the day—fingers crossed I remember it all.”
“You’re the only thing on my to-do list, so I’ll send you a reminder. Or thirty. Probably in the form of nudes.”
“Nudes and cat memes, if our text history is any indication.”
Her phone beeps from within her purse, and she grimaces when she looks at the screen, her pretty shoe tapping on the gravel driveway. “Fuck.I knew I was forgetting something.Shit.”
“What’s up?”
“It’s Dad—I totally forgot to pick up Mom’s prescription before I came out here this morning.Fuck.Now I’ll have to find the time….” As she stares off toward a tree line beyond the closest hayfield, I swear I can see the gears turning in her brain.
“Does she need it right away?” I ask. “If not, I can grab it when I’m done here. Bring it over tonight.”
She shakes her head no. “Well…she doesn’t need it until tomorrow, but fuck, I can’t believe I forgot—yes, I can. I forget everything.”
“Hey.” I interrupt her runaway train of words. “I’ll pick it up.”
“You will?” She bends down, letting her pristine, painted fingers dance across my filthy jawline.
“Of course.”
“Thank you,” she whispers against my lips before planting one last kiss.
Blair turns to walk away and I lean back against the bumper, watching her practically skip across the grass, with dark hair bouncing over her shoulders. Opening the car door, she turns to look in my direction, and her fingers leave the metal door edge in a half wave before she slips inside and drives off.
The dust hasn’t settled from her leaving, and I’m picking up the phone to call her dad. I might not be able to lessen the pain of giving up her life to move here, or the devastation that comes with knowing your mom is dying, but I can pick up prescriptions and help with her nephew. I can check a box on her to-do list. It’s not enough, but it’s what I have to give. So I make polite small talk with Frank Hart, wrap up the phone call by asking for his younger daughter’s phone number, then clear my plan with Blair’s sister, Whit.
Denny:Need you to go pick something up for me
Colt:Right now? What is it?
Denny:A 10-year-old up in Wells Canyon. Bring him to the ranch and give him some chores to do.
