Dee takes it with a grateful smile. “Dad always told us to do a job right the first time or not at all.” She gets to work applying the sealant before giving the nut one last tighten and shifting back to look at it.
My eyes land on a smudge of grease on her cheek and without thinking, I’m already stepping forward and lifting my hand to wipe it off before I realize what I’m doing. I stop, thumb poised an inch from her face. "You've got a bit of muck on ‘ya. May I?"
She nods, her breath catching as I swipe my fingertip across the apple of her cheek, my gaze glued to her skin as I slowly remove the smudge. A soft muted gasp escapes her before she clamps her lips shut, big brown eyes jumping to mine as awareness rolls over me like a squall that hits without warning and a bite of static electricity snaps where we touch. Not for the first time, I start to wonder if she can feel this energy arcing between us too.
"Did you–?"
She steps back, gaze widening as she lifts her hand up to rub over her cheek. Without thinking, I move to cup her shoulder but before I make contact she moves out of reach, laughing it off.
"Must have built up some good ol' magnetic energy with all this work we've been doin'," she rushes out with a rasp. "Bet it’s frommy jeans rubbin’ together. Anyway, maybe it’s time for a lunch break? What do you say, bossman?" she asks, stepping back and changing the subject.
I nod, trying to shake off the feeling that still has my entire body buzzing. “Sounds good," I reply, my voice a bit hoarse. I grab my water bottle and chug a few mouthfuls, desperately needing to do something to stop me from blurting out our destiny right then and there.
Following behind her as we make our way to the shade under a large Spruce tree, my thoughts are racing.
When Cora said to go slow and steady, she meant for me not to dive in head first like I always said I’d do. I need to put in the time so that she can get to know me and vice versa. No dumping crazy mountain prophesies in her lap and freaking her out.
It still doesn't stop me from wondering what she'd say if I just told her the truth right here and now; that she's my soulmate and that we're destined to be together.
That's going to have to wait though. How long I can hold back, that’s something even I don’t know. I guess we’ll see.
7
DEE
“Toby!” I scream from the shower stall. I have the curtain wrapped around me as Itryto protect my dignity or what little I have left of it thanks to a cross-eyed, one-legged duck that’s standing on top of the bathroom vanity just staring at me.
Now look, I may pride myself on being a strong, independent woman who can drive a Gator, use a wrench, and wield a shovel with ease. But when you’re in your own little world, rinsing off the work day and step out for a towel, only to come face-to-face with who I can only assume is the kleptomaniac menace of a duck that everyone warned me about, I’m going to scream.
It’s Friday night and after a long first week of working at the ranch, Red and the rest of the family announced that they were taking me into town for dinner at the Loaded Hog Diner, followed by drinks at Spring Haven’s only bar, The Secret Cow Saloon.
Thatwasthe plan before a dastardlyduckdecided to surprise the heck out of me. There I am, standing there wringing wet and wide-eyed as I stare at the carefree bird, crossing my fingers thathe won’t realize there’s a towel, clothes,andmy watch he could steal.
I’m wracking my brain for an escape plan when Toby bursts in, eyes wild and chest heaving as he looks first at me before his gaze lands on the troublesome duck.
That’s when he doesn’t the unthinkable, andgrinsat me. "Well, Skippy.Nowdo you believe me?"
"About the duck? Hell yes. But can we talk about that at dinner and drinks,afteryou get him out of here because right now, I’m not exactlydressedfor a conversationandan animal standoff.”
Toby arches a single brow. “You askin’ me out, skippy?”
“What?” I splutter, already shaking my head.
“You just said we’d talk about this at dinner and drinks. That sounds like a date.”
I stare at him, wondering whether I’m having an out-of-body moment or if he’s screwing with me. “It’s not a–ugh. No! Imeant, could you help get him out of here so I can get ready?”
He studies me for a second and I have no shame in admitting that I’m not above using my womanly charms to get him to help me. shoot him a desperate, pleading look. Thankfully it works because he takes pity on me. "Sure thing, Skippy. Lesson number one when dealin’ with DN is to lull him into a false sense of security,” he says with a chuckle. “Ain’t that right, duck?”
“You expect me to be nice to him? I don’t even know how long he’s been standin’ there lookin’?" I say, not at all ashamed of my girlish shriek. Iamnaked in a room with a duckandone of the ranch owners. Not a situation I ever imagined being in before.
“Quack!” the animal replies and for the second time in as many minutes, I’m wondering if I’m dreaming because I swear the duck is talking to him.
“Did he just…”
“Sure did. Duck Norris ain’t dumb. He’s actually quite smart, he explains.
“Smart enough to walk through walls and watch a woman showerin’, you mean.”
