I scrunch my brows. “No… why?”
“You seem to know a lot about prepper bunkers.” I almost think he’s really concerned until I catch the quirk of his lips.
I nudge him playfully and pull him forward so we’re walking again. “And he thinks he wouldn’t have had a chance with me. Jeez,” I mutter.
Sutton splutters out a laugh. “What was that?”
“Nothing.”
“Sounded like somethin’,” he says, his eyes dancing before slowly drifting down to my tipped-up mouth. A slow-burning heat grows inside of me the longer he does it and I force myself to look away before I do something crazy like launch myself at the man.What exactlyisin this mountain air? I’d never do that back home.
I hear the faint bray of Grumps sound in the distance followed by Sutton’s relieved sigh. “At least we know we won’t be havin’ any jackass-related happenings today.”
“Are you doubting his ability to move around the ranch at speed?”
“There is nothin’ that animal could do that would surprise me.” He scoffs. “Literally nothin’.”
Sutton leads me forward and a few moments later after walking around the Zen Garden trees—still open on one side thanks to said donkey—we come to a stop in front of a big green bush.
I shoot him a skeptical look. “You sure you know where it is, doctor?”
His eyes crinkle as he lifts his hand and taps my nose with the tip of his finger. “Ye of little faith.”
“Ye of little information,” I shoot back
“Before we go in, I want to warn you. It’s a littlerusticdown there.”
I tilt my head. “Is that a code word for messy, run down, smelly, dirty, or all of the above?”
“You reallydowant to see this, don’t you?” he says, surprise and wonder written all over his face.
“Well duh. Though, I’ll let you in on a little secret. It’s just an excuse to spend more time with a certain doctor I’ve met.”
“Hmm,” he says, his gaze roaming my face. “I’ve heard he wants to spend time with you too.”
I lean in close and drop my voice to a scheming whisper. “Isn’t it lucky we’re here then.” I straighten. “But you should know by now to never keep a woman waiting. Tell me, whereisthis secret bunker?”
A slow growing smile transforms his face, amusement covering his features. “OK. OK.”
He leads me around the foliage and I gasp as two thick wooden doors seemingly appear out of nowhere in themiddleof the trees. Somehow, instead of seeing trunks there’s the entry to a prepper bunker.
I stop and tug on his hand. “Are you sure there isn’t something you neglected to tell me, doctor?”
His brows adorably scrunch together to form two lines I itch to smooth out. What I don’t understand is why he’s whole body has gone as stiff as a board for some reason. “Huh?”
“Are you Batman?” I whisper conspiratorially.
A snort escapes him as he visibly relaxes. “Not likely.”
“Hmm. Then again, that’s what superheroesalwayssay. Don’t worry,” I reply with a wink. “Your secret’s safe with me, Sutton Cooper.”
“You sure have an active imagination, gorgeous.” The endearment must’ve just slipped out and caught him by surprise judging by the way his eyes bug out.
“Hey,” I say, squeezing our joined hands. “It’s OK. I like it. No one has ever called me that before.”
“Really?”
I shake my head. “I’m Little Blair to my family, I’m Blair Bear to Uncle George, and B to my best friends. I like that you’ve got something that’s just yours and mine.”
