While Logan showers, I call George and ask him to take my shift.
Once Logan’s ready to leave, we go beg his brothers to cover his chores for the day. They’re resistant, but all it takes is a reminder of how Logan worked the last three New Year’s days, one for each of his three brothers, and they all agree to pitch in.
And then, we’re free. Just Logan and me, hanging out for the day.
Nothing to do for anybody else? I don’t know what that feels like.
I glance at Logan, who’s studying my face.
“This is weird,” I admit. “I kind of have no clue what to do now.”
He wraps his arm around my shoulders and leads me into his tiny, but private, backyard.
His grassy yard is directly behind his cottage, and the view of the Wilds’ expansive ranch land spreads out before us.
“You’ve still got some!” I point to the colored flowers dotting Logan’s lawn.
At this time of year, the wildflowers are usually all gone, but where it’s shady, sometimes you can find a few.
Logan bends down and plucks a couple of pretty blue wildflowers from the ground. Without warning, he tucks them into my hair just behind my ear.
“How do I look?”
“Gorgeous. Like always.”
I smile, knowing he just made me blush. “You’re a charmer, Mr. Wild.”
We sit down next to each other on the wooden porch swing, and Logan’s arm automatically goes across the back of the swing. I lean back so my hair’s touching his forearm, and he plays with the ends of my hair as we rock back and forth.
We’re joking about how long it will take the guys to clean out the stalls this morning when Reid rides through the closest field.
“This is what you gave up work for?” he calls out from atop his horse.
“You wouldn’t understand, dumbass,” Logan calls back. “And those stalls aren’t going to clean themselves, you know.”
Reid turns to leave but, with an irritating grin, throws over his shoulder, “You two are like an old married couple.”
“Hey!” I shout at him. “We are not!”
Reid laughs. “It’s just a figure of speech. Did I touch a nerve?”
And he’s gone. He’s always known how to poke at Logan and me.
I roll my eyes. “Your brother.”
“You don’t have to tell me.”
“Do he and Maren have anything going on between them?” I ask him.
“Your little sister’s best friend?” He furrows his brow. “Not that I know of. Why?”
I tell him how pissed off she seemed during the Derby. “She didnotwant someone else getting a date with Reid. That was clear.”
“But Reid’s dating Daisy. Or screwing her. Maybe Maren doesn’t know that, though.”
“Or maybe she doesn’t find Daisy to be a threat because she knows that woman doesn’t want something serious.”
“So, you think if Reid started to date someone for real, Maren would be bothered?” Logan tugs gently at the ends of my hair. “She’s a cute girl. But she’s too young for Reid.”
