“When was the last time you took the day off?”
I open my mouth to remind him of taking my father to his latest rehab stint.
“Not for your daddy.”
“Well…” I think. “Mama needed my help with Free last month when she…”
“For you, Mace.” He narrows his eyes. “A day just for you.”
I look down at the dash. “I don’t know. It’s been a long time.”
“Exactly why we need to change that. Right now.” He turns off the truck and faces me. “You and me. All day. Starting…” He looks at the nonexistent watch on his bare wrist. “Now.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re not wearing a watch, Logan.”
“I know. And neither are you. We’re not keeping time today. We’re going to do whatever the heck we want. What do you say?”
I think for about a second. “Yes,” I say, smiling at him. “Sounds perfect.”
His eyes light up, and I know I’ve surprised him. “Cool. Let’s go.”
We exit the truck, and he comes around to the sidewalk to meet me. He sticks his hands in his pants pockets and extends his elbow. I take it.
“First stop?” I say. “My duplex so I can change.”
I shower and change into a pair of cut-offs and a purple tank top with the word Relax written on it, and then we walk to Logan’s.
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.
