“Mm.” She mumbles and rubs at the back of her neck, looking away. I work hard. Long days spent on this ranch has hardened my body, forced it to be stronger, and it shows. “Feels wrong not to swim.”
“You’re not heading out to the falls?”
She shakes her head. “I need to get to the bar and get it cleaned for today’s shift. Maybe I’ll go later.”
“Okay.” I lift my hat from my head to wipe at the sweat on my brow, stifling my smirk when I see her eyes roam over the muscles on my arms. She tugs her lip between her teeth and then shakes her head, clearing her throat, but when she lingers a little longer, I know she has more to say.
“What is it?” I press.
“We need to come up with a story.” Blue eyes meet mine. “Telling people we were dating in secret isn’t really believable when that’s all we’ve got. I don’t like lying, but I think we need something more.”
I nod in agreement. “Alright.”
“Maybe we met at the bar or something? You asked me out, and it went from there.”
“I’ll say whatever you want me to say, Niamh,” I assure her, “And whatever makes you comfortable.”
“Okay,” She offers a small smile.
“Was someone bothering you last night?” I ask the question that’s been at the back of my head since she kneed me in the balls. As if remembering herself, she winces, her eyes dropping to my crotch.
I clear my throat and have to suppress my amusement when her cheeks turn pink. Fuck me, she blushes so pretty.
“Nothing I haven’t dealt with before,” She wets her lips, “I had it under control.”
I don’t like it. Not one fucking bit.
“I’ve got to get going; do you mind giving me a lift into town? We left my truck there.”
“Sure,” I answer, “Just give me a minute.”
She nods and makes her way to wait by the ranger while I locate my shirt and tug it over my head, pulling my keys from the back pocket of my jeans.
“The vet called this morning,” She says once we’re in the car and driving down the long drive out of the ranch. “The kitten is doing well. It was just parasites, so she started her on treatment, but her weight is a concern, asked what my plan was once she’s released.”
I already know where this is headed, but I let her continue anyway.
“So,” She fidgets in the passenger seat, “We have a cat now. I’ve named her Pumpkin.”
“We have a cat,” I chuckle. “Should have seen it coming.”
“Are you mad?” She turns to me fully now, and I swear her eyes are bigger, and she’s pushing out her bottom lip. She flutters her lashes and tilts her head, “Don’t be mad.”
I shake my head. If I had had any objection to keeping the kitten, then that look alone would have had me agreeing immediately. “I’m not mad. You can keep the cat.”
“Wait, really?”
I shrug, “Why not?”
“Well, okay then,” She deflates. “I thought that was going to be a fight.”
“I’m not a monster, Niamh.”
I turn the corner onto Main, and the bar comes into view, but there’s something very,verywrong. Glass is scattered across the road, and Niamh’s truck looks like it went head-to-head with a tree and lost.
“Shit,” I hiss, but Niamh’s already seen it.
“Is that my truck!?” She yells.
