“It’s not a flock. It’s a muster. Or an ostentation.”
Told you. Stupid English language.
She prods me to explain. “You seriously threatened him with fake charges?”
“Only because I had no other choice.” After opening the bag, I swipe a handful of seeds. “They’re considered nuisance animals. Nuts, right?”
“Those are seeds, not nuts.” She snort-laughs at her joke. “To be fair, they’re loud as all get-out. They leave poop everywhere. And if one of the males sees his reflection in the chrome on your bike, it’s gonna turn ugly fast.”
“You’re really selling me on this farm, you know that?”
With fluttering eyelashes and moon eyes, she holds my gaze while grabbing her own handful of seeds. “You already placed your bet and played your cards, dimples. You can’t fold now.”
“No, but I can use this brand new information about poop and bike damage to my advantage.”
Standing brusquely, she edges a few feet into the midst of our ostentatious muster and flutters the sunflower seeds around her feet. “What’s your play?”
Mirroring her movements, I scatter the seeds in the general vicinity of my nuisances. “Lifetime of sexual favors.”
Her face turns intentionally derpy. “Boo hoo. That’ll teach me.”
I’m a breath away from delivering the perfect retort when we’re interrupted by a showy asshole in a cowboy hat.
On a motherfucking horse.
The peacocks scatter in a huffy race to safety, and Lila dashes to my side.
Nobody said shit about a horse. That sounds really fucking expensive and far more involved than Lila’s birds.
My arms fling to the sides. “What thehellis this, Luke?”
“It’s a horse,” he deadpans.
I roll my eyes and cross my arms.
“Don’t mind me, rook. Just gonna give your property a quick looksee. Get a feel for the land.”
“Where’s Jonesy? That thing better not be staying here.”
“Shoot, you think he’d let you keep an animal this majestic?” He scratches the horse by the mane, cooing at it. “You’re too good for Hayes, ain’t ya, Brutus.”
Lila’s shoulders sag. “Oh, thank cripe. I thought that was another surprise.” Under her breath, she adds, “An unwanted one.”
McBride gives Lila a heated look. “Why don’t cha climb on up, darlin? I’ll show you the sights, give ya a ride you won’t forget.”
Although he’s only yanking my chain, I can’t let that slide. I puff my chest and tug Lila away from this flirty fucker. “How you gonna show her shit with both your eyes blackened and swollen shut?”
He cackles like a cocksure prick, then makes that cliché clicking sound while digging his heels into the sides of the horse. As they trot off, he hollers over his shoulder. “Just makin’ sure it was the right twin out here. The grumpy sumbitch.”
Lila’s all giggles and pink cheeks as I engulf her in my arms to hold her close, right where she belongs. “Agent Cowboy has your number, dimples.”
“That he does, cookie.”
She skims her hands up my chest, settling them at my nape. I can’t resist stealing another kiss, so I lean in slowly. I just need one more euphoric moment before we get back to the grind of moving duties.
With delicate hands, I caress her lower back, then dive down to cup her ass. We mold our bodies together, soft to hard, and light to dark.
I passionately work my mouth over hers, worshipping her plump lips. She opens for me, allowing me to tease and taste her.
