Page 48 of Untamed
Haylee and I grab a pitcher of sweet tea from the fridge, two mason jars, and the rum from the liquor cabinet when my mom’s not looking. It is my birthday and I deserve to celebrate, right?
At least the spiked tea might make my chores a little better. My dad believes in work. He doesn’t believe in fucking around and acting like a kid. Unless your name is Morgan. Then you’re able to get away with everything under the sun. It doesn’t matter that today is my birthday. If there’s work to be done, it comes before anything else. Always has.
As we stand outside, Dad gives me that look. There’s a part of the fence on the south property and he gestures to it. “That better get fixed today, Maesyn.”
No happy birthday. No have a good day. Just, get to work.
I knowwhythe fence needs to be fixed. Haylee and I knocked it down last week when we went four-wheeling out there. So I guess, it’s understandable I’m the one designated to fix it.
Groaning, I wrap my hand around Haylee’s shoulder and head for the barn. Just having her there with me makes it okay to work on my birthday.
Grayer’s already working in the barn, but I haven’t seen him yet.
He hears our giggles when we’re in the tack room, and then again when Haylee steals his box of nails, taunting him by holding them over her head. “I’m takin’ these, Eight Seconds.”
A smirk pulls at his lips, but he doesn’t say anything, his eyes hidden in the shadows of his hat. Since he’s the king of avoidance, he ignores me completely and walks out of the barn.
After we leave the barn, Grayer makes his way back inside and I can see him in there when we walk by, of course his shirt is off—I believe to tease me and make me drool. He’s swinging a hammer, every muscle in his back and arms flexing with each pass.
Haylee lets her sunglasses slide down her nose. “Does he know you’re eighteen today and finally legal?”
“Nope,” I say, popping thepon the end, smiling to myself as we walk, my boots crunching on the gravel driveway.
She looks at me, righting her shades. “You gonna tell him?”
“No. Danny’s comin’ over tomorrow. He’s gonna help me ride Hammer to impress him.” I had called Danny this morning because while I couldn’t sleep last night, I thought trying to ride Hammer might impress him.
It’s essentially a bad idea, but itmightwork.
“Since when have you ever rode a bull?” Haylee twirls the hammer in one hand, almost hitting herself in the face. She walks a little slower to get a good look at Grayer.
“Well, I’ve never ridden a bull, but it’ll get his attention. Don’t you think?”
“Maybe, if Hammer doesn’t kill you first.” She looks closer at Grayer, giving a shake to her head. “Damn . . . are all bull riders that hot?”
“Not that I’ve seen at the rodeo.” I laugh, glancing over and untangling my necklace from my hair. “He has two brothers. I bet they look the same as him, but I don’t remember what they look like.”
Haylee considers this and then looks at the broken fence we’re now standing in front of and the ruts we’ve dug up out here. “I can’t believe he’s makin’ ya do this shit on your birthday.”
“It’s just like him.” I toss the box of nails on the ground in front of us and lay the boards against the fence. “Work has to be done regardless of what the calendar says.”
“Four more days.”
We fix the fence while blaring Pistol Annies, but all the while, I can see Grayer in the barn. He’s watching us and the more we drink that sweet tea mixed with rum, the less we’re fixing the fence and the more we’re bull riding the fence posts.
Thathas Grayer’s attention. He even stops and leans against the side of the barn with his arms crossed over his chest, watching. Part of me wonders if he’s imagining fucking both of us. He wouldn’t be the first to imagine it—I know that for sure—or the first to ask for it.
I throw my arm up over my shoulder, arch my back and move as “I Feel a Sin Comin’ On” plays. Same song that was playing in his truck that night. Grayer’s eyes on mine are like fire. They’re burning so bright I’m conscious of the heat sixty feet away.
Are you thinking of me?
Do you remember the way my kiss felt?
“Fuck, I think I have a splinter.” Haylee grabs at her crotch, laughing. “Worst spot for one, too.”
“No kidding, girl. Damn.” As I’m laughing at Haylee, the barn door slams shut. We both look over to see what he’s doing.
“Maybe it was too much,” I tease, getting off the post. “We better get this done.” I motion to the fence and grab the hammer at my feet.
