“Want to give her an apple?” I asked, pulling one from my pocket.
I’d never tire of seeing someone light up at the opportunity to interact with the horses. Sky grinned and took the apple,their fingertips brushing mine. Sparks skated across my skin, my breath hitching as they offered it to Dolly.
“Oh my god,” they giggled as she bit into it. “Wow. She’s so gentle.”
“Have you ever been around horses? Or on a ranch?” I asked curiously.
“Nope. This would be the first.” Their cheeks were rosy, and their wide smile made my chest flutter with butterflies. “I always wanted a horse growing up, though. Definitely told my parents at some point I’d grow up to be a cowgirl.”
I chuckled. “You’d look good in my hat.”
Did I really just say that?My pulse raced as Sky’s sunny smile turned into a smirk.
“Are you flirtin’ with me, Beau?” they asked.
My cheeks turned beet red. “I’m not very good at it, am I?”
“I think you’re adequate,” they teased. Their eyes skated from my hat down to my boots, heat tugging in my veins. “You’re busy, I’m sure, but I’m still learning my way around here. Do you mind pointing me in the direction of the barn?”
Hell, Iwasbusy. But . . .
“How about I give you another tour? If you’d like. Part of my job, really.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to distract you. Pris did a great job showing me around yesterday, I’m just still getting my footing.”
“You’re a welcome distraction, Sky.”
Good god, who was I, flirtin’ like this? I swallowed hard as I rolled my shoulders back, my cheeks hotter than a fresh sunburn. Sky wiped their hands on their denim-clad thighs and then planted them on their hips, glancing around the barn.
“So this is the horse barn,” I said. “We currently have ten horses, and then there’s Dennis.”
“Oh, I need to meet Dennis. Everyone talks about him. I feel like he has to be the size of Texas, but I haven’t seen a horse that big . . .”
I barked out a laugh. “Oh no. Dennis barely reaches my knees. Come on. We’ll go out to the pasture.”
I led them through the double barn doors. Sunshine dappled our shoulders, warming us as we came to the fence. I rested my arms on the top and stole a glimpse at Sky as they climbed up onto the first rung. They leaned over, grinning as they took in the beauty of the pasture.
Everything was verdant green, the sky bright blue above us without a cloud in sight. You’d never know that we’d nearly been swept away yesterday.
A few of the horses roamed freely, nibbling at the grass.
And then there was Dennis.
The moment he spotted us, he came trotting over. Sky’s laugh made my heart squeeze with joy. I climbed up the fence and dropped to the other side, holding out my hand for them.
They wobbled at the top and before they could tumble over, I gripped their hips and lifted them with ease. Sky’s hands planted against my chest, their eyes wide as I put them down.
Ba-dump, ba-dump.My heart was beating out of my chest. Their lips looked so damn soft—I nearly leaned down to kiss them.
Get a hold of yourself.
Dennis ruined the moment by butting into my shin.
“Hey,” I grunted and stepped back, shaking my head as I looked down at our famed miniature horse.
Dennis the menace, our pride and joy, and resident troublemaker.
“Welp,” I said. “This is Dennis.”
