Page 13 of Pretty Little Scars

“Does she have a nice ass?”

“You’re an idiot.”

It’safter dark when I get home. I walk into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and glance out the back window toward Darby’s cabin, and notice light flickering behind it. She must have started a fire in the firepit that Scott left out there.

I shouldnotgo out and join her. I wasn’t invited. Darby seems like the kind of woman who likes her space and doesn’t need me hanging around like a lovesick puppy.

But I open the back door and walk right out there anyway.

When I circle around the cabin, I see her right away, sitting in a folding chair by the fire. The light dances over her face and hair. Her legs are drawn up to her chest, and her arms are wrapped around them.

She’s watching the flames, deep in thought, and I absolutely shouldnotbe here.

But before I can turn to walk away, she says, “Come sit.”

I pause and tilt my head to the side. “You sure?”

“I bought two chairs on my way back after dinner,” she says, indicating the spare one next to her. “Come sit in it. The fire’s nice.”

I suspect that I’m incapable of telling her no. I don’twantto tell her no.

So, I sit next to her and gaze into the fire.

“How was dinner with your family?” I ask her.

“It’s always fun and noisy. It gets more so now that two of my sisters are married and Dani has kids. I love it. And then it’s nice to be in the quiet like this.”

I nod because I know all about loud family gatherings.

“Did you know that you have natural arnica growing on your property?” Her voice is quiet. Relaxed.

“I don’t know what that is,” I admit as I watch her peel her sweatshirt off her arms and drape it over the back of her chair. Her pink T-shirt molds perfectly over her tits, and I have to look into the fire so I don’t do something stupid. Like kiss the fuck out of her.

“The little yellow flowers,” she replies.

“Is it a good thing?”

“Yeah. Arnica is great for bruises and soreness. If you don’t mind, I’ll pick some and eventually make a salve out of it.”

Surprised, I turn to face her and lift an eyebrow. “You’ll make a salve?”

“And oil,” she confirms, and then smiles hesitantly. “Why do I feel like you’re judging me again?”

“I’m not, I’m just surprised. You’re a doctor?—”

“Almost a doctor.”

“—and that seems unscientific.”

“It’s nature, Tucker. Where do you think we get medicine from? Nature is science. And if I make it myself, I know what the ingredients are and where they came from. I don’t have many hobbies, but this is one I enjoy. I don’t make much, I don’t sell anything on Etsy, but I keep it for myself and share with my family.”

This woman fascinates me.

“What else do you make?”

She wrinkles her perfect nose. “You don’t really want to know this.”

“Yeah, Duchess, I really want to know.”