Page 91 of Sunrise & Serenity

I punctuate the statement by brushing my mouth against hers, savoring the way she sways toward me.

Luckily, or unluckily, depending on how you look at it, Cozy shoves her big head over my shoulder, ending the kiss before I can convince myself that taking Sage back into that barn isn’t such a bad idea.

Laughing, she strokes the mare’s nose. “Spoilsport.” Then she arches a brow at me. “Back it up, Cowboy. I need space if I’m going to start filling my new album.”

I laugh as I step back, crossing my arms and watching as she holds the camera to her face.

She lowers it for a moment and presses some buttons, then peers through the viewfinder again. Apparently satisfied with the adjustments, she takes several shots, checks the screen, and smiles. Then, without showing me, she packs the camera in her bag.

“Don’t I get a look?” Despite what I said, I’m curious what she sees when she looks at the building. Because I have no doubt what she captured through her lens is far more than just weathered walls and rusted metal.

She strolls up to me, lips curved. “Sorry, this album is marked private. Maybe once you’ve helped me fill it, I’ll let you have a look.”

I shake my head. This woman is going to be the end of me.

This time, when I steady Cozy for her as she mounts, I don’t give a damn if my hand lingers on her leg—especially with the way she smiles down at me.

The ride back goes too quickly. I keep an eye out for freshly broken fencing, stopping once to fix a sagging wire, while Sage takes photos here and there. I ride closer to her than yesterday, not because I’m concerned for her, but because I can. Because I’ve given up denying that being close to her makes everything feel lighter.

As we go, she tells me about the shots she’s taking. While I’m focusing on broken fences and washouts, she’s noticing the mist lifting off the pasture and the way the sunlight breaks through the clouds.

It brings back memories of riding out here when I was a kid, sometimes with my siblings, sometimes with our whole family, sometimes just Mom or Dad. Back then, I couldn’t think of anywhere I wanted to be more than on this land. Yeah, I always figured I’d spend some time away, travel maybe, but I felt tied to this place in a way I’d never questioned.

Until that tie snapped, leaving me with nothing but questions.

This morning, with Sage at my side, is the closest I’ve come to recapturing that feeling. While I keep an eye out for damage, I let myself relax. I listen to her talk, answer her questions, and ask my own. Though we skirt a couple of subjects: her fuckwit ex and her plans for when her job here is done. Not sure I want to think about either topic right now. I guess she feels the same way.

Sooner than I’d like, we make it to the barn where we keep Cozy and Whiskey. It’s still early, and with the storm last night, the ranch hands are probably busy assessing damage, so we’re alone as we give the horses a thorough grooming along with an extra portion of feed and settle them in their stalls.

As we’re driving along the road back to the cabins, Quinn’s truck appears, heading toward us. We both roll to a stop and lower our windows.

Nudging his hat up with his knuckles, he squints at us. “What happened to you two?”

I keep one hand on the wheel and rest my other forearm on the open window frame. “Got stuck when the storm hit. Rode the weather out in one of the calving barns.”

His brows shoot up and his eyes slide toward Sage, but apart from the flicker of a smirk, he doesn’t press the issue. “We’ve been checking the north pastures. Don’t seem to have lost any cattle this time.”

“I fixed one break on the way back, but there may be more. There’s at least one herd of cattle to the south that’ll need checking.”

“We’ll add it to the list. Sterling’s headed down to the construction site to check on things there.”

I tip my chin toward where our cabins are. “I’m going to take Sage home, then I’ll come back and join you guys.”

“Thanks, man.” He turns a grin on Sage. “Glad to see my brother took good care of you.”

“Oh, um, yeah, he did.” Her laugh is higher pitched than usual, and I swear she’s blushing.

Fuck, she looks cute like that.

Luckily, Quinn doesn’t seem to notice. He slaps the side of his door and eases away. “See you soon, then.”

Once his truck disappears behind us, I start forward again. “Do you think he suspects?” Sage whispers.

I give her an amused look. “No clue. But I’m sure your perfectly normal response didn’t give anything away.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t know how to act around your family now.”

I rub my hand over my chin. “Same as always. It’s none of their business what we do in private. And even if they figure it out, I have no doubt I’ll be the one fending off accusations.”