Page 113 of Thaw My Heart

The cigarettes.

The mention of marriage.

Does Kit want that?

Everything inside me wants to run far away, to escape the fear, but as I turn to walk away, five B-double trucks come barreling towards the main barn.

Thank God.

Whoops and hollers cut through the air as more cowboys gather around, preparing to help unload. Ryker and Wes join in, briskly walking away.

“Sadie, you alright?” Blake places his hand on my elbow. “Ryker’s just being a pain in the ass, per usual. Don’t take him seriously.”

Maybe he is. Or maybe there’s truth to his words.

Rage burns under my skin. I point to the trucks. “Are these the assholes who took our cattle?” My voice shakes unsteadily.

Blake smiles warmly, crinkling his eyes. “They sure are.”

Good. This would be the perfect target for my anger.

The truck driver I’ve chosen to corner is baffled, dumbstruck as he takes everything I dish out to him. It’s probably not my place, but no one stops me or dares to interfere. It’s damn near therapeutic as I threaten this asshole to try this again. And with the cowering look in his eyes, I don’t think he’ll be too keen.

“Sadie,” his familiar voice snaps my attention, calming the violence in me. The bright blue of his eyes finds me. It’s as if time stops as he approaches me. He smiles, and I can’t help but smile back.

“You’re back,” my voice comes out breathless with the way he’s looking at me. Full of adoration.

“I’m back.” He stops in front of me, taking my hand. My heart thrums in my chest. His thumb brushes the top of my hand, pulling me back into the sweet little bubble of ours, as if nothing else exists.

Boots crunch in the gravel, snapping my attention to the surrounding cowboys gawking and smiling in our direction.

Is Kit making an honest woman out of you?

Anxiety stirs in my gut. I pull my hand away.

“What’s wrong?” Kit’s dark brows pull together.

But I don’t know how to say the words. Hurting him is the last thing I want to do, but this is becoming something I’m not ready for. The bubble is perfect, but let’s face it, I’m falling for him. And it’s too much. My breaths come out shallow, like I can’t get enough oxygen.

“Did you eat too many marshmallows?”

Just that one silly question eases my mind, pulling an anxious laugh out of me. “Maybe,” I rock on my heels.

He smiles, and my heart skips a beat.

“There’s—there’s work to do. I need to get moving.”

He assesses me, like he can see my fear. “Okay,” he murmurs with a faint smile. “Later, then?”

“Later,” I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear and walk away, trying to refocus my mind on the day ahead rather than the fear building in my heart.

“Tequila,” his deep voice calls out once more.

I twist around, letting out a breath to face him.

His slow gaze starts from my blue cowboy boots, trailing to my eyes. “You look beautiful today,” he smiles.

Blush rushes to my cheeks, and my throat swells.