Page 14 of Thaw My Heart

Sadie’s silent ninja presence damn near frightens me as I turn around, jolting a bit at her presence. “Did you do something to my door?” she accuses with a bite to her tone.

“Sadie.” I roll my shoulders. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.” Her eyes narrow as she crosses her arms, waiting for me to answer. “I fixed it, alright. The damn thing was driving me crazy.”

Silence passes between us. Her hair is down, longer than I realized, with wavy caramel locks brushing against a white, lacy tank top. A stark contrast that really brings out the bronze of her eyes. Not that I notice.

“You… fixed my door?”

“Isn’t that what I just said?” My glare burns into her.

She smiles, amused. “Most guys take months if not years to fix things. Or they pretend they fixed it, when they really didn’t.”

Years? I’m definitely not that kind of man.

“I would’ve fixed it the moment you opened your front door, but you’re always home.” And it’s a damn pain in the ass, too. I missed my privacy.

“I see,” she smiles.

Bandit comes up beside me, sitting politely.

Sadie kneels, patting him on the head. “Oh, this must be Bandit. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Bandit whines and licks her face.

I cringe. “Bandit,” the rough edge to my voice makes him pull back immediately. “Sorry.”

Sadie laughs and stands, giving me a playful smile. “It’s okay. At least your dog likes me.”

A grumble shakes in my chest.

She takes a step towards me, catching me off guard. “Are you sure it’s alright if I tag along tonight? Wouldn’t want you to hate me any more than you already do.”

“I don’t hate you.” Hate is too strong of a word. I dislike Sadie, but I don’t hate her.

“You don’t particularly like me either.” A sheen of sweat glistens on her sun-tanned chest in the evening light. Highlighting a gold horseshoe necklace, leading to tiny freckles that trail down to places I need to stop thinking about.

“I don’t like most people.” I avert my gaze, tucking my hands in my pockets.

“I believe that,” she smiles, leaning on the fence. “He’s beautiful. I don’t think I’ve seen a horse quite like him. Blue Roan?”

“Yup,” I lean on the fence beside her. Her eyes drift to me, looking like she wants to know more. “His name is Smoke. I saved him from a kill farm a couple of years ago.”

I’d found him terrified with bones peeking through his skin. All it took was one look into his eyes, and I knew there was so much more life he was meant to live. Smoke is the best horse I’ve ever had. Loyal to a fault and as steady as a lake in the early morning.

Or he used to be before her mare moved in.

Sadie winces, then smiles at me in a way that makes my throat swell. “You know, that’s my dream. To rescue horses and let them run wild. Someday, when I have my own land at least.”

I laugh under my breath, staring at the ground.

“Is that funny, Cowboy?”

“I just assumed you dreamed of starting a rock band or something.” Seems to be what she enjoyed most. Listening to loud music and dancing like a maniac in her living room.

“That’s my second dream,” she smiles, stepping back from the fence. “I need to get ready. Meet me out here in an hour?”

I nod and freeze, replaying her words. “Wait… what?” Meet her… out here? Did she mean to say the bar?

“I’ll buy you two beers. One for my door and one for the lift,” she hollers out, walking away towards her house.