Page 5 of Thaw My Heart

“I thought Corgis had short tails.”

“Most breeders cut them, but I like her wild and natural.” Her smile turns into a smirk. “Do you like wild things, Cowboy? Or is it all safety and harsh expressions?”

Now I’m starting to think the Cowboy thing is her way of flirting with me. It’s time to put a stop to that. I’m the last person Sadie should be flirting with. And she’s the last person I should be thinking about getting wild with.

I don’t want her here.

“Look, I like to be alone. I wake up around five in the morning, and I’m home every day around three, sometimes four. Bandit has a door he uses to go outside during the day while I’m gone. He shouldn’t bother you unless you provoke him. The right side of the barn is yours,” I point to it, sitting between our two properties. “Mine is the left. Keep your side maintained, or don’t use it. And I like it quiet, so keep it down unless you want problems.”

Fuck, I sound like an old man in his seventies, not a 32-year-old man living in his prime. Oh well, better to lay down the rules. It will only make things easier for both of us to get through the next season. Which hopefully is the length of time she’s planning to stay.

Sadie slowly stands, elongating her body in the sexiest way, flinging her long caramel braid towards me. “First off,” she narrows her eyes, taking a step towards me. “I don’t like being told what to do. And second—” she moves another step closer, and my body feels frozen. “As long as you stay on your side, and I’m on mine, I’m entitled to do whatever I damn please.”

Well, damn.

I blink, caught off guard by her sudden animosity and the highlight of amber in her eyes. She takes the last step, closing the distance between us. I hate the way my body reacts, like a fire ignites inside me, completely out of my control. The way heat burns in my chest, making my mouth feel dry as blood rushes to my dick.

“I’ll stay out of your way if you stay out of mine. Deal, Cowboy?”

“Yeah, deal,” I mutter.

She smiles and flicks the length of me once more with her eyes, like she’s memorizing this moment, or debating on making my life a living hell. Probably the latter. Her boots crunch in the gravel as she takes off towards her house with Fox at her heels. Slamming her door shut behind her, definitely just to spite me.

Well, that could’ve gone better.

I stand there for a moment, trying to process how that all went so bad so quickly. Perhaps I could’ve been a bit nicer to her. Maybe offer to help her move in like a good neighbor and decent human being. Just when I think about heading over to apologize, the volume of her stereo increases to an unreasonable level.

Well fuck that, then.

After cooking dinner, a feast of grass-fed steak that came straight from the farm, a big serving of vegetables, and fresh sourdough lathered in butter, I share the leftovers with Bandit. One of the perks of working here and being related to my uncle led to getting the occasional steak. It’s the best beef in Montana, and probably all of America, in my opinion.

My beer fizzles as I crack it open and sit on my front porch swing, listening to the breeze rustle through the pines. Bandit lies in his whiskey barrel outdoor bed, gazing out into the never-ending darkness.

I pull out my phone and dial Ryker to complain about my day, but it goes straight to voicemail. He’s probably ignoring me on purpose, knowing exactly why I’m calling.

Kit:

This is the last time, Ryker.

Ryker:

Someone needs to get you to visit the town and be somewhat normal. Everyone thought you died, bro.

Kit:

I knew you were doing this on purpose. Like I said, that was the last time.

Ryker:

I’m looking forward to seeing your photo in the paper.

Kit:

Fuck off.

About a minute later, Sadie’s front porch light flickers on, and her door creaks open, like nails on a goddamn chalkboard. My neck muscles tighten and strain. I’m going to need to fix that damn door.

And soon.