Page 62 of Thaw My Heart

“Well, call me displeased, Cowboy.” My hands find my hips, grabbing his attention. “Did you draw the short stick today?”

He tracks my movement, soft eyes drifting from my hips to my eyes, holding there. “Sadie, I—look… about yesterday, I’m—” he starts.

“Forget it,” I cut him off.

That’s the last thing I want to talk about. I can be professional and attempt to do this day with him, but I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of quitting.

Though I know it’s what he really wants.

“Let’s just get this over with,” I mutter, putting my foot in the stirrup.

“Fine,” he sighs, hopping on his horse.

We briskly head out into the snowy pasture, making our way to a herd we’ve been assigned to. A herd that’s gone too far out and needs to be brought closer before the next snowstorm hits.

It takes us about an hour to reach them. We weave through small forests, following a narrow path that cuts through to the other side of the ranch, crossing tiny rivers until we reach open land.

Finally spotting the herd.

Before I can ask Kit how he wants to do this, he sends out Bandit. Following his orders faster than lightning can strike. The cattle react instinctively, moving away from him. Kit takes up one side, Bandit the far side, and I decide to claim the other, taking the initiative. It’s the easiest round-up I’ve experienced at the ranch as we drive them forward quickly and efficiently. Kit’s a pretty damn good cowboy for someone so hell-bent on not being labeled as one.

Something I’ll never tell him.

We trot along behind the herd, leading them to a new pasture. Soft moos and hooves thundering on the frozen ground fills the silence. He glances at me, perhaps just as surprised as I am at how well we work together, given our mutual hatred for one another. He brings his horse closer to mine. Catching me by surprise with the softness in his rough voice. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs.

“What’s that?” I pretend I can’t hear him.

He sighs with frustration. “I didn’t mean what I said.”

I snort, choking a laugh. “Yes, you did.” He meant every damn word. I don’t believe him for a second. “I’m surprised you wanted to work with me today.”

“Cole asked me to.”

“Cole wanted this?” Why would he pair me with Kit? He saw how much he hates me.

Kit solemnly nods. “He wanted me to apologize.”

Anger builds in my chest, sending spasms to my fingers. “So, you’re just apologizing because Cole told you to?” He didn’t even have the decency to do it of his own volition?

What an ass.

“No,” he replies quickly. “I mean, yes, but I truly am sorry for how I acted.”

“Sure,” I snap. “We’ll just pretend you’re not an asshole.”

He exhales, scrubbing a hand along his jaw. “Well, regardless of that, I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter.” He pauses with a sigh. “Cole thinks we work well together, considering the river incident.”

The incident in which he lied for me, keeping the secret of what really happened for my sake, because I asked him to.

Warmth rushes through me, remembering how he fished me out of the river, brought me back to life, and carried me home wrapped in his coat. Calling the closest thing to a doctor he could find on short notice because he was worried about me. Because he cared about my well-being.

He had taken care of me in that single moment in a way that no one else ever has.

An ache tugs in my heart, and my throat dries up. “Did I… do something? To make you hate me?”

He turns to me, and for a moment, I glimpse that soft version of him. A slow and lazy gaze runs the length of my face, bringing heat to my cheeks. But then his jaw clenches as his eyes lock in mine. The deepness of his voice grates against his vocal cords.

“You exist, Sadie. And that’s enough.”