Page 84 of Thaw My Heart

Her gaze is soft and sad as her mouth opens and shuts. She stands there awkwardly, looking like she doesn’t want to continue this conversation. Arms crossed around her.

I set the plate down, pulling out a chair at the dining room table, gesturing for her to sit. “Let me be the first to cook for you.”

She bites her lip, unsure. “Are you sure?”

“Of course, I’m sure. Come sit,” I smile.

She sits, and I get to work on one for me.

“This place is stunning, by the way,” she says after a breath. “Rustic and moody, just like I imagined it.”

“Moody?” I huff a laugh.

“The dark greens and blues, soft lighting, antlers on the walls, and the fur rug in front of the fireplace? Moody. You must have a lot of sex on that rug, Cowboy,” she winks at me from across the room.

I stifle a laugh, flipping the omelet in the pan. “Not as much sex as you’ve had in your living room, I’m sure.”

Her face turns bright red as she covers her face with her hands. “Can we just forget about that?”

“Nope,” I smile. Best discovery of my life. There’s no chance I’ll ever forget about it. “Where’d you find that article, anyway?”

“I umm—I collect newspaper articles about Lone Pine.” My eyes widen in surprise. “I have been for years. I’m sort of a fan. That article was the first picture I’d seen of you.”

Sometimes I forgot just how big the ranch is to people. Just how many people from all around the country appreciated this place and what it stood for. “You must really like Lone Pine,” I murmur, though I already know her answer.

She nods. “I love it.”

Tension builds in my chest.

“Go on, eat something.” Since she sat down, she’s been staring at her omelet. She glances at the stove like she’s waiting for me. “Mine’s almost done. Dig in.”

She takes a bite. “You made this?” I’m slightly offended she’s surprised, but the fact she’s enjoying it matters more. “Damn, it’s amazing.” She takes another bite.

“Thank you,” I smile. “All my time in the kitchen with Annie growing up taught me a few things.”

“So, you did grow up on this ranch?”

“Pretty much.” After finishing my omelet, I move to the table, sitting next to her.

“Yet you were never in the papers.” A ray of morning light bounces off the countertop, highlighting the amber in her brown eyes. “You’d think the nephew of Cole Harlow would’ve featured more often,” she quirks an eyebrow.

“I’m not a fan of getting my picture taken.”

“Well, that’s a damn shame,” she smirks at me. “You take a damn good photo.”

Good enough that she got off to it last night.

Before I consume myself with thoughts that will only persuade me to throw her on the table and fuck her until she screams, I change the conversation.

“So, how’s Averie?”

She lets out a breath. “Fine, now. But it took all night to talk her into a good place. That boyfriend of hers sounds like a real spoiled prick.”

Upon closer inspection, Sadie looks exhausted. Her caramel hair is piled into a messy bun, her makeup is smudged, and dark circles have formed under her eyes. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

She meets my eyes and smiles. “Thanks for taking care of Foxie, by the way.”

I smile back.