Page 155 of Saltwater Cowboy

She sat up so fast she nearly knocked me over. “Fine. But only because I don’t want to waste food.”

“Right.” I helped her up, biting back a grin. “Not because you actually enjoy spending time with me or anything.”

She dusted herself off, glaring. “Not after what just happened.”

I chuckled, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as I steered her toward the house. “Hey, you’re the one who picked a fight with a flock of chickens.”

“I did not pick a fight,” she grumbled. “I simply existed, and they took offense.”

I shook my head, still grinning, as we stepped onto the porch. “Lucky for you, you’re in the care of the best chicken-wrangler in the state of Georgia.”

Rose scoffed. “Oh, please. You stood there and laughed while I was under attack.”

I held the door open for her. “And I’d do it again.”

She narrowed her eyes at me as she stepped inside. “You’re lucky you’re hot.”

I barked out a laugh, following her in. “Damn right I am.”

She headed straight for the fridge, still muttering under her breath about how “no one should ever have to endure that kind of trauma.” I grabbed a pan and started heating it on the stove, already picturing how I was going to work my charm into making this moment a little less tragic for her.

I cracked a few eggs into the bowl and glanced over at her. “You know, I didn’t think you’d be the type to get so worked up over a bunch of chickens.”

She grabbed the butter and dramatically flung it onto the counter. “I wasn’t worked up! But when you’re trapped under a clucking chicken, it tends to shake you a little, okay?”

I snorted, turning my attention back to the sizzling bacon. “You should’ve seen how scared Harriet was after I pulled her off you.”

She shot me a glare, not appreciating the irony. “No. You laughed while you yanked her off me and probably ruined her entire life by sending her into a panic.”

I couldn’t help it. “You screamed like she was a demon.”

“Well, she was a demon!” Rose huffed, slamming the fridge door shut. “Who needs to be so aggressive about laying eggs?”

I flipped the bacon, then stirred the hashbrowns, trying to contain my amusement. “She’s just doing her job, Sunshine.”

Rose crossed her arms and sat at the counter, still grumbling. “I didn’t realize I would be terrorized by animals living here. If I knew, I would have moved to a zoo.”

I set the eggs to scramble, turning around with a smirk. “Come on, admit it. It was kinda fun.”

She looked at me with complete deadpan. “Nothing about this was fun, Wells.”

I couldn’t hold back my laugh. “You sure? Because you’ve got that post-adrenaline glow happening.”

“Shut up,” she muttered, but the corner of her lips twitched upward.

I pulled the pancakes from the griddle, stacking them high. I placed the bacon and hashbrowns on a plate.

Rose rolled her eyes, taking a bite of pancakes. “Thank you.”

I grabbed my own plate and sat down across from her, watching as she took a second bite, clearly enjoying it more than she’d admit. “You’re welcome. Consider it a peace offering for surviving the chicken apocalypse.”

FROM THE GROUND UP

I leaned against the fence, watching Wells as he yanked stubborn weeds from the ground with the kind of focus and determination I’d expect from someone who had grown up with dirt under their nails. Every muscle in his body flexed as he worked, his brow furrowed in concentration, and I couldn’t help but stare.

“Here I was thinking Charlie had country in his bones, but you, Wells Calloway—you’re the whole damn countryside.”

Wells gave a shy grin.