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“Green? What does that mean? Is it your last name?”
I grinned. “Your eyes. They’re green.”
She frowned, but only for half a second. “And yours are…” She took a step back.
“Some people say they’re black. My mother calls them onyx.”
Mackenzie dropped the broom and took a few more steps back until she ran into the haybale. The goat woke up, the cat let out a plaintive meow and jumped down, and the beautiful woman dropped to her ass on the bale and let out anoof.
“You okay?”
She quickly stood. “Who are you?”
Reaching my hand to shake hers, I said, “Bradly Littlewood.”
She closed her eyes and appeared to curse under her breath. I was pretty sure she mumbledmotherfucker.
“And youareMackenzie, correct?”
The fierce look was back when she opened her eyes, and she stared at my outstretched hand without taking it. “Mackenzie Reeves.”
I dropped my hand and let out a soft laugh. “What brings you out here to the barn on Christmas night, during a snowstorm, to sing to the animals?”
She glanced around the barn. “I didn’t want them to feel alone tonight.”
“You didn’t wantthemto feel alone?”
Rolling her eyes, she said, “For goodness’ sake, stop repeating me! What areyoudoing here?”
“I saw the lights on in the barn from across the pasture and wanted to make sure everything was okay.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “Really? I didn’t think you cared much about the farm side of the ranch.”
My smile faded. “I’m not home much.”
She nodded. “That’s right. The cowboy who rides bulls.”
“Do you have something against cowboys? Or those who ride bulls?”
She exhaled in frustration. “I don’t know you, Bradly, so I have little reason to have anything against you. Besides the fact that I think it hurts your mom’s feelings that you don’t take an interest in the farm.”
I raised my brows in surprise.
Closing her eyes again, she opened them and said, “I’m sorry. I have no right to pass judgment against you. Nor do Ihave a right to argue with you in your own barn.” She swallowed hard and looked around before focusing back on me. “I’ll get everything put up and head on out.”
She started to walk away, and I took a step forward. “Wait. Don’t leave.”
Mackenzie gave me a cautious look.
“First, it’s not my barn. It’s my parents’ barn.”
The corner of her mouth twitched.
“Second, you have every right to be here. Maybe not to come after me like you hate me…”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t hate you. I don’t even know you.”
“You certainly don’t like cowboys, so I’m guessing one of them either hurt you or did something bad to you.”
