Page 74 of Shattered Melodies

I grinned, reaching down to scratch one of the pigs behind the ear. “Oh, yeah. These guys go nuts for a good tummy tickle. Here, watch this.”

I hopped over the fence and into the pen, the pigs squealing with excitement as they trotted over to greet me. I knelt down in the mud, letting them snuffle and nuzzle at my hands.

“Who’s a good piggy?” I cooed, rubbing their bellies until their eyes closed in bliss. “Who’s the sweetest little oinker in the whole wide world?”

Liam watched from the other side of the fence, his expression torn between amusement and disgust. “I can’t believe you’re actually touching them,” he said, wrinkling his nose. “Aren’t they like…dirty?”

I laughed, standing up and wiping my hands on my jeans. “Well, yeah. They’re pigs, Liam. Rolling in the mud is kind of their thing. But a little dirt never hurt anyone.”

I reached over the fence and grabbed his hand, tugging him towards the gate. “Come on, city boy. Time for you to get up close and personal with the piggies.”

Liam balked, trying to pull his hand away. “Oh, no. No way. I am not getting in there with those…those…”

“Adorable bundles of joy?” I supplied, grinning. “Come on, Liam. Live a little. Embrace your inner farmer.”

He glared at me, but there was no real heat behind it. “I hate you,” he grumbled, even as he let me pull him into the pen. “I hope you know that.”

“Nah, you don’t,” I said, slinging an arm around his shoulders. “You just wish you did. Because then this whole thing would be a lot easier, wouldn’t it?

He didn’t answer, but I could feel the tension in his body, the way he held himself stiff and unyielding under my touch.

And I got it. I did. Being here, being this close to each other after so long it was weird. It was confusing and overwhelming and a million other things that we didn’t have words for.

But it was also right, somehow. Like a piece of a puzzle finally clicking into place, like a chord resolving after a long, slow build.

I knew that I would do whatever it took to keep that look on his face. To bridge the gap between us, to find a way to make this work.

I watched as Liam hesitantly reached out to pet one of the pigs, a smile tugging at his lips. It was a sight I wanted to see more of, a look I would do anything to keep on his face.

But I couldn’t resist the urge to mess with him, just a little. It was too easy, too tempting to push his buttons and get a rise out of him.

So I did what any self-respecting cowboy would do. I pushed him, right into the mud with the pigs.

Liam yelped as he went down, his arms windmilling as he tried to catch himself. But it was no use. He landed with a splat, mud splattering everywhere.

For a second, he just sat there, blinking in shock. But then his eyes narrowed, his mouth twisting into a scowl.

“You asshole!” he yelled, struggling to his feet. “What the hell was that for?”

I laughed, dodging the handful of mud he flung my way. “Consider it a rite of passage, city boy. You’re not a real ranch hand until you’ve taken a mud bath with the piggies.”

Liam glared at me, but I could see the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You’re the worst, you know that?”

“Oh, I know,” I said, grinning. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up. Can’t have you tracking mud all over the place.”

We headed over to the outdoor shower area, Liam grumbling under his breath the whole way. I just smiled, enjoying the easy banter and the way his shoulder felt under my hand.

It was a small thing, a fleeting moment of connection. But it felt like progress, like a step in the right direction.

When we reached the showers, I tossed Liam a towel and pointed him towards the stalls. “Go ahead and rinse off. I’ll wait here.”

He shot me a suspicious look, like he thought I might try to pull another prank. But I just held up my hands, the picture of innocence.

“Scout’s honor,” I said, trying not to grin. “No funny business, I swear.”

Liam rolled his eyes, but he headed into the stall without protest. I settled myself on a nearby bench, listening to the sound of the water and trying not to think about Liam, naked and wet and just a few feet away.

It was a losing battle. My mind kept drifting, imagining the way the water would sluice over his skin, the way his muscles would flex and bunch as he scrubbed away the mud.

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