Page 134 of Sawyer

Lord, that just about does mein. My mouth goes dry as I watch Sawyer emerge from the barn, a chestnut-colored calf in his arms. He carries the animal like it weighs no more than a human baby.

I mean, the guy isn’t even out of breath.

He sees me and smiles, dimples and all. “Hey, pretty girl.”

Giving him a little wave, I lick my lips. “You doing this on purpose?”

“Doing what?” Sawyer grunts when he sets the calf down.

The baby cow meanders over to a sow nearby that’s munching on a patch of newly sprouted grass.

“Getting me all hot and bothered before our date even begins.”

He straightens and wipes his gloved hands on his chaps. His face is flushed from the cold, and his scruff is a few days overgrown. He’s covered in mud and muck from a full day of cowboying, and his blue eyes are bright but tired.

Throw in the thick arms and steady, confident way he walks, and I’m a goner.

“Well, yeah.” He gestures to his legs. “Why do you think I wore my fancy chaps today?”

I saunter toward him. “Nice fringe.”

“I know.” Smirking, he curls a gloved finger through my belt loop and pulls me in for a kiss. “You’re early.”

“I was hoping to catch you in action. I don’t get to watch you cowboy nearly enough.”

I had a hair appointment downtown this afternoon, so I told Sawyer I’d swing by Lucky River Ranch on my way home to pick him up for our date. Wyatt and Sally are watching Ella tonight, and Sawyer and I are having a little sleepover at my place. It’s Dan’s weekend again with Junie, and he actually picked her up early, grabbing her from preschool earlier today.

Since it was my turn to plan the date—Sawyer and I try to get out at least once a week, and we switch planning duties every other time—I decided I’d combine work and fun, and give my boyfriend a little lesson in barrel racing.

Really, I wanted an excuse to watch him ride a horse. Nothing sexier than a man who knows what he’s doing in the saddle.

He nips at my bottom lip. “What else you wanna see?”

“Everything. Mostly, I wanna see you ride.”

“I think”—he ducks his head to suck on my neck—“I could arrange that.”

A hog whistle splits the air, and Sawyer and I break apart to see Duke walking out of the barn with a shit-eating grin on his face.

“I have a knack for interrupting y’all, don’t I?”

“Get lost,” Sawyer grunts.

I grin. “Hey, Duke.”

“Don’t worry, I’m leaving. Gotta get these two in their pen ASAP.” He nods at the sow and her calf. “I actually got somewhere to be.”

Sawyer rolls his eyes. “Lemme guess. The Rattler?”

“Not this time, no.”

“Aw, you have a date of your own, don’t you?” I ask.

Duke blushes, which might be the most adorable thing ever. “It’s not a date. But it’s also notnota date?”

“Who ya meeting?” Sawyer asks.

Duke smirks. “Wouldn’t you love to know? I’ll let y’all get to it. Told Wyatt I’d grab Ella tomorrow to get doughnuts and coffee downtown, by the way. You two take your time in the morning. Well, unless you wanna rush, because sometimes that’s fun too.”

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