Page 54 of Home Hearts Hooves

“Please tell me you know Dr Who?”

“I’ve known Doctor Green since I was a boy.”

He bursts out laughing. I rub the back of my neck as my cheeks grow flaming hot.

“I take it that’s not the doc you were meaning?”

“Oh man, you farm boys really don’t watch much television, do you?” he asks, wiping a tear from one eye.

“We watch a movie here and there. Connor’s started doing an outdoor theatre thing beside the cuddle cove, but I don’t know. I guess we are pretty tired after working all day. We crash pretty early.”

“I didn’t know you did that. How did I miss this? It sounds like a really clever idea. I can just imagine it, cuddling up against Miss Milky under the stars and watching some old classic movie like… I don’t know… The Ballad of Josie or something?”

“Doris Day, that one I know. I think they play more recent movies, but old ones would be good. I’ll suggest that to Connor. Might entice a few of the moms and dads out for it if it’s something they’ll like, too.”

“And in the meantime, I’m going to get you caught up on the good doctor.”

“Is it like a medical show, because I’ve never really been a fan of those?”

“No. It’s better. Way better. Trust me.”

“Alright, I trust you,” I say, and our eyes meet, and instead of turning away, he holds my gaze, that same irresistible grin on his lips. Cuddles shifts in the sash, and I move to grab him before he tumbles out, but I had to let go of the cane to do it, and without its support, I stumble. But then he’s there, holding me by the shoulders and smelling all kinds of deliciousness.

I know he said he just wants to be friends, and I said I was cool with that, but fuck, I wish he’d kiss me again.

Chapter eighteen

PRESTON

FEELINGS FEELINGS EVERYWHERE

It’sbeenamazingseeingDean every day, and while I suggested this as a way to help him relax a little, the man just can’t help himself.

“Leave that for me,” I call out to Dean as he rests his cane against the wall and then heaves the heavy bag of feed over his left shoulder. He’s balancing on his good leg, his injured right lifted slightly off the ground, and with an oomph, he grabs a second bag and throws it on top of the first, then picks up his cane and staggers my way. I’ve chosen to call the way he teeters back and forth with that boot on when he walks as staggering, it sounds far sexier than wobbles or hobbles.

“I was lifting double this, not two weeks ago. You gotta stop worrying, doc,” he says, staggering past me. “Besides, Poppy is due here any minute; you don’t want her tripping over this stuff now, do you?”

Shit, is it after three already?

“You make a good point. But I just don’t want you to hurt yourself. You’re supposed to be on light duties. Nial will kill me if I send you home more—”

He turns to raise one brow my way.

“More what? Broken than I already am?”

I shrug. “I wasn’t going to say that.”

He chuckles.

“Sure you were, doc, but it’s okay. I am broken. My leg, anyway. Not my arms. These I need to keep using or I’ll be hurting when I’m back at it.”

Poppy barrels through the door.

“Is Dean still here?” she asks, tossing her bag toward the chairs in the waiting area, but it only half lands on the seat and falls to the floor a second later.

“How about we start with hello?”

She rolls her eyes, and it’s more adorable than it should be.

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