Page 68 of Home Hearts Hooves

A speaker behind us crackles to life as the opening music begins, and then a woman’s voice calls out, “Poppy, come sit, the movie is starting,” and he pulls his hand away and settles back against the hay bale.

I hold the bucket up.

“Here.”

“Thanks,” he says, reaching in grabbing a handful, and shoving them all into his mouth in one go, and as much as I would rather have my tongue in there, knowing his kid is down below at the same movie, is a pretty strong cold shower.

Chapter twenty-two

PRESTON

TRADING PLACES NEVER FELT SO GOOD

Ican’tbelievehisbrother set all this up just for us. It’s another reminder of how connected he is to his family. They have this bond I guess I’ll never really understand, being an only child. But it’s not just Nial, or his brother and sister in Savannah. It’s all of them. The people who work on Beaker Brothers Ranch are like family to him, too. It’s that feeling, like you have a place in this world, that was a strong part of why I knew I’d always be back here in Bellerelle. This town knows me. They hold the memories of my father, my childhood, almost my whole life, and I want so bad to one day have what Dean does. A big family that will always be there for each other. It’s been just me and mom for a few years now and I love her with all my heart, but I want us to have more. We have Poppy, and by some extension Isabel and her parents, now, but it’s not like this. I bet Poppy would love to have a brother or sister one day.

Dean is relaxed against the hay bale, eyes locked on the screen, but his lips are moving just a little. Then it clicks. They’re moving in time with the lyrics to the song playing. Calamity and Bill are singing about the country they love, the Black Hills, and he’s mouthing both parts. Several people down below are singing along, their chorus carrying on the cool night air, and I can tell he wants to be one of them.

I don’t know this movie as well as he clearly does but the lyrics repeat from an earlier part, and I softly sing along nudging his side.

“Don’t make me sing alone,” I say and his smile widens as he lets himself let go of whatever nerves he might have about singing in front of me and his rich voice grows louder until we’re both performing like we’re on some small stage like the one Katie Brown performs on in the movie. The song is over way too fast, but as the music settles, he leans against me, resting his head on my shoulder as the movie plays on.

My gaze moves to where he’s placed his hand palm down on his thigh beside me and I hesitate, lacing my fingers together in my lap. My stomach a flurry of nerves growing wilder as I contemplate reaching for his hand. What if he pulls away? What if he doesn’t?

I try to take a steadying breath but I’m filled with his scent mixed with the cool night air and buttery popcorn, and it just makes my heartbeat faster.

Okay, here goes. I unlink my fingers and slowly edge my hand closer to his. My pinky touches first, brushing alongside his hand, warm, soft, and perfect, and before I lose my nerve, I slip my fingers under his palm turning it over and entwine my fingers with his.

He doesn’t pull away. He welcomes my touch and when his thumb starts to sweep across the back of my hand sending tiny vibrations all the way through my body, I finally relax, and we stay like that, resting against each other, his hand in mine and singing along to the movie until the credits roll and the people below start to get moving.

“I’ll go down first, that way if you stumble, at least you’ll fall on me and not the ground,” I tell him taking the stairs two at a time to the hay-covered ground.

He pauses at the top for a moment eyeing me suspiciously.

“What is it?” I ask.

“I was just wondering how much it would hurt to fall down the stairs.”

I shake my head. You don’t have to injure yourself to wind up on top.”

“Good to know.”

“I think I just found my new favorite spot,” he says glancing back up at the loft when he finally reaches the bottom.

“It was nice, though the couples cuddling with the cows looked like they were pretty comfortable, too.”

“Oh, I bet. Cows are like mini heaters, perfect for the cool night air to keep you nice and toasty. You remember…” He blushes and rubs the back of his neck.

I remember perfectly. The last time we kissed, we were leaning on Miss Milky out on the paddock watching the sunset, and then I ran away. It was, unbeknownst to him, also the start of a very vivid fantasy I played out in the shower shortly after.

“I’ll walk you back,” I say, and he looks over at where Nial and Connor are starting to pack up. The guests are already headed back to their cabins, and car headlights moving through the space indicate the guests from town are starting to head home, too.

“I should probably help out,” Dean says, and I smile, even though I’m disappointed, because as much as it was a perfectly romantic night in the loft, alone with Dean. We weren’t really alone. There were fifty-odd people down below, and two of them were my daughter and her mother. I don’t think they even saw me up here, but as much as I wanted to kiss Dean and just forget the movie was even on, I couldn’t. I haven’t told Isabel about me yet. How do you even tell your ex, the woman who had your child that she was the last woman you ever loved because shortly after she broke your heart, you discovered you love men?

“I’ll help, too.”

Nial jogs over.

“Nope, both of you head back. We’re good here.”

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