Page 16 of Barn Burner
Thanks, mum!
Jude, hope your milk goes lumpy.
Jude
Jude
Mum
“Holy shit! It smells fuckin’ amazing in here.”
I startle at the sound of another voice, almost dropping my phone in the process. Turning, I greet Rhett with a lopsided grin. “Yeah? You think so?”
He nods, rounding the island to refill his canteen from the water dispenser in the fridge. “What are you making?”
“A roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings.”
He lets out a low whistle. “Damn. I’m sure looking forward to devouring that later.”
I chuckle nervously. Rhett is quieter than Cooper, but not as quiet as Jesse. Neither of which is a hard feat. I haven’t quite got him figured out yet, but he seems like a good guy. He spends most of his time out seeing to the cattle.
“Hopefully it tastes as good as it smells.”
“I have no doubt,” Rhett smiles, twisting the cap on his canteen to secure it tightly, then taps his knuckles on the island. “I’m headin’ back out, but give us a shout if you need anything. Jesse should be back in ’bout an hour. Cooper’s around… somewhere. I never know where he is.”
I nod, smiling. “Thanks.”
He lifts his hand in a wave over his shoulder, then disappears back outside to where he’s tied his horse to a fence post. He gets back in the saddle, then takes off on a trot, back toward the fields.
With everything prepped and ready to go, I head back to the small lodge and freshen up. Who knew cooking could work up such a sweat? By the time I make it back to the main house thirty minutes later, Jesse’s back from the afternoon trail ride. I don’tsay anything, just watch silently from the open barn doors as he murmurs quietly to the horse he’s brushing down. Strong hands smooth over the animal’s rib cage, and I can feel the touch like it’s a warm caress over my skin.
What would it feel like to have those calloused hands smoothing over my body?
Jesse moves to the horse’s head and takes her muzzle in both hands. I can’t hear the words he says, but he leans forward and gives her a quick kiss before leading her into the stall.
He might be grumpy, but he has a gentle soul.
Leaving him to do whatever it is he does, I head into the kitchen and pull up my mum’s instructions on my phone again and flick the oven on to warm up again for the potatoes.
By the time I hear the sound of boots stomping on the deck, the final timer beeps. Everyone filters in, ooh-ing and ahh-ing over how good it smells.
“Wow, Brayden, this looks amazing!” Sara beams, placing her hand on my shoulder and giving it a squeeze.
“It sure does!” Cooper chirps, rubbing his hands together.
The room fills with conversations about the day, and when Jesse appears at my side, I stand a little straighter.
“This looks really great, Brayden,” he praises quietly, his lips hitching in a small smile.
My breath comes out in a quick huff as I look up at him. “Yeah?”
