Page 99 of Huckleberry Hill
Declan was in the middle of taking off his boots when he saw me. “Don’t come any closer.”
“Too late. I can smell you from here. Is that cow dung all over you?”
“Yeah.” He sighed. “Merlin got uppity and knocked into me. I fell into a pile of wet cow shit.”
I covered my mouth but couldn’t stop the laughter that escaped. It only worsened when Declan began hopping around on one foot in an attempt to remove his boot.
“I was about to spray myself off outside and then shower before you came over. Bad news, though, Merlin’s antics cost me my grocery shopping time. I don’t have anything to cook.”
“Oh.” I bit my lip.
“I’d kiss you hello, but . . . yeah.”
I stifled another laugh and moved toward the side of the cabin where the hose was. “Come on, I’m hosing you down.”
“You’re going to derive pleasure from this, aren’t you?”
“Probably. Strip down, cowboy.”
He began to unbutton his shirt. “I’m about to show off my pelt. Don’t get overly excited.”
I smirked. “Thanks for the warning.”
Declan stripped down to his army green boxer briefs, showing off a lot more than just his pelt.
I fiddled with the knob on the spigot. Cold water gushed from the hose. I picked it up and held it like a gun. “Are you feeling lucky, punk?” I asked in my best Clint Eastwood impression.
“Not even a little bit. Aim away from my crotch. I don’t want shrinkage.”
I hit him with water and he let out a garbled, “Ahhhhhhh!”
When he was rinsed off, nary a smear of cow dung on his skin, he ran toward the cabin.
“Fuck, I’m freezing!”
“Make sure to wash twice!” I called as I trailed after him.
Declan beelined for the bathroom. “Make yourself comfortable.”
The door to the bathroom closed and I was alone. I went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. It was bare bones despite the fact that he’d made nachos for me last night. There was a third of a block of cheese and a few eggs. We could make do with a cheese omelet, but that wasn’t what I was in the mood for.
I looked in the freezer. Two mini frozen pizzas.
My cell phone buzzed. I pulled it out of the side pocket of my overalls and looked at the screen. Nerves skated through my belly. I glanced at the bathroom and heard the faintest sound of the shower.
I marched to the front door and closed it behind me as I answered the call.
“Hello?”
“Hey . . . Hadley,” Nico greeted awkwardly. “How are you?”
“Fine,” I said, my heart pumping rapidly in my chest. “How are the renovations going?”
“They’re going,” he said.
He fell silent for a moment.
I closed my eyes, wondering why Gianni’s cousin was calling me.
