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“Well, I’m an idiot. It comes with the territory.”
“Trust me. You’re not an idiot and I should know as it’s my native tongue. Come on, sweet bean, I’m not a mind reader.”
“I don’t know exactly. But sometimes I can’t help but feeling that …you like my family more than me.” She raced through the last part. Lucas looked at her blankly until his face melted with understanding.
“Oh, Maggie, you’re like a meal at a three-star Michelin restaurant and your family is the after-dinner mint. I’ve been drawn to you since the moment I laid eyes on you.”
“When I was sweaty and nervous that first day of class?”
“No. Earlier. I had to pick my sister up from a debate meet and you were at the podium. I think you were arguing about water rights. I can’t really remember, but I do remember feeling as though time had stopped. That it was just you and me in that space and everyone faded away. Except you didn’t know I was there.” He smiled.
“High school?”
“Yeah, I even asked some of my football buddies on your school’s team about you. One of them gave me your number and invited me to a party he thought you’d be at.”
Maggie cracked open the high school memory chest in her brain. She hadn’t gone to a lot of parties. It wasn’t fun sticking out with her red hair and looming over most of her classmates. “You were there. Were you friends with Bobby?” He nodded and she closed her eyes, trying to remember more. “Girls surrounded you all night long. Hanging off your every word and batting their eyes at you. How did you think that was going to work for you, Einstein?” she asked, poking his chest.
“Seems to have worked out pretty well. I’m with you now. In a deserted barn. Just the two of us,” he said, a breath away from her lips and she shivered.
“Hmmm,” she murmured before erasing the distance. Her hands fisted in his hair, anchoring her to him. Lucas kissed his way down her neck, her sensitive skin pebbling in response. And then he nipped the sensitive spot at the base of her neck. His hands eased under her sweater, stroking the skin above her waist. She felt his warm breath everywhere as her hair tumbled down.
“How are you doing that? It feels like your hands are all over me,” she murmured, deciding she didn’t need to know the answer. Not when it felt this good. He groaned as she eased back, needing to catch her breath.
She jerked to the side and grabbed her ear, whirling behind her. Her hair tie hung from the llama’s mouth. “Eww.”
“See, the llama likes you best.” Lucas wrapped his arms around her, and his chest shook against her back. Maggie tugged the ribbon from the llama’s mouth and shoved it in her pocket, straightening and stepping aside.
“I need to go check on Mac and Beth,” she said with as much dignity as she could muster after being wet-willied by an amorous llama. Lucas wrapped his arm around her and tugged her to his side. Most of the animals stuck their heads out of the stalls to greet them. It didn’t surprise her that he knew all their names.
“Do you want to go in?” he asked, reaching for the latch.
“No. I’m good here.” Maggie rested her arms on the top of the half door and Lucas matched her pose. I need to talk with Mac and Beth. Two sheep lifted their heads and tentatively walked toward her. Lucas’s eyes widened as the sheep approached, but he didn’t say anything.
Yes? the bigger one asked.
The lady who feeds and cares for you is worried. Why won’t you go outside with the other sheep? Maggie asked, rubbing her hands between their ears when they reached her.
We do.
She says she has to push you out the door and then you huddle next to the wall.
It’s the chickens, the smaller sheep said before the larger one gave it a gentle head bump. Maggie didn’t know if it was a reprimand or encouragement, but it didn’t matter. Maggie sighed. Nanna should have known. The chickens always caused problems.
I’ll take care of it. You’re safe here, Maggie promised, and the two sheep bowed their heads before walking away. “Ready to go back?” she asked Lucas.
“That’s it? You’re done?” he asked, looking confused.
“Yep, but it’s a nice night out. Care for a stroll past the chicken coop?” Lucas looked at her like she’d lost her mind, but he followed her out into the yard. They pointed out their favorite constellations to each other, and Maggie admitted to having a telescope in her bedroom. “For the sky, not to creep on the tourists,” she explained, but her ready defense exposed her guilt.
“You’ll have to show me sometime.” Maggie liked that idea. Of showing him her telescope and her room. Of sharing another piece of herself with him. Of getting one step closer to sharing all of herself with him, just like she wanted to know and touch all of him.
She stuck her head in the coop. Big Red, leave the sheep alone.
You’re no fun, the large hen said, pecking her way toward her. Maggie pulled her hands back. Red always claimed pecking her was an accident, but Maggie had caught on to the bully.
You girls should huddle up tonight. Maggie looked at each hen. It’s going to be a cold one. Temps are already falling. She dropped to her knees and looked at Lucas.
“Can you shine your phone on the heater?” Lucas looked at her like she was crazy, but he pointed his flash at the heater.
