“I feel the same way.”
They weren’t talking about the same thing, he knew. She meant the tour he’d offered to give of the cottage. He referred to something entirely different.
She got the gist, though. With a soft smile, she said, “I think my instincts have improved significantly since Nashville. I finally feel like I know what I’m doing. Like I can finally have something moving and meaningful in my life. Someone,” she added pointedly.
Sam grinned. “You can, darlin’.” He kissed her, then said, “You just have to accept that it’s okay to lean on someone from time to time.”
“I still don’t know what to do about the ex, so how can I ask for help?”
He nodded. “Fair enough. But maybe we can come up with a solution together.”
She seemed to give this some thought, then said, “I’ll make a decision in the morning. I kn
ow I’ve got to take action. I just don’t know what that’s going to entail.”
“I’m happy to work through it with you.”
Leaning forward, her lips brushed his and she said in a low voice, “I really do owe Reese a huge thank-you for being such a pain in the ass.”
“Yeah, me too.” He kissed her, his tongue sweeping over hers, twisting and tangling in that sexy way that got him all worked up again.
When they finally came up for air, he simply said, “I want you in my bed.”
“Told you I wasn’t saying no to you.”
She climbed off him and stood. Sam got to his feet as well and then promptly swept her off hers and carried her down the hallway.
“Do you have a favorite side?” she asked when they entered his room.
“The middle.”
With a giggle, she told him, “Guess I’ll just sleep on top of you, then.”
“That’d be all right by me.”
When they finally settled under the covers, though, she lay on her side and he spooned her.
“I like your arms around me,” she said. “All those muscles and heat surrounding me. And damn do you smell good.”
“Not like horses?”
“I’m sure you cleaned up before dinner.”
“I even put on cologne for you, darlin’. I’m just sorry I was running so late. Lot of paperwork and phone calls go along with bringing horses out to the ranch.”
“I can imagine.” She was quiet a moment, then asked, “What’s the new horse’s name?”
“I’m not going to tell you that.”
“Sam.”
He sighed. “I don’t want to give you any chance of getting attached, Sky. I’m already attached and it’s hell on me. Worse for Caleb, since he’s now the vet in charge of the case.”
She squirmed in his embrace and rolled over to face him.
“Thought you liked being surrounded by my muscles and heat,” Sam said.
Her fingers grazed his jaw. “You and your brother are wonderful people. When I first came here, I didn’t really think about how traumatic it could be for y’all to treat abused horses. Especially since so many of them that I see are on the mend. But I haven’t witnessed a new case come in, so I don’t really know how much more emotionally challenging it is.”