“Yeah, tell me about it.” He laughed when she swatted at him.
“Just show me the tack room, and I’ll get my horse saddled,” she said.
“Come on, darlin’, let’s get going so Nick can get to work.”
“You two have a good day. I’m heading to Dewey’s tonight, so it’s hard to tell when I’ll be home.”
“No problem. Don’t bring any strange women home,” Wilder told him.
“Youhave a woman here.” Nick folded his arms.
“Rory’s not strange.” Wilder laughed when she giggled.
“Well, that’s true. And besides, you know I never bring women here.”
“Why not?” Rory asked Nick.
“What if I bring one here and she turns out to be a stalker?” He shook his head. “No, I can’t take that chance.”
Wilder snorted and watched as Rory placed her hands on her hips and glared at his brother.
“You think I believe that? You don’t want to bring one home because you don’t want them getting ideas about a future with you.”
Wilder looked at Nick to see him looking at him. Both men grinned, then laughed.
“Busted, big brother.”
“No shit.” Nick moved around them. “Have a pleasant ride.”
Wilder looked at Rory to see her smiling. Then she looked at him.
“I like your brother.”
“He’s off-limits.”
“Oh, I didn’t know he was involved with someone.”
“He’s not but he’s off-limits to you. I love my brother, but he’s not getting my woman.”
Rory laughed and threw her arms around his neck, stood on her toes, and kissed his lips.
“Am I your woman?”
“I sure hope so. I have to tell you, Rory, that I’ve never been so attracted to any woman as I was to you when I first saw you. Once this case is over, I want us to see where this is going. If that’s what you want.”
“Oh, it is.”
“Good. Let’s get going.” Wilder gave her a quick kiss and then took her hand to lead her to the tack room.
After saddling the horses, they rode out of the barn, past a gate, and through the pasture.
****
Rory glanced around the property and smiled. It was beautiful here. Of course, most of Montana was.
She spotted several rows of pine trees and hoped they would head that way.
“We’ll head over there so you can see the trees.”