Page 45 of Wilde About You

"Very clever. It's the same with photography."

I dropped a pile into the wheelbarrow and pushed it out of the stall. "Didn't you say you had a job with an online sports magazine?"

"I did. I'm sure that's no longer the case." She disappeared into a stall to check the water and popped back out.

I pushed the barrow to the last stall. "You got fired?"

"Not sure. It's amazing how one little device called a phone keeps you connected to the world and turning off that same device cuts you off completely from that same world. I'm sure my boss is done with me and frankly—same."

"What are you going to do next?" I pushed the barrow into the stall. The horses were eating breakfast and couldn't have cared less that we were popping in and out of their stalls. None of them even looked up.

Sadie's pretty face peered over the stall door. "Hmm, I could sell my highly valuable photo and then head to the Caribbean to hide out."

It was the first time the photo had come up since we got to the ranch. It was obvious she was trying not to think about it much. "Do you think that you'll do that? I mean, sell it? And if you're going to the Caribbean to hide out, I'm coming with."

"Of course you are." She pulled the hood lower. "So is this sweatshirt, though I probably won't need it there."

I dropped the last pile into the barrow. "And if you decide not to sell it?" I walked to the door.

Sadie caught up to me. "Everyone has water." We walked across the yard to the mass manure pile. "I'll have to find a way to make money. I have some connections overseas, so I'll probably head to South America or something like that."

I stopped the barrow and looked at her. "Shit. You'd leave?"

"A girl's gotta make her way in the world, and since my dad has for sure cut me out of the will after the puffin prank, I'm going to need to get serious about something soon."

I was stunned by my reaction to her casually mentioning she might leave the country. How quickly she'd worked her way around my heart. I didn't want her to go, but the thought of leaving me didn't seem like a big deal to her at all. I wasn't going to be the fool, sulking around brokenhearted while I waited and hoped that she came back to me. I needed to cool off and cool down.

I nodded. "Yeah, I guess there are better opportunities abroad," I said curtly. "Let's go inside and eat. I saw some eggs in the fridge." I turned and started walking toward the house. I sensed that she'd stayed behind, confused about my sudden change in demeanor.

I kept walking and heard her run up behind me. She took hold of my arm and picked up her pace to keep up with my long stride. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing. Why do you ask?"

"Uh, that's why. 'Why do you ask?'" she said in her best robotic voice. "You've gone all chilly cold on me. I can see little icicles forming in your hair." She reached up to my hair, and I ducked out of her touch. "See, you are mad. Why?"

I stopped and turned to her. "Do you really have to fucking ask? You just casually tossed out that you're leaving to South America or some far off place. I thought—shit, I don't know what I thought. I'm hungry."

She took my hand to stop me again. Her blue gaze held mine for a silent moment. "I'm feeling the same way as you, Colin. I get the sense that something big is happening here, and honestly, it scares the shit out of me. I cope best by disconnecting. I taught myself that early on because my family were never the connecting type. I'm used to being alone, but when I'm with you—it's really nice not being alone."

I grabbed her into my arms. "Then don't be alone. Be with me. Stay with me."

She wrapped her arms around my neck. "I'm kind of a pain in the ass. You might get sick of me or realize that I'm crazy."

I pressed my mouth hard against hers. We stood that way, in that kiss, until my old man came out to ruin the moment.

"Making some bacon if anyone wants slices of greasy pig with their eggs," he said, completely ignoring the fact that we were having a private moment. The screen door slammed.

Sadie started laughing first, her mouth vibrating against mine. I lifted my head and shook it. "Still think he's cool?"

"Well, yeah, I think so. Definitely not having slices of greasy pig with my eggs though." She started toward the steps, but I stopped her and pulled her back into my arms.

"I won't ever get tired of the fact that you are a pain in the ass or crazy. That's the best part about you. Aside from that very fine ass, of course."

Her smile had already etched itself into my soul. "It is pretty fine, isn't it?"

"Oh yeah, up there in the top ten."

Her brows dropped in a glower.