“You don’t know me well enough to say that.”
“I’ve been watching you this week at Capwell, the way the other employees look up to you like you have every answer under the sun at your fingertips. You’re like a walking, talking rendition of Google.”
“That’s because ninety percent of them are interns. I’m paid to know more than they do. And, believe me, I’m not paid too much more than they are.” Although, in all fairness, the ranch provides more than enough for me to live off for the rest of my life. My father isn’t nearly as generous with his time as he is with his money.
“Don’t they work for free?”
“Exactly.” I touch my finger to her nose, and our eyes connect. A spike of heat rips through my chest. For a micro-second I’m convinced I’m having a cardiac episode. Marley is beautiful enough to induce one in any healthy male.
“What are you thinking?”
I press my lips together for a moment resisting the urge to kiss her. “I’m thinking about the body count you’re going to amass in this lifetime if you’re not careful. I think being in your presence—sleeping with you—should require a medical bill of clean health.”
“Boy, your mind wanders right to the ominous, doesn’t it? Are you afraid a little cardio with me might result in a casket fitting?”
“I’m healthy.”
“Guess what?” She plucks her phone out and pulls up a screenshot. “So am I. Got my results back this morning. I guess the only thing keeping distance between you and me is time.”
“Eight days.”
“Seven nights.” She bats her lashes seductively. Marley hikes up on the balls of her feet and moves in a few inches, her lips parting in anticipation.
“Seven nights,” I pant into her mouth before the horses whinny, and I pull away. “I think we should hold off on all extra-curricular sports until the day of. You know, let the anticipation build up, then shoot off like a truck full of fireworks.”
Her pink lips twist in a knot. Her eyes seethe to vengeful slits. Something tells me she’s not a big fan of the waiting game.
“I swear I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“That’s what you keep saying.” My arm cinches around her waist as we head back toward the horses. “What would you have done if I had said no?”
Marley takes in a breath that expands the girth of her chest in a way that only a contemplative thought can.
“I guess I would have found someone else.”
“Oh, yeah? Here’s what I think about that.” I reach down and scoop up a mountain of snow and pile it on top of her head.
“You did not just do that!” Marley breaks free and traps a handful of snow hurling it my way, but the powder sprays out to nothing before it can reach me.
“You throw snow like a girl,” I tease.
“You did not just say that!” A small cry escapes her as she digs in with all she’s got and hoists an avalanche in my direction. “One thing you’d better know about me, I’m fiercely competitive!”
“Nice work.” I beam her in the arm, and she gives a maniacal laugh as she packs together a snowball the size of a brick. “Turns out I’m competitive, too!”
We spend the next half hour laughing our heads off, pelting one another with rounds of snow the size of volleyballs.
“I give!” I fall back on a cushion of ice, and my very sore muscles crave every last inch of it. Another snowball pelts me in the side of the head. “Go easy on me, would you? Man down.” I hold up my arms a moment before gravity takes over.
She slides in next to me, panting. Her hair peppered with bits of ice. “Is that what you’re going to say after I wear you out in the sack?”
“You’re not going to wear me out in the sack, sweetie. You’ll be too busy struggling to get free.” I pull her over me as if it were a commonplace gesture, and our laughter quickly subsides. Marley takes in a breath and holds it. “Sorry.” I loosen my grip, but she steadies herself over me.
“Don’t be. I’m not.” She traces out my lips with her finger. Marley examines my features one inch at a time. “Why did you say yes?” She breathes the words in a whisper.
“Because I don’t think I can refuse you anything.”
“Brilliant answer.”
It’s the truth.
I’m with Cupid
Marley
Valentine’s Day is sort of an awkward holiday to have crop up if you’ve just started dating someone, let alone if you’ve just penned an agreement to strictly utilize them for coital purposes. It’s a Sunday, which also puts me in that awkward space between school and work the next day. I’m exhausted because, for one, Baya and I spent all morning getting lost in thrift stores. Who knew you could go broke in those kinds of places? Lucky for me, Baya paid for most everything. I tried to stop her, but she said if I sewed the clothes we’d be more than even. We spent the rest of the afternoon going over the game plan that Wyatt mapped out for us (I may have let it leak about the special contract he whipped up for me. And I have a feeling whips will be an integral part of our experimentation sessions but I digress. Baya thinks we’re both freaks of nature and couldn’t be happier for us.)