“Up here, baby,” Kacie called over the railing. “Don’t come up. It’s not safe. We’ll be right down.”
Lucy and Piper’s feet clomped around the wooden floor of the barn as they skipped to the other side to look in one of the old horse stables.
“Are you okay?” Kacie licked her swollen, pink lips.
“No.” I grunted. “I’m so past the point of no return, it’s not even funny.”
“I’m so sorry,” she apologized. “I promise to take care of it later.”
I pushed my legs apart in an effort to keep my thighs from rubbing against my balls. “I hope so. I’m going to be walking like I just got off a horse for the rest of the damn day.”
She tried not to giggle as she apologized again. “I really am sorry. Do you have blue balls?”
“No. I have navy blue balls.” I groaned uncomfortably. “Feels like I got kicked in my junk. Have you ever heard of anyone dying from this before? If not, I might be the first.”
“Mommy, Miss JoAnn said it’s time for lunch,” Piper hollered.
“Okay, baby. We’re coming.” She chuckled and threw her hand over her mouth, realizing what she’d just said.
“We were about to,” I growled at her as we walked toward the ladder.
I sailed through the doors at work, still on a complete high from my wonderful weekend with Brody and the girls, determined not to let anything spoil my day.
Famous last words.
“Good morning, Darla!” I sang out as I tucked my lunch bag in my cubby and took off my hoodie.
She took a bite of her apple and cocked an eyebrow at me. “Uh oh. Someone got some this weekend.”
I tried to hide my smile, but every time I thought back to the surprised look on Brody’s face when I started to go down on him in the barn, I couldn’t help but grin. However, the look on his face a few hours later when I relieved the poor guy’s pain and finished what I’d started was even better. Who knew his dad’s workshop could be so much fun?
“I don’t blame you. With a boyfriend as hot as yours, I’d be on him like a goddamn spider monkey.” She giggled, tossing her apple in the garbage.
I laughed and shook my head at her. I really did like Darla. She had absolutely no filter and spouted out whatever came to mind, but she made working here not just tolerable, but fun. The fact that Maureen really liked her and Darla often talked me up to her was an added bonus.
“Whose boyfriend is hot?”
My heart leapt into my throat as I turned around to hang my hoodie up. It didn’t matter how much time had passed, that voice still sent me into a tailspin, just for different reasons now.
“Kacie’s. He’s a hockey player, a professional one,” Darla chimed back. “I’m waiting. I’ll totally take sloppy seconds on that one. He’s too hot to pass up.”
“Oh really?” Zach said curiously.
“Yeah.” She sighed. “Gorgeous brown curls, the dreamiest green eyes you’ve ever seen and an ass made for slappin’.”
Oh God, Darla, please stop talking. Right now.
“Doubt I’ll get the chance, though. From what I hear, he’s pretty damn smitten with her.”
“What’s his name?” Zach asked nonchalantly.
“Bro—”
“None of your business.” I spun around, interrupting Darla.
Zach grinned at me, a heart-stopping grin. A grin that I used to love. A grin that used to melt my heart. “None of your business? That’s a weird name.” He was leaning on the tall counter at the desk, his hands folded in front of him.
“I gotta get to work,” I said coldly, walking over to check out the charts.
“Actually, I tried to call you. Maureen had to tweak the schedule a bit. You don’t start for an hour.” Darla gave me a lopsided frown. “Sorry.”
I groaned. That meant I’d have to stay an hour later, and while I came in to work happy, suddenly I was looking forward to getting out of here and heading home.
“Hey, that worked out nice. I’m about to go on my break.” Zach stood up straight. “Can we talk?”
Darla looked back and forth between the two of us. “Do you two like know each other?”
Four years’ worth of glares and resentment poured out of me as I glared into his dark brown eyes. How dare he put me in this position at work?
Asshole.
“I’m busy.”
“Sweet Darla right here just said that you can’t start work for another hour. Come on, please?” His eyes were soft, begging me to hear him out, but I wasn’t having it.
“No, thanks,” I said flatly.
“What’s going on?” Darla’s eyes were huge, wondering what it was she was missing.
“Kacie doesn’t want to talk to me, even though I’ve been pleading with her to hear me out for a couple weeks now.” Zach answered Darla without breaking my stare.
“Why don’t you shut your mouth?” I snapped at him. “You’re very good at keeping quiet. Try it now.”
Darla’s mouth fell open as she slumped into her chair slowly. “Whoa. I don’t know the history here, but it’s deep, huh?”