Page 20 of Texas Made
He smiled, pushed her back to lie on the table, and got busy.
Chapter Eight
Marshall was upbefore dawn, which Jaclyn figured out when he kissed her awake. “I have to go change and take care of the horses. Can I see you later?”
She smiled sleepily. “Only if you kiss me again before you leave.”
Smiling, he leaned down and kissed her again. She sighed happily and went back to sleep.
Much later, she met Damaris in the barn for a ride.
“Well, well,” Damaris said, finishing saddling one of the horses. “No need to ask you if you had a good time last night.”
She grinned, probably looking like the Cheshire cat. “I did have a nice time, thank you very much.”
“Apparently, so did Marshall.”
Surely he hadn’t—“Did he tell you that?”
Damaris laughed out loud. “No, of course not. But I saw him sneaking into his room in his tux. Plus, as if I’d needed any more hints, he was whistling when he came down to the barn. He’s been whistling up a storm.”
“Whistling? What does that have to do with anything?”
“My brother whistles when he’s particularly happy. And I must say, I haven’t heard him do that in a long time.” She seemed to think about that and added, “Not since Rocky was born, anyway.”
Jaclyn had been feeling pretty special but being compared to a colt popped her bubble. Even if Rocky’s dam was Marshall’s prize mare, Snowdrop, they were still talking about horses. “Gee, thanks.”
“To be fair,” Damaris said, chuckling, “I think he whistles when he gets lucky too. Although, it’s been so long since he’s dated, I can’t be sure.”
“You’re just a laugh a minute.”
Damaris walked over and patted her arm. “Honestly, Jaclyn, I’m glad for you and Marshall. I think you’re good together.”
“It’s nothing serious, Damaris. We’re just having fun temporarily.”
She nodded. “I know that’s what you said. You might be but I’m not so sure about Marshall. Are you sure he’s on the same page?”
Clearly, Damaris was still worried and didn’t want Marshall to be hurt. “We talked about it. You don’t need to worry. Neither of us wants that kind of commitment.”
“It’s not my business anyway. But I love you both so—” she shrugged and spread her hands “—goes with the territory.”
Jaclyn changed the subject before it got too sticky. “You’ve already saddled both horses. I would have helped,” she said guiltily.
“No biggie. I figured you were sleeping late but I thought you’d be here soon so I got both horses ready.”
Marshall entered the barn and spying Jaclyn, came right over. “Hey.” A simple greeting but his eyes said more.
“Hey,” Jaclyn said. She felt like a schoolgirl with her first crush. Her heart was beating fast and memories of the night before brought a blush to her cheeks. Naturally, Damaris was watching them with a smirk on her face.
“Look at that,” she said. “I have to go get something in the tack room.”
Neither Jaclyn nor Marshall paid any attention to her. Marshall raised a hand and rubbed her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “We didn’t get to talk much this morning. Can I see you tonight?”
“Of course.”
“Good. I’ve got chores to do. I’ll see you later.”
Jaclyn was still staring after him with an undoubtedly dreamy look on her face when Damaris returned. “Yoo-hoo, Jaclyn,” she said, waving a hand in front of her face. “Are you ready to go or shall we just sit here a while so you can moon over Marshall?”
