Page 113 of Knot my First Rodeo

I set the replacement board on the ground.

"Eventually."

She exhales sharply. "You're enjoying this."

"A little."

"You're the worst."

"Not even close."

She mutters something that sounds suspiciously like ‘jackass.’

I choose not to acknowledge it, as she's probably right.

Autumn settles on the fence rail nearby, watching me work, or pretending to watch me work, rather; really, she's watching me not answer her question. I can feel it every time I glance in her direction.

"Clint."

I hammer a nail into place. "Yep."

"You're stalling."

I hammer another nail. "Maybe."

A glob of grass hits my shoulder and I glance over to find her glaring at me.

"Violence seems unnecessary."

"Answering me seems necessary."

Fair.

I set the hammer down and rest my forearms on the fence post. Autumn immediately goes quiet. The breeze catches her scent and I suck in a lungful of her black cherry and almond. Instantly, my heart beats harder in my chest.

I look back toward the pasture since it's easier than looking directly at her.

"You wanna know what changed first?"

Her brows pull together. "What?"

"It wasn't the heat."

The words come easier than I expect. Maybe because I've been thinking about them for a while now.

"The heat just made it harder to ignore."

She doesn't interrupt, just waits for me to keep going.

"I started making enough coffee for four." The corner of her mouth twitches. "I stopped calling it the guest room. I started buying Dr. Pepper and those weird energy drinks even when they weren't on the grocery list, because if I didn't, you'd spend three days complainin' about it."

"That's one time."

"It was not one time."

"It was twice."

I look at her, but she only shrugs.