“Are you aware that you’ve been smiling for the past four days straight?” Holly inquired as she and Natalie heaved bags of cattle feed onto the platform cart in the Feed and Seed.

“There something wrong with that?” Natalie’s grin expanded. Thinking about Aaron when she wasn’t with him was addictive. A byproduct of her addiction was smiling about it.

“Hell no. I’m happy for you. Still curious why you tackled me in your hallway today so I couldn’t get to your room, but happy none the less.”

“You… just didn’t need to go in there.”

“Nat, not that I really care but last week you showed up in my bathroom while I was showering. We tell each other everything. What is up?”

Glancing around to see which other residents of Pleasant Glen might be in listening range, her eyes landed on Old Man Rasmussen. A wave of cold dread steamrolled her. He was thirty feet away but she swore the hateful glare he always gave her lowered the ambient temperature to somewhere near arctic tundra levels.

Her smile disappeared altogether. Utter hatred filled her. With a bag of feed hoisted on her shoulder, Holly turned to see the old man’s disdain. Narrowing her eyes, she flung the bag on top of the others. “We know we’re beautiful but staring is rude.”

“Fucker,” snarled from Luke’s mouth as he returned with bags of calf milk replacer and cattle meds. “Walk away, Rasmussen. You mess with my little sisters I’ll make it so you can’t see anything ever again. You got that old man?”

Hating that her big brother had defended her yet again, Natalie was secretly relieved. Wishing for the hundredth time that day alone that Aaron was there she wondered what would have happened if he had been. Rasmussen was his landlord. Aaron hated him but didn’t have a lot of other rentals available to him in the Glen.

Rasmussen walked away mumbling under his breath.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Holly huffed. “We can take care of ourselves.”

“Yeah, well, I was here and I didn’t much care for the way he was lookin’ at you. ’Sides he made a snide remark to dad about my wife a couple of weeks ago. He’s lucky to still be alive. Dad chewed him up and spit him out. Beating the piss out of an old guy ain’t exactly the honorable way of a cattle rancher but that don’t mean I won’t do it.”

“What did he say?” Natalie demanded.

“I ain’t repeating it. You two ready?”

“Since you’re here and wanting to flex your ego why don’t you haul feed bags? I want to look at the boots,” Holly taunted.

“Yeah, fine, just hurry up. I want to watch the Huskers game.”

Following after her sister, Natalie ran her hands along the cool metal shelving in the store. “Do you know why he hates me so much?”

“He hates all of us, not just you.” Holly plucked a box of snip-toe Corral boots off of a low shelf.

“It feels like it’s just me.”

“He’s an ornery old coot. Mama says he doesn’t have sense God gave fleas. He was a friend of Uncle Mick’s so that should tell you something.”

So that’s why. The cold dread plunged through her like a blade once again. Trying to take solace in the fact that no one in town knew the real reason her uncle had been banished from the ranch, she forced herself to draw slow, steady breaths.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. I miss my girl flashed on the screen. Her broad grin returned. His warmth chased away the chill that had overtaken her. She missed him, too. He was working the afternoon and evening shifts that day and wouldn’t be over until late.

“You would look sexy in these, Nat, try them on.” Holly thrust the pair of boots she’d just tried on at her. They were pretty. Pointy toed with a teal lace design, much fancier than anything she ever purchased for ranch work.

“I thought you were getting them.”

“The heel is too high for me and I have fancy boots. You don’t. I bet Aaron would trip over his own tongue if you wore those with say a g-string and nothing else.” Holly waggled her eyebrows.

“I don’t own any g-strings, Holl.” Sitting on a nearby bench, Natalie tried on the boots.

“Then I know what we’re shopping for next. You said Aaron was working both shifts today. We’re going to Ogallala for some sisterly shopping.”

Turning her foot to see the design, Natalie had to admit the boots did look good. She stood and tried to see herself in the plastic stick-on mirror.

“Damn, damn, damn.” She gasped as Aaron stalked to her side. His appreciative whistle delighted her almost as much as his appearance.

“What are you doing here?”

“I told you I missed you.”

“I miss you, too, but aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

“Threatened to report Ed if he didn’t start letting me take real breaks. He’s bitching about it but knows it’s illegal not to. Figured I’d come down here and see if you were still buying feed.”

Natalie threw her arms around his neck. “I’m so glad you decided that.”

“Babe, your ass in those jeans and those boots, my God. I’m gonna be hard up for days,” he whispered in her ear.

“Bet I could help you out with that tonight.”

That shuddered growl she loved came next. The perfect antidote to Rasmussen and life in general kept tight hold of her. She was pretty sure heaven couldn’t be any better.

“Get the box. I’m buying those for you.” He patted her backside. Holly giggled.

“You are not buying these for me.”

“Watch me.”

“Let him spoil you. It’s fun,” Holly assured her.

After the boots were purchased, Aaron took her hand and guided her out of the store. “Guess I need to get back to the bar.”

“I need a kiss first.”

“Oh honey, trust me, that was my plan.” He leaned in. His breath whispered across her lips.

“Natalie Camden,” rang from the most annoying voice she’d ever heard. She jerked her head away from Aaron intent on telling Cheryl Crawford to take a long walk off a short pier. “Just what are your intentions with Thomas?”

“Who is Thomas?” Natalie demanded.

“T-Byrd.” Cheryl preened like a rooster with a rock up its ass.

Aaron’s brow furrowed but he said nothing. Rolling her eyes, Natalie spat, “I have no intentions with T other than to be his friend. Now, we were busy so, bye, bye.”

“Well, it certainly didn’t seem that way to me when I confronted him last week right in front of the courthouse about not returning my phone calls. He said he was here to see you. Acted like there was quite a bit going on between you two and here I see you making out on the sidewalk with someone else. Thomas has feelings you know. You Camdens seem to think you can just have your cake and eat it, too.”

“What?” Utterly confused, Natalie turned to Aaron for a little help. She swore she saw a flash of panic in his eyes before he composed himself. What the hell?

“T was probably messing around. He came to see me and to bring Nat her jacket. Why do you care so much, Cheryl?”

“What T and I shared was special,” she whined.

“Really?” Aaron huffed. “He took you home one time and then failed to return your calls and texts for a year and you thought it was special?”

If Natalie hadn’t been so annoyed, she would’ve felt bad for Cheryl. If Cheryl wasn’t more agitating than an ass boil, she might’ve even been irritated with T for doing her that way. As it stood, she wanted Cheryl to evaporate so she could get back to kissing Aaron.

“Well, now that he’s lost all of that money in Alaska I thought maybe he could use some comfort. If he started one successful company surely he could start another. He just needs some encouragement.”

Aaron rubbed his temples and Natalie bit her lips together. “I’m doubting he has time for comfort since he’s so busy in Alaska working…”

“On the pipeline,” Cheryl supplied.

“Right. The pipeline. That’s difficult work.” Aaron played her like a fool. “I hadn’t even seen him in ages. Poor guy.”

Natalie choked back laughter.

“Wait just a second.” Cheryl leaned in. Aaron stepped between her and Natalie. “If you aren’t seeing T then how did he have your jacket?”

Tongue-tied, Natalie tried to formulate a believable lie.

“He and Nat have been friends for ages. He actually introduced us. He’d had the jacket for a couple of years just keep forgetting to get it back to her. Wanted to return it before he headed back to Alaska.” Aaron, however, lied like it was his job. She reminded herself that at one time it had been.

“Oh. Well, when I saw him at the courthouse and heard him talking about you I got to wondering if maybe there was something serious between you. I don’t share.”

I’m gonna kill him. Aaron seethed. If he’d still been his C.O. he would’ve give T months of hard labor for being so reckless. What the hell was he thinking chatting up Cheryl outside the very building where they were breaking in? Praying Natalie didn’t think too hard about the courthouse comment, he cleared his throat.

“Next time I talk to T I’ll let him know you were thinking of him.” I’ll let him know by shoving my fist down his throat for being a dumbass.

Before Aaron could come up with some way to get Cheryl to walk away, Holly and Luke were at their sides. “You ready, Nat? Katy wants us to pick her up so she can go to Ogallala with us.”

“You’re going to Ogallala?” Aaron prayed he could distract her.

“Yeah, but we won’t be back too late.”

“Have fun, baby. I got to get back to work.” Despite Cheryl, Holly, and her most overly-protective big brother standing nearby, Aaron plastered his lips to Natalie’s. If she found the kiss mind-blowing all the better. His right hand raced down her side hinting at the tender swell of her breast. His left grasped her ass. He called himself a fucker for using the things that drove her the craziest against her.

Cheryl’s angry huff assured him this was working. The click of her boot heels echoed against his skull as she marched away.

Natalie swayed against him as he eased back. Her eyes were at half-mast. Her lips puffy from his force. He knew she was wet. Trying to remember why he kept his job in the first place, he clenched his jaw until his molars protested. “I’ll see you tonight, babe.”

She nodded as Holly took her hand and half-dragged her to Luke’s truck.

“I’m gonna fucking rip your arm off and beat your ass with it,” he informed T as he stomped back to the bar.

“What did I do now?”

“Cheryl.” Aaron spoke through his teeth making certain no one on the street was paying him any attention.

“Dude, that was over a year ago. What is it with you and Griff hanging her over my head?”

“Not that.”

“Then what?”

“I can’t tell you right now. I’ll text it to you on my next break.”

“Well, now I’m curious.”

“Why don’t you tell me about your other mission.”

“If it will get you to chill, fine. The dude basically sits on his ass all day. Must’ve been a smoker. He’s on oxygen. Only leaves his house to go to the gas station to buy milk and off-brand cookies. His ex-wife went by there yesterday.”

“Wonder if she knows what he did.”

“No idea, but she was carrying casserole dishes and an envelope I’m betting had pics of those grandkids he’s wanting to see.”

“She has to know.” There was no way the Camdens threw the entire family off the ranch without her knowing.

“You said Brock doesn’t know. Maybe she doesn’t either. On the other hand, if she does, she struck me as the type who would consider it her duty to feed the lowlife piece of garbage even though they’re divorced.”

“When did they divorce?” Aaron held the phone between his shoulder and ear while he tied on his apron.

“Yeah, I wondered exactly what you’re wondering. It was approximately ten seconds after their beloved son graduated from high school. She was protecting Brock from his father.”

“Interesting.”

“Agreed.”