Page 97 of Savage Heart

“How about I walk you to your car?” I grab my hat and hurry to catch up.

“And risk being seen with the town pariah?” she asks, glancing back at me.

“Let the whole world watch,” I say quietly and thread my fingers through hers.

When we reach her car, she presses the fob to unlock it, and I open her door. I lean forward and press another kiss to her lips. She kisses me back but then steps away too soon, looking around to see if anyone is watching. Her breath hitches, and I turn to see Zoey Samuels and her sister frozen as they stare at us.

“Evening,” I say, putting my hat on and tipping it in greeting.

Their mouths are gaping, and I chuckle, turning back to look at Iris.

“Let the whole world watch, tiger eyes,” I repeat quietly.

She gulps and gets in her car. I tap the roof when she shuts the door. Taking a step back, I watch as she drives away and then get in my truck and go home.

After a shower, I get in bed, feeling pretty fucking great about the way this night went.

The next morning, I wake up energized and ready for the day. When I step outside, the sun is just cresting over the hills, painting the ranch in that soft golden light that I love. I head to the stables, mucking out stalls and replaying last night in my head. The way Iris came undone against me, the taste of her skin and mouth, the way she looked at me afterward, like maybe she wanted to believe in us. Her beautiful mouth wrapped around me . . . so fucking perfect.

I hope she doesn’t wake up regretting what happened.

The sound of tires on gravel pulls me out of my thoughts. I look out to see Otis’s old car rumbling up the drive. Linc hops out, his boots hitting the dirt. Pickle runs over to say hello, and Linc laughs, giving him lots of ear scratches.

Otis gives me a nod from behind the wheel, then backs out. My gut twists that it wasn’t Iris.

“Morning, Maverick,” Linc calls, waving as he grabs a feed bucket.

“Morning.” I grin as he jogs over. “Ready to get these horses fed?”

“Sure am.” He dives right in, measuring out oats with the precision of a pro.

Linc and I work side by side, and as we’re finishing up, he looks up at me and grins from ear to ear.

“Hey, we’re coming back at lunchtime—me and Mom. She said we’re hanging out later today.”

My heart surges. “Yeah, I’m looking forward to it,” I say, keeping my voice casual. I clap him on the shoulder. “We’ll go for a nice long ride, if you want.”

He beams. “Can’t wait.”

“You know, you could just hang out here until your mom comes.”

He makes a face. “She wanted me to come home and do my chores there first since it’ll be a few hours before you’re free.” His eyebrows go up, and he grins. “Unless you need my help around here.”

I chuckle. “I can always use your help around here, but we better do what your mom says today. Next time, I’ll make sure she knows you can hang out here as long as you want.”

“Thanks, Maverick,” he says, and I think my heart doubles in size.

Otis swings by to pick him up a while later, and Linc waves, that grin making me laugh.

When I finish the morning routine, I head toward the big house, my boots kicking up dust. Smells of bacon, coffee, and the works waft out, and my stomach growls, but my mind is preoccupied with how to drop this bomb on the family. The place is already buzzing. Mom hums as she flips pancakes and grins when she sees me.

“Mornin’,” she says.

“Mornin’.” I go over and kiss her cheek.

Cameron and Grady are at the table arguing about something. Sounds like feed prices, maybe. Dad’s buried in the newspaper, grumbling about the weather. Billie and Charlie stumble in sleepily and start piling their plates. I don’t see Jennifer, which feels like a divine intervention. I sit by my brothers once I’ve got my food and decide to just go for it.

“Hey, so . . . Iris and Linc will be around later.”