Page 61 of Trigger Happy

His raspy drawl makes the word “ride” sound like it’s smoking, and I try, I really do, not to look at his hands—or his mouth. This precarious partnership is teetering on the edge of something else, and I’m not sure what to do about it. Things have shifted in a way I’m not ready to acknowledge. Our sharp arguments have dulled to inside jokes and small smiles, and the touches, the flirting, the winks, it’s all starting to feel real, which hammers in my guilt, nailing it deeper into my skin.

“I’m not wearing this.” I instantly go to yank it off, but he stops me with a hand to my wrist.

“You’ll be thanking me when it keeps the sun out of your eyes.” He taps the brim, and his lips curve up. His full, deliciously rough lips that feel…

I give my head a hard shake. “I prefer my retinas burned.”

A dark chuckle falls out of his mouth. That’s been happening more often lately, and every time he laughs, the noise drops into my memories, making me wonder if I’ll ever get the sound out of my head. I’m still trying to figure out how to react when he’s not slinging death threats my way.

Lawton’s eyes flick over my shoulder, and then he suddenly tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “You should wear it. I never thought seeing my wife in a cowgirl hat would be such a turn on, but here we are.”

His eyes sink to my mouth, and before I have time to catch on, he’s kissing me. His unshaven jaw prickles against my cheek as he angles my head up for him. My lips part on their own, and I sweep my hands up his chest, drawing him closer.

He cups the back of my neck, letting his tongue tease the seam of my bottom lip. It’s different than our other kisses, less hurried, as if this kiss were an ellipsis with a question mark.

All too quickly, he pulls back, punctuating the end.

My heart is racing, and I’m about to ask what that was for when Bobbi appears, leading a chestnut horse by a rope.

Oh.

“You two are so cute. I swear, you’re like the perfect couple,” she says, stroking the animal’s nose. “This is Dragon. He’s your ride, Sophie. He loves carrots, hates snakes, and will scratch his nose on your bootie if you’re not careful. Here, give him a carrot.”

I don’t want to ride any horse named Dragon, much less watch him chomp on a carrot. The beast snorts, and I take a wary step back. I’d rather be chained to a chair right about now. At least I know how to handle that situation.

My shoulders meet Lawton’s chest, and his hands curl around my arms, squeezing a little. I remind myself we’re the married version of ourselves when my body tingles in response.

“I trained him myself,” she adds. “Don’t be scared. He won’t bite.”

Lawton snaps his teeth against my ear. “But I’m not that nice.”

A fiery jolt shoots through me before I can stop it. He keeps his hands on my shoulders, so I lean into him, telling myself I have to do this for Bobbi’s sake.

“Dammit, Luke,” Arch says, clapping him on the back. “You stole my line.”

Lawton untangles himself from me to playfully jab him in the ribs. “Gotta be quicker next time, Archibald.”

“How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?” He smacks the back of Lawton’s head. “I swear my mom wanted me to grow up to be a duke or some shit, naming me Archibald.”

Lawton eyes the hair brushing the tips of his traps. “I could picture you in velvet pants trotting around an English manor with your pinky up. It’s the long hair.”

Arch laughs. “Fuck you.”

And then they’re fighting or… I think they are? They’re locked in this mess of slaps, bumps, and half-assed punches. Lawton could easily choke him to death, but he keeps his punches lazy. I study Arch’s movements instead, and he’s actually pretty quick on his feet. For someone who works weekends at Roadstop Brewery, his form’s not bad. In fact, I can’t tell who would win if these guys were really fighting.

Lawton gets Arch in a headlock. “I win,” he mutters, tightening his hold, biceps bulging with the motion. “Say it.”

“Never, asshole,” Arch wheezes with a grin.

“Say I fucking win.”

Arch twists out from under him. I watch them punch and slap, and a sharp twinge scratches at my heart. If only making friends were as easy as putting someone in a headlock, but it’s worse than online dating for me.

I shake off the feeling, turning back to Bobbi and the horse. “You said you trained Dragon?”

She nods, petting the horse’s mane. “I grew up riding. I’ve always wanted to start a therapy ranch, something for kids, maybe. Horses were such a huge part of my life growing up. Lolly loved it, but, you know, life gets in the way.”

I file that information for later. “What do you mean life gets in the way?”