The Country Duet(20)

“Maybe.”

“Bullshit.”

“Bullshit?” she asks.

“Yep, bullshit.”

“Possibly bullshit,” she admits.

“That’s what I thought.”

I’m not an arrogant man by any means, but also know God graced me kindly in the looks department. I don’t brag about it or use it to get into women’s pants like Burton. But right now, I’m not above doing anything with Teale.

“And that’s exactly why I was never going to tell you that you were pretty.” Teale playfully smacks my ass.

Her cheeks flush with a light shade of pink. I wink at her then unlock my door. As we step in, I know she’ll more than likely change her mind on the prettiness of the apartment. It's bachelor pad to the core. I have to say it’s less of a pigsty since Burton ran off into his own future.

I study Teale as she takes in the apartment. It doesn’t take her long, as my theory when it comes to decorating is less is more. She stops in front of a family picture. It’s an older one where Abby was four years old, and I was barely stepping into manhood. Mom wanted to send me with a current one. I refused because it’s not necessarily the people in the pictures, but the fantastic shot of the valley of the ranch in the background. Lush green pasture speckled with black Angus cows and the Snake River running through it. Our old barn in the center surrounded by working corrals, and if you look hard enough you can spot my horse, Remi.

I walk up behind her, placing my hands on her hips and pressing my chest into her back. I shouldn’t be this close with the filth of Dave’s place still covering me, but I can’t help myself. I reach up, pointing at the picture.

“This is Abby aka Hell on Wheels, Quinn the middle child, my mom Blair, and my dad Bradley.” I pause, sensing Teale growing rapidly sad. “And this is Hunter the stud.”

That gains a chuckle from her.

I can’t help myself from whispering into the tender skin of her neck. “Going to shower. There are drinks in the fridge. I’ll be quick.”

I make good on my promise of being fast, taking the quickest shower of my life. Hell, I didn’t even wait for the water to completely heat up. It had barely reached a hot temperature when I was jumping out. I need to shave, but don’t want to take the time, so scruff will have to do.

When I make my way back out to the living room, I find Teale curled up on the couch reading one of my college textbooks. She appears tiny swallowed up in the cushions.

“Weed Management intriguing?” I ask, leaning on the arm of the couch.

“Kind of.”

“Liar,” I accuse.

“Seriously, I’ve always had a love for words, reading whatever I can get my hands on. Can’t find the charger to my e-reader or I’d be lost in it twenty-four seven.”

Note to self: buy the damn woman a charger.

“What do you like to read?”

She shrugs. “Everything. Mystery, suspense, romance, and Harry Potter.”

“Don’t know much about reading, Darlin’, but that sounds like a vast array.”

“Yeah, seems I can only get my hands on my dad’s old magazines, but they’ll do and so will this.” She holds up the book.

Her stomach growls loudly, reminding me how hungry I am, too. It seems I can’t take my gaze off Teale though, and seriously find myself rethinking the black gym shorts I slipped on. They conceal nothing.

Teale follows me into the kitchen with the textbook in her hands. She settles at the table, opening it back up to the page she was reading, then peers up to me.

“What the hell is that?” she asks, pointing.

“Instapot. Mom sent it home with me.” I grab my MacBook, pulling up the Pinterest board she’s saved all the recipes on for me.

“Like a crockpot?” she asks, standing, walking over to me.

“Yes basically, but on steroids.”

“Do you realize how weird it is to see the cowboy-iest man I’ve ever met manhandle that?” She points to the Instapot on the counter.

I shrug. “I like to think of it as being a man of many talents.”

“You have a Pinterest account?” The amusement in her voice cannot be disguised.

“Yeah.”

“The sexiest cowboy on campus, who also knows his way around an engine, has a Pinterest account?”

Her quirky question would typically leave me laughing, but I find myself hung up on two words…sexiest cowboy.

“I miss my momma’s home cooked meals,” I offer.

“Let me get this straight. You, Hunter Yates, are adding Betty Crocker to your already impressive list of talents.”

I turn to her, pulling her close to me, making sure she feels the rest of my impressive assets. “Full of mysteries here, Darlin’.”

Teale picks up on exactly what I’m hinting at, pressing her hips into mine for several long beats. “What exactly are you cooking me?”

“Pork tenderloin, potatoes, and carrots.” I kiss her lips quickly. “Did I tell you that I raise pigs back home, too? Fresh, farm pork.”

Tears well up in her eyes, and I watch as one slowly trickles down her face.

“Why are you sad?” I whisper into her lips.

“I want this, Hunter, all of it, but I can’t right now. You make me feel too much. It’s not fair how perfect you are.”