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Attention fixed on me, he furrowed those dark brows. “And what?”

“I guess I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. Maybe even try to make Daddy proud of me for something. What can I say, I'm a girl with daddy issues.”

After a few steps, he fell into stride beside me. “I have a buddy in Kentucky who has 'daddy issues' radar. I swear that bastard can walk into any bar and pinpoint the girl who would go home with him that night.”

“That's some superpower. You ever used him to find you a one-nighter?”

“Not answering that one.”

“That's a yes. Watch for snakes,” I said as I scoured the uneven ground. “Wish you would've brought a gun.”

“I did,” he said, like I’d somehow offended him.

I stopped mid-step and gripped the hem of his black dry-fit T-shirt. After an exaggerated look around his bare waist, I met his confused gaze. “And where is this mystery gun?”

“My boot.”

“That's stupid.”

He tossed his hands in the air. “And why the hell is that?”

“What will you do, tell the snake to hold on a second while you lift your pant leg, dip down into your boot, and pull the damn thing out? You'll have a hundred bites by the time you're ready to defend yourself.”

Long, dark lashes fanned down to his cheeks with several considering blinks. “Touché.” He reached down to draw up his pant leg and retrieve the gun.

Not letting the opportunity pass by, I cocked my head for a better angle of his ass while he readjusted his jeans around the boot.

“I thought I asked you to wear long sleeves,” I mused, my eyes still trained on his firm, round backside. Damn, it truly was delicious. “You have an edible ass, you know that?”

Still bent over, he looked up with an arched brow. “Thanks? And I'd die of heat exhaustion out here in long sleeves. You trying to kill me?”

“Not before I use you for your body.”

“Wow.” He stood and tucked the gun into his waistband.

“What?”

“You're....”

“Honest?”

“Blunt.”

“Same thing. Why not put it all out there?”

The herd didn't pay us any attention as we approached with caution. These beasts were beautiful—deadly massive, but beautiful—and you had to remind yourself of the dangerous part when you’d grown up around them your whole life. The soft nose of one of the older heifers nuzzled my hip, nearly toppling me over in a not-so-subtle request for me to pet her.

“What?” I asked after catching Brenton staring.

“I have something to ask you.”

Resting my forehead against the coarse hair of the cow's neck, I sighed. “What?”

He massaged the back of his neck with a tight grip and eyes to the grass. “I have a few memories of women with me at my loft in Dallas. I don’t remember when they are, as in time frame, but I do know it happened.”

“Okay....”

“The thing is, I can’t tell if it was during the time we were together or not. Was I that much of a shithead that I’d cheat on you?”