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But it’s a lot to ask when she constantly feels the weight of hatred and judgment over the past that she had little control over.

“Will you come?” she asks.

I shouldn’t. We’re busy on the ranch, and it’s unwise to keep falling harder for her when the future is so uncertain. I’d have to be an idiot to agree to an impromptu trip.

“Yeah, I’ll come.”

Fuck it.

No matter how things end up between us, I don’t want to miss out on any time with her, especially if our relationship is going to be short-lived.

Plus, a vacation in the sun doesn’t sound half-bad.

“I’m so glad. I don’t want to go without you.”

I don’t want to be without her period, and I’ll make a point to figure out a plan with her when we’re away. There’s got to be a way to make us work. Couples overcome obstacles and make sacrifices for each other all of the time.

“Will Brady be okay with it?” I ask. “He might want to spend the week with you solo.”

“Yeah, he’ll be fine,” Ashley says. “He likes you and has lots of friends everywhere in the world. The whole point of the trip is to spend time with him, but he won’t need a babysitter 24/7. He’s all grown up now.”

We tuck into our food, eating in a silence that has become comfortable again. The fire is roaring, and it’s warm enough in here that I’m hoping Ashley will lose her clothes soon.

“Wait,” I say. “Are you sore?”

“What?”

“Your pussy, babe. Sore from the procedure? Bleeding? Sex? No sex?”

She laughs. “This is what you think about when you watch me eat?”

“It’s what I always think about. I never matured past high school.”

“Sorry, cowboy. No sex tonight.”

“Thank God your mouth still works,” I say, pretending to wipe my brow in relief.

“You’ll have to ask a lot nicer than that.”

“I’ll practice my begging while we eat dessert.”

“You made dessert?”

“Well, I can’t take credit for any baking,” I admit, “But my mom made pie.”

We migrate from the table to the couch in front of the fireplace, more wine in our glasses and pecan pie with ice cream on our plates.

She tells me about her new clients and because I met with a specialist today, I explain our in vitro fertilization breeding program, which she’s shockingly interested in. So many women in my past could not have cared less about what mattered to me, but Ashley always tries to understand.

“Okay, but wait,” she says. “Why can’t the cows just… breed?”

I chuckle. “They can. But they can also get hurt in the process. Artificial insemination takes away many of the risks and also increases the likelihood of a viable pregnancy.

“Based on how I was conceived and what you’re going through, we both know people usually choose the option because there isn’t another one. With livestock, it’s about safety and efficiency.

“Every one of those cows is worth money to me, and I’m all about eliminating risk and increasing my profit margins. It’s just the next logical step in breed management, and I want to explore it.”

“It’s fascinating what science can do. For people and cows.”