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“And I love her. She’s the best thing that has ever happened to my brother.”

“Mhmm.”

“Is she mad at me?”

“No.”

His grip around her tightened. “Sleep, Minx. Busy day ahead of us tomorrow.”

She yawned, but never opened her eyes, rather, she snuggled deeper into his embrace and fell further into that purgatory between sleep and awake. “Nate?”

“Mmm?”

“I really hate the term ‘love tunnel’ for vagina.”

He snorted. “Who calls it that?”

“I don’t know. I’m workshopping something and that popped into my head. It made me cringe.”

“Yeah, me, too.” He paused. “What are you workshopping?”

“Well, guys think with their ‘little head’ right?”

“Mhmm.”

“But women have the same problem. We also get overruled by our … vaginas. But we can’t call it our ‘little head’ because it’s not a head. It’s a—”

“Tunnel.”

“But that’s terrible. To be overruled by your tunnel. Barf.”

His chuckle stirred the warm coals in her belly into flickers and flames. She still hadn’t opened her eyes and was fighting the pull of sleep more and more as each second passed.

“Why are you workshopping this?”

“Because I am. My brain and heart and vagina are in a Mexican standoff.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Mhmm. But I need a better term for my vagina. Lady garden?”

“Oh God.” She could hear the cringe in his voice.

Pursing her lips, she thought for a moment. “What about my cat is just being stubborn.”

Despite how close to sleep he sounded, Nate barked out a laugh that echoed through the quiet barn. “Go to sleep, Minx. You’re delirious.”

“Probably,” she agreed, letting out a contented sigh. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being you.” Then she turned her head just enough, kissed his shoulder and finally allowed sleep to claim her. And even though she was sitting on the cold, hard, unforgiving ground, she couldn’t remember the last time she slept so soundly. Her dreams were pleasant, her body was warm and she felt protected and safe with Nate.

Mieka woke up alone in Callie and Chance’s stall. Both the horses were still here, but Nate was gone.

Her butt was numb, but her body was warm under the flannel blanket.

She took her time getting up, stretching thoroughly. Chance was nursing, while Callie munched on hay. Other animals in the barn were making noises—munching, stretching, nursing and drinking—but Mieka kept her ears open for the tell-tale sound of Nate.