Page 20 of High Side

“Thanks.” Brittany handed her a bottle of wine, which was prechilled. “I have it on good authority that Kendall Jackson chardonnay goes with green chile chicken.”

“Frieda at the Kum and Go make the recommendation?”

“Yep.” Brittany’s curiosity was clear, but she didn’t look too hard at any one thing. Well, except her. Kylie liked that.

“Come sit. Want a glass now, or with supper?”

“I’d take water now, if that’s okay.”

“Of course.” She pulled out her filter pitcher and poured Brittany a glass with ice while Brit made nice with Sadie.

She looked pretty in her tank top and cut-offs, her red Western State mountaineers hoodie unzipped. She thought it was hilarious that Brittany had gone to school in her hometown to basically get the same degree Kylie’d left town to achieve…

Everyone wanted to see new things, she guessed.

She handed Brit a glass of ice water and settled on the sofa beside her, their thighs almost touching.

“Nice place,” Brit said, glancing around. “And way cushier than the bunkhouse, huh?”

“Yeah. That’s the best part of being a little more settled.”

“Do you like to cook?”

“I do, believe it or not. I like it a lot.”

“What’s your best dish?” Brittany asked. “I make a mean pancake.”

“I make ribs and potato salad.”

“Yum. Do you have a smoker?”

“I do!” Kylie laughed. “I wear flannel in the winter too.”

“Keep it gay,” Brittany said, eyes twinkling.

“Every damn inch of me.”

“I like that about you.” Brittany’s fingers skated over her leg.

She spread a little, just encouraging the barest bit.

Brittany’s tiny grin made it all that much hotter. This girl knew what was what.

“The enchiladas are in the oven, warming up.”

“Good deal. I could sit a minute.”

“Sore?” The first few weeks were always hell. Even if a guide worked out in the gym all of the off-season, rowing and steering and bouncing on the river was always a strain to unused muscles.

“A little, yeah. You know how it is.”

“I was just thinking that.” Kylie chuckled. “You don’t have to worry about Joshua, by the way. He’s been told to leave a big distance between his skanky ass and any of our operations.” The guy had really gone off the rails. Kylie thought he’d picked up more than just a casual pot habit over the winter.

“He was screaming at me today. I thought for sure he’d soured you on me.”

“Nope.” Kylie sighed. “I know better. I do. I was just—I was worried, like you said. I didn’t want to get all wrapped up in being your supervisor and maybe seeing you…you know. Socially.”

“Naked time.”