Page 19 of Maybe, Probably (Love Me, Maybe #1)

Again.

This time I crash into a solid wall of chest, the hand not holding his landing in the center of his broad chest as I stabilize myself .

“ Ohmygod ,” I rush out, “I’m so sorry, my feet landed weird and I—”

“Really it’s okay, I don’t mind catching you when you fall.”

Heat rushes up my cheeks, and I awkwardly tap his chest, then take a step back “Well thank you…Again, for catching me.” I run my hands down my front, as if dusting myself off, but I’m really just trying to stop my hands from going clammy. “So, you promised me some ducks and donkeys.”

“Uh yeah, follow me.” He motions to the worn path circling the right side of the house.

As soon as we round the corner, you can see the fenced area.

I’m startled when I hear a loud bray coming from one side of the fencing.

“Oh for fuck’s sake.” I hear Xavier mumble as he jogs over to the left side of the fenced area.

And that’s when I see it. A grey shaggy haired donkey with his head and front leg sticking out of part of the fencing.

The poor thing looks like he was trying to get out and realized too late that he couldn’t fit.

I start laughing, but it dies quickly in my throat as Xavier’s ass comes into sight.

His dark blue Levi’s perfectly formed around his back side.

I’m so transfixed on Xavier that I don’t realize that he’s already got the donkey out of the fence and back in his enclosure.

He turns around and catches me so clearly checking him out.

Quickly averting my eyes, I feel the heat of embarrassment make its way up my face.

I try to think of something to say. Anything.

But nothing comes out. My mouth opens and shuts with every attempt.

When my eyes finally lock onto his, they are shining with amusement.

“It’s a nice ass, eh?” He comments with a smirk. I look at him dumbfounded before finally snapping out of it.

“I mean, I don’t want to boost your already large ego.” I retort with triumph that I finally was able to say something back.

He throws his head back with a laugh. It’s so hearty and carefree. I instantly know I want to hear it again, but I don’t understand why he’s laughing.

“I meant Clyde, my donkey.” He uses his thumb to point behind him, in the direction of said donkey who was just stuck in the fence.

I throw my hands over my face with a groan.

“But I do appreciate the comment.” I peek through my fingers to stare at him, where he gives me a wink. “Come on, let me show you around.”

Xavier spends the next hour showing me around his small farm.

It’s not anything like I’ve ever imagined.

The more he tells me about it, the more I swoon at this man.

Not only does he own all of these animals, but they’re all rescued.

In some way shape or form, he has taken them in when no one else has wanted them.

He tells me the story of Clyde and how he came to him as a baby.

A farmer came to the clinic stating that the mom rejected him.

The farmer was older, and he couldn't do the care that is needed for a baby donkey but didn’t know what to do.

Xavier said it didn’t take him long to say he would take him but to give him the day to sort something out to accommodate the young foal.

“That’s how this farm started though, with that doofus over there.

” He points at Clyde, who is currently chasing around a soccer ball and pushing it with his nose, braying happily.

We are both leaned up on the fence to Clyde’s area, watching him for a few minutes before he notices Xavier and comes trotting over.

Clyde nudges at Xaviers neck and chin, rubbing his snout on him.

Xavier laughs before pushing him off gently, “Alright, alright. I know what you want, give me a second.” He looks over at me and smiles.

“He wants a snack, let me run into the house and grab some apples and carrots for him, and then you can feed him.” His eyebrows jump with enthusiasm.

“Me? Uh okay!” I’ve never had any experience with any sort of farm animal before, but it can’t be that hard, right?

Clyde has now moved over to me and is trying to get my attention.

He fluffs my hair up with his snout, blowing air into my face.

I squeak at the feelings, but turn to pat him.

I start to scratch under his chin, and he seems to like that because he slows his movements, letting me continue.

Until a moment later, when Xavier is making his way back.

Clyde swivels his head in his direction, braying loudly.

I turn around to see Xavier has started to lightly jog his way over with two carrots and an apple cut in half in his hand.

When he reaches me, he passes off the carrots and then holds his hand out with one of the apples for Clyde to take. The ornery donkey wastes no time.

When Clyde has finished the apples, Xavier looks over to me, offering his hand.

I go to give him the carrot, but instead, he grabs my wrist and directs my hand over to Clyde.

“Oh I don’t –” I begin. The carrot reaches close to Clyde and he begins to chomp on it happily.

I let out a breath of a laugh as I watch Clyde eat.

When the carrot is gone, the donkey sniffs around a bit before turning around and begins to run the loop of his enclosure.

I peer up at Xavier in awe. “That was so fun! I’ve never fed any sort of farm animal before! Realistically, I’ve never even owned an animal until Winnie. So I guess that just makes sense that I haven’t. This was fun. Thank you for taking me here.”

“I’m glad you like it. Come on, I have one more spot to show you.

” He tilts his head in the direction he wants us to go.

I begin to follow him down a trail around the fenced area as he continues.

“This spot is a little out of the way. It’s where I keep the ducks.

They have free range of the property, but they like this area because of the pond I made back here. ”

We round a corner and I see the body of water that’s there.

It’s shaped like an hourglass, with a ramp at the top part of the water.

It’s encased in large slabs of stone that allow for a natural look.

Behind the rocks there are various plants scattered around the circumference of the pond.

By the ramp, it leads up to a small building that has an open door.

I can’t see what’s in there from this distance but I’m assuming that’s where the ducks go at night.

There are outside string lights hanging in the trees, giving a soft illumination of the shaded area.

I can see a few of the ducks swimming in the pond–wait.

There are two types of ducks. The first couple are white feathered with orange beaks.

Over by the shed, there are several ducks with a mix of brown, beige and white, and some that have a gray body mixed with brown and white and its head is green.

I remember when I was growing up seeing those types of ducks at a campsite.

We would go and feed them every once in a while, and they were super docile. I had one eat right out of my hand !

I smile at the memory, as I stare out in awe. “This is-” My sentence is cut off as I see two ducks barrelling toward us at a speed I've never seen before, using their wings as extra momentum to get to us faster.

Oh, shit.