Hate You Not

Oliver helps her out: “Raaaaahde,” he mimics with a delighted smile.

She rolls her eyes—at me, not him. “You’re totally ridiculous.” Her dark brows draw together. “Are you really okay? You look a little bit dazed.”

I move my hand over my eyes, which are still throbbing and feel sore with sunlight in them.

“I’m fine. That was just the trick I promised Margot.”

Behind June, my niece giggles.

“I think he fell off,” Oliver says.

I lean around June so I can see him better. “What?” I act offended. “Me? Fall off a horse?”

While I’m not looking, June wraps her hand partway around my wrist and tries to tug my hand off my eyes. I grin when I realize that her little fingers won’t fit around my arm.

She gives me a death glare. “What now?”

“What now?” I laugh—or start to, but I stop myself because I know it’ll hurt. “Am I such a pain in your ass?” I say it quietly, so the kids won’t hear the bad word.

She widens her eyes, clearly incredulous. “Is that even an actual question?”

I give her a for-shame frown. “You don’t mean the gifts I’ve sent?”

“Oh yeah, the gifts.” She rolls her eyes again. “In fact.” She looks over her shoulder. “I bet your gifts are peeing on my porch this very second.”

She looks behind me, and I turn around, too. Hot Rocket is standing just a few feet away, looking at us with his somber eyes like he’s sorry I fell.

“I get the rocket part,” I mutter.

“You were riding like an idiot,” June hisses.

“I was riding like someone who doesn’t know they’re on a barrel racer. That’s what he is, isn’t it?”

“I tried to tell you to be careful, that he was a one-woman horse. It’s not my fault you’re afflicted with Male Ego Syndrome.”

The kids dash off, checking out the jump course, so I’m able to speak louder when I say, “Oh, c’mon, is that the best that you can do? Male ego?”

“If it walks like a duck, tries to mansplain like a duck, and falls on its ass like a duck, then maybe it’s a man with a big, stupid man ego.”

I let out a low whistle. “What chapped your ass—or who?”

She sniffs. “Nobody did. I stick in my little corner of the world and they all stick in theirs. I don’t have time for bullshit.”

“That sounds awfully bitter, Miss Lawler.”

She steps away from me before I get the chance to ask who made her bitter. “Oliver and Margot?” she says into cupped hands. “Can y’all walk over to the house and let the puppies out to potty?”

Oliver nods.

Margot frowns. “Are you sure you’re okay, Burke? You’ve got a bump on your head. It’s a little purple.” Little sounds like wittle.

“I’m all good, sweetheart.” I wink, and she smiles like she knows it’s bullshit. “Don’t get back on him,” she tells me sternly.

“Promise.”

She nods like she’s satisfied and follows her brother toward the house.

I arch a brow at June. “You think they’re okay to go alone?”

“What? All of a hundred yards to the house? What do you think is gonna happen?”

“I don’t know. Coyotes?”

“Yeah, they’re sleeping. But I hear the snipes are movin’ something fierce this time of day.” She’s smirking, making me want to run my finger over her lip.

“What’s a snipe?” I ask.

“Just these wild and crazy critters. Thick hide, got a big snout.” She pushes up on the tip of her nose, making a pig face. “Sometimes rise up on their hind legs.” She holds her arms out, zombie-style.

I screw my face into a skeptical frown, which makes my damn head hurt. “You’re making this shit up.”

“Nah. There’s snipes all around these parts. I think I’d know.” She smirks again before taking the horse’s reins and leading him back toward the barn.

Goddamn that ass of hers. It’s nearly impossible not to stare. She’s got a longer type of blouse on, but it hugs right to her. How the hell did Molly not discover how damn hot she is? I would have changed my plan. In fact…I still can.

“You want me to go to the house with them?” I call.

“I don’t care what you do.”

“Oh, c’mon. You mad I took a tumble off your barrel racer?”

“I’m annoyed that you were reckless,” she shouts, turning partway around. “And a showoff.”

“You think I did that shit on purpose?”

“I’m not sure it matters,” she says pertly. “You don’t think of anybody but yourself.”

Even though it’s bullshit, it still hits me right in the chest. “I guess you know me pretty well, huh?”

“I know guys like you.”

I follow her into the barn and get some water from a sink that doesn’t look especially dirty. She leads Hot Rocket back to his stall.

“I’m sorry I trusted you to obey my instructions.” She leans down where I can’t see her for the stall’s wooden gate, probably undoing saddle buckles. “Does your head feel okay?”