Opening her eyes, she feels his gaze still on her and rolls over. Facing him, she sees the intense look in his eyes and feels the chills run down her spine. He brushes black hair from her face and she slides her fingers along his jaw. His hand rests on her neck and slowly he pulls her into him.

His mouth devoured hers and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He rolled on top of her and trailed the kisses down her neck.

"I should be going."

He stilled at her words and she took a deep breath before slipping out from underneath him. Getting to her feet, she quickly got her clothes on and sat down to tie her boots. Keeping her back to him, she finished tying her boots and picked up her jacket. Slipping it on, she picked up her beer and left the bedroom. Walking through the apartment, she stopped at the bar and waited.

He stepped out of the bedroom clothed a few minutes later and put his beer in the refrigerator. His hand unlocked the apartment and she followed him outside. They slid into the truck and he turned the engine on. Looking out the window, she watched them pull onto the street and head to the country.

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Billy chased the cattle around and Jared sat on the fence watching him. She tossed the straw into the stall and closed the door. Wiping the sweat from her face, she put the pitchfork away and looked at the bounded straw waiting to be tossed into the pick-up. Jared peeped into the barn and grabbed a pair of gloves.

"Let me help."

She nodded and picked up the first bound. Walking out to the pick-up, she put it on the lowered tail gate and Jared hopped up into the bed. He moved the bound to the front of the bed and she walked back into the barn to get another bound. Timmy stepped out onto the porch as she put the bound in the bed and watched them.

He adjusted the phone and said, "They're loading straw for the sale in town."

"They?"

He smiled and said, "Yep. Mom and Jared. Billy's busy chasing the cattle around."

"Where is the sale?"

"At the fairgrounds in the showing barn."

He got off the phone and walked back into the house. She put the last bundle in the truck and Jared collapsed onto the stack.

"Too much for you?"

He shook his head and said, "I want to help."

She smirked and took the gloves into the barn. Giving a whistle, she saw Billy come running and slip through the fence. He ran over to the truck and hopped into the bed with Jared. She picked up his lead and closed the barn up. She walked to the house and stepped inside to check on Timmy.

He looked up at her from the kitchen table and she asked, "You wanna come?"

He shook his head and said, "Not really."

She saw the look in his eyes as he turned his attention to the reading on the table and kissed his forehead. He forced a smile and she ruffled his hair before she left. Leaving the house, she closed the tailgate and slid into the cab. Turning the engine on, she rolled down her window and heard Jared talking to Billy as he wrapped the lead around the metal railing. Smirking, she put the pick-up into Drive and pulled out of the drive.

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Jared handed her the last of the straw and she carried it into the show barn. Putting it on the stack, she brushed her gloves off and moved back out to the pick-up. Billy sat patiently in the bed and Jared sat on the tailgate. She pulled out some money and handed it to him.

"How about some water?"

He nodded and hopped off the tailgate. She watched him disappear down the walkway and sat down next to Billy.

"Good stock this year, Katie."

Hearing Jim, she looked at him and nodded. People examined the straw and talked amongst themselves. Jared returned with the water bottles and she took hers as she walked back into the show barn. Taking a drink, she tightened the cap and started making sales.

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He saw the pick-up and spotted Jared sitting on the tailgate talking to some of the local farmers.

"Your mom is letting you help out?"

He smiled and said, "Yeah. I told her I was ready to."

"What about Timmy? Why isn't he here?"

Jared's smile faltered and he watched Katie approach the truck. Her tank-top revealed her toned muscles and her slim dark arms. She had her black hair pulled back and a flannel tied around her waist.

"Timmy isn't allowed to help us just yet."

A farmer smiled and said, "I'm sure he will when he can."

She forced a smile and said, "We expect it."

The farmer's kid appeared in their pick-up and he pointed out two bounds he wanted. Katie nodded and walked in with him. He watched her re-appear caring one of the two bounds without a problem. She put it in the bed and the boy moved it around as his father added the second one. The farmer handed over the money and she gave it to Jared to take care of.

"Katie? Is that you?"

He watched her look around the truck and smile before being hugged. His muscles clenched tight as the man held her.

"You are still as breath-taking as ever."

She smiled again and Jared hugged the man. The two laughed and Katie let the man slip his arm around her shoulder.

"Here to help out?"

"Here to steal you and Jared away for dinner. Timmy told me you two would be here all day."

Jared smiled and said, "I'm her hand on the farm."

"I'm glad. Your mother was killing herself doing all of this by herself."

Katie shrugged and said, "I'm doing okay, Chris."

He laughed and said, "I can see that. You are a strong lady."

Jared laughed and asked, "Can we go, Mom?"

She shook her head and said, "You two go. I have to get rid of the last few before we're finished."

Jared hugged her and said, "We'll bring you something back."

She nodded and he hopped out of the truck. He walked off with Chris and she sat on the tailgate with Billy. The dog whined and she rubbed his ear.

"Afraid you'll be seeing more of him."

Billy let out a low growl and she shook her head as she moved back into the show barn. Watching her disappear, he approached the truck and Billy moved over to him. Rubbing his ear, he looked into the barn and found her moving the straw around. He leaned against her truck and waited as the farmers talked with her.

An hour later, she loaded the last of her straw and pulled off her gloves. Stretching her arms to loosen her back, she let out a sigh of relief and turned back to the truck. Seeing Nick watching her froze her to the spot and she took a deep breath. A month has past since the night they were in his apartment, a month of silence and avoidance.

"Hey."

She closed the bed and secured the loosened end of Billy's lead.

"Busy day?"

She nodded and opened the driver's door. Turning on the engine, she checked the time and frowned. Chris and Jared weren't back yet and she needed to get back home.

"Who is he?"

She looked up at him and asked, "Who is who?"

"The guy that Jared went off with."

She frowned and asked, "Does it matter?"

He shrugged coldly and Billy whined. Her face softened slightly as she rubbed his ears and took a deep breath.

"He's my cousin."

Nick remained silent and she asked, "How long have you been here?"

"For an hour or so."

"Nothing at the hospital?"

He smirked and said, "I don't work weekends."

She almost laughed at the fact and heard someone yelling her name.

"Mom! We're back!"

Turning around, she saw the two approaching with a bag in Jared's hand. He handed it to her and she looked inside.

"It's your lunch."

She smirked and said, "Thank you."

Chris looked at Nick and asked, "Who might you be?

Jared smiled and said, "Mom's boyfriend."

Feeling her face go hot, her eyes narrowed and Jared hid behind Chris. Chris laughed and hugged her.

"Then why don't we all go back to your place?"

Katie frowned and said, "Maybe tomorrow."

She glanced at Nick and Jared slowly climbed into the bed with Billy. She closed her door pulled away. She saw Chris watching with a stupid grin and turned her focus to the drive home. Pulling onto the highway, she glanced back at Jared and found him secured in the bed with Billy lying next to him. They pulled into the drive and parked in front of the barn half an hour later.

Timmy put the basketball under his arm and Jared hopped out of the bed. He let Billy loose and the dog followed him. Timmy rubbed Billy's ear and she got out of the truck.

"Aunt Mary made dinner."

She smirked and asked, "Any left?"

He nodded and headed inside. Jared followed him with Billy as she walked into the barn. Moving into her office, she pulled out her records and added this year's sales. Putting the money made away in the money box, she left the office and headed into the house.

PGS