‘No, you’re wrong.’ She flapped her hand when Nat cocked her brow. ‘Maybe you’re not wrong about Carter and my house and all, but you’re wrong about Flynn and me. We’re just scratching an itch. That’s all. He’s a good distraction from my problems.’
Nat’s brow rose higher, lips pressed together. ‘I’ve never heard being in a loving relationship described quite like that before, but if that’s what you’ve got to tell yourself for now, who am I to stop you?’
‘Loving relationship? Who said anything about a loving relationship? We’re not in love.’
Nat snorted and held up her fingers. ‘From your glow, I know you had amazing sex. Tick. You spend a lot of time together and enjoy each other’s company. Tick. You make each other smile and don’t mind making the other person angry too. Tick. You are both giving in the same way, and both need in the same way. Tick. You’d both do anything for your boys and this community. Tick. And you’d do anything for each other. Tick.’ She screwed her mouth to the side and made a tutting sound. ‘Sounds like all the loving relationship boxes are ticked to me.’
‘I … that isn’t … we’re friends. With benefits. That’s all.’
Nat shook her head slowly. ‘You and Flynn may dance around it and colour it up in any way you want, but you both are crying out for something deeper than what you’ve allowed yourselves to have and now you’re starting to take it. I say, good on you.’
Prita stared at her for a moment, something very like panic fluttering in her chest, her throat. She tried to clear it but when that failed, just made a huffy noise and said, ‘Shut up.’
Nat laughed and bumped her shoulder against Prita’s. ‘I was the same when Barb told me I loved Reid. I didn’t want to accept it and now look where I am. Happier and more content than I’ve ever been before.’ She tipped her head on the side, her expression suddenly becoming serious. ‘That’s what we all want for you. And Flynn. You both deserve the best and you both are the best. For each other. Just don’t let some idea of what you think you want get in the way of that, okay?’ She leaned in and gave Prita a kiss on the cheek and then pulled away. ‘Think about it.’
Prita didn’t think she could think about anything else.
The neigh of horses, followed by the murmur of chatting and the clop of horse hooves along the hard-packed dirt road that wound up from the bush behind the cottage had Nat turning from her, smile widening. ‘The boys are back. I better get up there to help them with the riders. You want to come? Flynn will be there. Maybe you can find a dark corner in the barn and continue what you started last night.’
Prita stared, brain full of an image that made her want to pant.
‘Prita?’
‘Umm.’ She blinked, and wiped her mouth, hoping that wasn’t drool she wiped from the corner. ‘What? No.’
Nat laughed. ‘Sorry. I scrambled your thoughts, didn’t I?’
Not wanting her to know just how much, Prita shoved the image aside and focused on saying words. Any words. As long as they weren’t about Flynn and sex in a barn. ‘I have to stay here. There’s still so much to do. And Cherry’s coming by soon to set up the reception area the way she likes it and to help me get my office into workable order. And I’ve got to follow up on the insurance company. They still haven’t got back to me yet with the paperwork.’
‘Do you need me to do anything?’
‘If you can just keep Carter busy, that would be great.’
‘Sure.’ She leaned forward and gave Prita a hug, whispering in her ear, ‘You’re not a runner anymore.’ Then she pulled back and with a cheery smile, strode up the hill towards the corrals where the sound of happy riders was loud and clear on the quiet afternoon air.
Prita watched her go and then turned back to the cottage and looked around. It was almost ready for her to see patients, but she hadn’t been lying to Nat when she said there was still a lot to do. She had so many things that needed to be ordered—medicines, a lock cabinet for them, basic first aid stuff like bandages, syringes, saline, and other medical necessities so she could run tests, do pap smears, order prescriptions and so on. But still she didn’t move, just stared at the room. The place seemed so quiet. So empty. It had seemed so full last night. Why?
Because Flynn had been here.
Maybe she could go up to the barns to see him, just for a little while. Not to have sex in a dark corner of the barn—although, her body tingled all over at the thought. But no. They didn’t want any more people figuring out something was going on. She could just go up there to make sure he wasn’t going to hurt his knee any further. And also to watch him in his element, to enjoy the way his face creased in that smile he wore when surrounded by his horses, his hands busy, always busy, muscles straining as he unsaddled and wrangled guests and horses. He would stop at one point though and breathe in deep, as if the dust and manure and chaff heavy air was manna, and he’d lift his head to the sky, take his hat off, run his hand through his hair, wipe his brow, then stick his hat back on and get back
