Reeve’s chuckle reaches me from above. “Wow, that was something special.”
My breath saws in and out. “Did you see that? She tried to kill me.”
His amusement gets louder as he scoops me off the ground. He tips the seat upright and gives it a slap. “Careful, babe. Your big-city status is starting to show.”
I situate myself on the stool, brushing off stray dust. “How am I expected to react? Her leg punched out with homicidal intent.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose, shoulders bouncing to a silent beat. “Try again. She was stomping at a fly.”
“This time of year? It’s nearly October.”
“That’s your main concern right now?”
“Nope.” I clap. “I’m very happy to say that experience is over.”
He quirks a brow. “You didn’t even begin.”
I’m already shaking my head. “It’s safe to say Sprout doesn’t want me milking her.”
“That was a freak accident.”
“More like user error.”
“I’ll get you started,” he insists.
Protesting seems futile. Reeve kneels behind me, cradling my body with his own. He guides my hands to Sprout’s teats, latching on with gentle pressure. Together we squeeze with a downward motion. Milk squirts out instantly, just like before. I widen my eyes at the sight.
“That’s it,” he coaches.
“Holy crap,” I whisper. Anything louder and I might startle her. “It comes out so fast.”
“She’s very full,” he reminds.
“No wonder she’s crabby at me,” I mutter.
Reeve slowly eases back, removing his hold on me. “Just keep going.”
The threat of faltering skyrockets without his training wheels locked in place. I squint unwaveringly as my fingers get intimately acquainted with Sprout’s lady bits. The actions blur as I lose focus, and my smooth rhythm turns choppy, sending a wayward stream spurting off track. I follow the path to see the stray shot aiming straight for Reeve’s eye. With a palm over my mouth, I smother a squeak. At least I’m not the only one getting pranked.
He dodges at the last second. “You’re lucky I have quick reflexes.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re the lucky one on that front. These bad boys are loaded weapons. I apologize for almost blinding you, but Sprout should take some of the blame.” Regardless of what he said earlier, the cow isn’t meekly standing by.
“It’s okay, babe. Get back on course. Just keep the tip down,” he instructs.
“Got that handled, no problem.” I nod, swallowing another giggle and resuming the motion. Just as before, milk floods into the pail. “Oh, oh, I’m doing it!” The pride in my voice echoes off the wooden walls.
Reeve squeezes my shoulder. “And a damn fine job too.”
“You’re just saying that.” I don’t let up my rhythmic tugging.
Alternating between sides with each pull uses muscles I’ve never relied on. A dull ache forms in my wrist, but I’m not going to let that stop me. The hollow splash of liquid hitting the bucket becomes a constant thrum in my ears. The pail fills at a rate I never would’ve guessed.
“Does she normally make so much?”
He makes a sound in the affirmative. “Yes. Sometimes three gallons’ worth.”
I allow my jaw to drop slightly. “A day?”
“No, right now. She’ll give another three or four when they milk her later.”
Another bout of shock ripples through me. “That’s impressive.”
I find it difficult to look away. This process is more fascinating than a sparkling diamond on a newly engaged socialite. With a slight adjustment to my grip, I get into an effortless sequence. Alternating from left to right, over and again, becomes a reflex. I get lulled by the consistent movements, and my mind drifts.
Reeve no longer cocoons me, but I sense him all the same. His steady presence lingers mere inches from me. I can’t seem to quit feeling the heat of his touch, phantom or not. A brand burns across my back at the memory. Being around him is exhilarating and fun. Each day with him brings a batch of silly flutters to my stomach. I don’t recall the last time I’ve laughed so much with someone, even if it’s at my own expense.
Clarity sweeps in with a resounding clang. I need to be careful when it comes to Reeve and his bottomless charm. This situation could nosedive before I get the opportunity to bail. We’re not a real couple and never will be. I can’t let myself get too wrapped up in this man. He’s the type of guy I could see myself falling for without even trying. I need to guard my heart with extra reinforcements. But what if that isn’t enough?
Real attachments will form and build after months of dates similar to this. Am I a fool for getting involved in such an arrangement to begin with? A bitter twist lodges in my chest. I always hear about these no-strings flings crashing into unrecognizable rubble. Do they ever run a reasonable cycle as intended? Ours will. It has to, or we might as well quit now.
I remain facing Sprout’s udder, taking a cowardly approach to the topic. “I want to add a rule.”
When Reeve shuffles his feet, I anticipate him bending to my level, but he doesn’t.
“For?”
“Us,” I state simply.
“Oh?” The surprise in his voice is impossible to miss. He remains firmly rooted behind me, though. “And what might that be?”
“If either of us starts catching feelings, the legit kind, we call things off.” I nearly choke on the reluctance lodging in my throat. “Deal?”
He’s quiet for a moment. “Sure, I can agree to that.”
“Good, I’m glad.” But why doesn’t the tension ease from my ribcage?
I nudge off the uncertainty with a huff. After that, time seems to float away as I get lost in the motions. The steady tune of milk sloshing in the pail drowns out the pounding of my romantic heart. I’m milking a cow. Even in my head, that sounds weird. Just wait
