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That s because ninety percent of them are interns. I m paid to know more than they
do. And, believe me, I m not paid too much more than they are. Although, in all fairness,
the ranch provides more than enough for me to live off for the rest of my life. My father
isn t nearly as generous with his time as he is with his money.
Don t they work for free?
Exactly. I touch my finger to her nose, and our eyes connect. A spike of heat rips
through my chest. For a micro-second I m convinced I m having a cardiac episode. Marley
is beautiful enough to induce one in any healthy male.
What are you thinking?
I press my lips together for a moment resisting the urge to kiss her. I m thinking
about the body count you re going to amass in this lifetime if you re not careful. I think
being in your presence sleeping with you should require a medical bill of clean health.
Boy, your mind wanders right to the ominous, doesn t it? Are you afraid a little cardio
with me might result in a casket fitting?
I m healthy.
Guess what? She plucks her phone out and pulls up a screenshot. So am I. Got my
results back this morning. I guess the only thing keeping distance between you and me is
time.
Eight days.
Seven nights. She bats her lashes seductively. Marley hikes up on the balls of her
feet and moves in a few inches, her lips parting in anticipation.
Seven nights, I pant into her mouth before the horses whinny, and I pull away. I
think we should hold off on all extra-curricular sports until the day of. You know, let the
anticipation build up, then shoot off like a truck full of fireworks.
Her pink lips twist in a knot. Her eyes seethe to vengeful slits. Something tells me
she s not a big fan of the waiting game.
I swear I ve never met anyone like you.
That s what you keep saying. My arm cinches around her waist as we head back
toward the horses. What would you have done if I had said no?
Marley takes in a breath that expands the girth of her chest in a way that only a
contemplative thought can.
I guess I would have found someone else.
Oh, yeah? Here s what I think about that. I reach down and scoop up a mountain of
snow and pile it on top of her head.
You did not just do that! Marley breaks free and traps a handful of snow hurling it
my way, but the powder sprays out to nothing before it can reach me.
You throw snow like a girl, I tease.
You did not just say that! A small cry escapes her as she digs in with all she s got
and hoists an avalanche in my direction. One thing you d better know about me, I m
fiercely competitive!
Nice work. I beam her in the arm, and she gives a maniacal laugh as she packs
together a snowball the size of a brick. Turns out I m competitive, too!
We spend the next half hour laughing our heads off, pelting one another with rounds
of snow the size of volleyballs.
I give! I fall back on a cushion of ice, and my very sore muscles crave every last inch
of it. Another snowball pelts me in the side of the head. Go easy on me, would you? Man
down. I hold up my arms a moment before gravity takes over.
She slides in next to me, panting. Her hair peppered with bits of ice. Is that what
you re going to say after I wear you out in the sack?
You re not going to wear me out in the sack, sweetie. You ll be too busy struggling to
get free. I pull her over me as if it were a commonplace gesture, and our laughter
quickly subsides. Marley takes in a breath and holds it. Sorry. I loosen my grip, but she
steadies herself over me.
Don t be. I m not. She traces out my lips with her finger. Marley examines my
features one inch at a time. Why did you say yes? She breathes the words in a whisper.
Because I don t think I can refuse you anything.
Brilliant answer.
It s the truth.
I M W I T H
C U P I D
M A R L E Y
V
alentine s Day is sort of an awkward holiday to have crop up if you ve just started
dating someone, let alone if you ve just penned an agreement to strictly utilize them for
coital purposes. It s a Sunday, which also puts me in that awkward space between school
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