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Maria huffs as she pushes her locs back from her sweaty brow. Ameera caught a cold that was going around town, and Jack had pulled his back last week trying to impress some of the younger patrollers when getting off his horse. So Maria was stuck having to help in the barn. It's not that she hates working with the horses, but honestly, it's not one of her favorite jobs.
With a groan, she brings her hands to the small of her back and tries to bend backward just a little to alleviate some of the stiffness she's experiencing, mucking out the stalls. She hears two loud pops and gives a near moan at the immediate relief that rushes through her body.
She's just about to grab the shovel again when she feels a set of arms wrap around her waist and a tall, hard body press up against her back. She gasps in surprise and instinctively grabs one of the arms around her waist; she twists her body while twisting the arm, and once she's turned around, her attacker is facing away from her, their arm having been forced up behind their back. Using her full body weight, she shoves the unknown individual into the stall wall and holds them there by continuing to apply upward pressure to their arm and elbow.
"Shit, shit, shit. Maria stop, it's me, it's Tommy. You're gonna break my fuckin' arm." Tommy grunts, his face smushed up against the rough wood. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
Maria gasps and releases him right away, stepping back with her hands in the air. "Tommy, oh my god, I'm so sorry." Tommy groans, turning himself slowly around and rubbing his elbow, with an embarrassed expression on his face. "What the hell were you thinking sneaking up on me like that."
"I'm real sorry, darlin' just was walkin' by on my way to the tack room, and I saw you here, and I just wanted to say good mornin'. Figured you might welcome it after last night." Tommy brings his hand up to run along the back of his neck nervously, a flush creeping along his cheeks. Maria feels her skin heat as well as she remembers the rushed sloppy kisses that they had exchanged last night outside the Tipsy Bison after they had both spent the evening dancing and drinking. They'd finally broken apart, and Tommy had walked her to her house, Maria had thought about inviting him in, but by the time they had gotten to her door, cooler heads seemed to have prevailed. Tommy had given her a chaste kiss before pulling away, tipping his hat, and wishing her a good night.
"Yeah, about that. I had a little too much to drink, and I think things got away from me," Maria says, taking another step back, trying to put some distance between them. "I don't think it's a good idea for the two of us to get involved."
"Why's that sugar?" Tommy asks, an eyebrow cocked in question.
"Well, first of all, you're too young for me," Maria says, waving her hand between the two of them.
Tommy puts his hands up to forestall her, "Whoa, whoa, Maria, hold up. Just hold up. First, how old do you think I am, darlin'?"
"Your early 30s?"
"Oh, Shit, sweetheart, no, I’m 43."
"Oh. Well, then, you look a lot younger."
“Thanks for the compliment, sugar.” He smiles, then an idea seems to flash behind his eyes, and he squints at her. “Now just wait, how old are you?
“Same age.” She replies, pulling her locs back up into a bun on the top of her head.
“Well shit, that's good then, here I was, thinkin’ I was a dirty old man for bein’ interested in you. That one less thing to worry ‘bout.”
Maria waves her hand at him and tuts, “You can’t have thought I was that much younger than you.”
“I can, and I did, darlin’. Now I’m mighty happy ya ain’t because that means I can do this.” He steps forward right into her personal space, Maria automatically backs up and realizes that she’s right against the other stall wall. Tommy doesn’t touch her this time he just places one arm on the wall above her and leans in like he’s about to kiss her but stops a few inches away. “Maria, can I kiss ya?”
Maria raises a hand to rest on his chest. “Yes, but… did you learn how to do this in a book or something?” She waves at his arm above her on the wall.
“What do ya mean?” Tommy wrinkles his forehead as he looks at his arm and then back down at her.
“The whole put your hand on the wall and lean in thing. It’s just something men do in romance novels,” Maria says, trying and failing to hold back a laugh.
“Hey now, all my moves are one hundred percent Tommy Miller originals.” He huffs with indignation, but Maria can see a playful twinkle in his eye. “Now, can I finally kiss ya darlin'?”
“Sure, but can we maybe do it away from the horse shit,” Maria says with another laugh, and they both look down, taking in their location.
“Oh damn sure, shoulda thought of that before. How bout I help ya get this taken care of, then I take you for a bite over at the dinnin’ hall.” Tommy steps back and shuffles over to the shovel.
“I love every part of that idea, but how about after we’re done here, we go back to my house so we can shower this crap off, and then we can eat some leftovers from my fridge after I’ve thoroughly ravished you,” Maria says giving Tommy a wink.
“Oh, I like your idea a lot better, but I got one addendum,” Tommy says, dropping his shovel and sweeping Maria up into his arms, kissing her soundly as he walks her out of the stall. Once they’re both breathless, he pulls away, “How’s about we do everythin’ in your plan, but we skip finishin’ up here since this stall ain't currently bein’ used, and you already finished the rest. I happen to know someone who’s a part of the council and I think she’ll forgive us skippin’ this one for today.”
“You know, Tommy, I think you’re right. I don’t think she’ll mind us skipping this one for today. Now take me home, cowboy.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”