Redsand Canyon Put your hands on my _____.

I understand, Towhee said, growing much soberer to show she took his offer seriously. And I don’t mean to assume things about you and what you want, she added. She meant to just ask him outright if he was sure he wanted to sign up for a business partnership and thus eliminate any chance for a romantic one down the road, when he said something that stilled her tongue against the backs of her teeth.

Fair, she said slowly, blinking a few times. I can do that: consider your offer, Towhee continued levelly. And she would try to stop patronizing him. Maxim was younger, but not so young that he couldn’t know what he wanted in life, reach out and grab it. Which—I’m complimented, by the way.

Her brain had woken up enough to yell some nonsense like, Does this mean you’re courting now?! But Towhee ignored it. Slowly, she began pushing upright again, minding her leg. Once she sat up, she bent down to sniff at the wound. It smelled faintly floral, probably compliments of Aquene.

Would you like to join me for the AM patrol? Towhee invited.