Shenanigans (Complete)

Falling

Marc's POV

Holly left, to go feed while the dishes were washed my hands. You could see the barn through her kitchen window. I watched as she fed her horses. She took the cart back to the hay shed and watched as she huffed it back here to the house. I still hadn't put a shirt on, wasn't planning on it.

The front door opened, as Holly stepped in. Finishing the last few dishes. I saw her settle back in her chair. "What do you normally do during this time?" Walking to the couch settling within eyesight of her.

Her brown eyes looked at me with a guilty look and a wicked grin. "I read romance stories, and eat like a boring old woman." she shrugged.

Had to say it was cute the way she looked at me. "Boring old women don't read romance novels and eat. They gossip and sew." I shot back.

"No, they feed their cats," She shot back with a grin.

"Ok," I held my hands up in surrender. "That one is true." I chuckled.

"I can hook up the TV if you are bored?" She offered.

"Oh," pointing to the blank screen I had seen. "I thought it was just for show," I smirked.

"No, it works," She got up and went to it. Connecting a few cords. "I just don't use it often. News is depressing and I like using my imagination for stories." She waved her hand as if to dismiss a thought.

"I could think of a few things on TV that would be fun" I wiggled my eyebrows as she hit the power button.

"Suuuurree," Holly rolled her eyes, "Not that type of girl with you leaving in 7 months." She scoffed.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you counting down the months?"

Holly's eyes widened and shifted away from me. "No!" She huffed sitting back in her chair.

She was counting down the days. Was it because I had got under her skin too? I could see she was hiding away from me behind her computer. My attention was directed toward the TV as It came to life. "Here," I looked back to Holly to see her toss me the tv controller.

I scrolled around until I found "The witch hunter." Sitting down I started watching. I looked over to see Holly peeking above her screen too. Yep, she liked bad boys. Which meant she liked me. "Why don't you sit and watch with me?" I patted the spot next to me.

"I can watch just fine from here." She curled up closing her laptop to start watching.

"There is a scary witch in this I need you to protect me," I smirked, acting like I would be terrified.

"You are a big boy, I am sure you will just fine." She shook her head and chuckled.

We sat in silence until the evil witch was reborn. Holly got up, walking to the place I patted and sat. Wrapping her arms around her knees drawing them into her chest. I shook my head, scooping her with an arm I pulled her to me. She was tense and worried. Yet just after I brought her to me she relaxed against my chest. Making me puff with a little pride, she felt safe. I liked that idea.

The movie ended and she got up, saying nothing she went back to her laptop. She checked the time, "I need to check waters." She threw on her jacket and went back outside in the blustery wind and rain now.

Getting up I got a shirt on, slipping into my boots, I followed her to the barn. There she was getting more water poured into their water buckets. "Need any help?" I asked.

"Not really, did you want to fill the cart for me?" she asked.

"Sure I can do that." I gave her my best smile. Heading to the hay barn I loaded the cart. Walking back to the barn with it. "Here." I offered her the handle. She pushed it into an empty room with brushes and halters.

"Thank you," Holly's words were drowned out by the wolve's howl we heard.

Our eyes met. I saw her reach for a pistol that was not there. "Head to the house. I will close and lock this." I instructed her. Brown eyes laced with fear looked up at me. "Go," I pointed to the front door about 350 feet from her house.

The struggle in her eyes was clear. She did what I asked. She took off at a sprint to the house. Making it to the door just fine. I turned locked the doors and did my sprint to the house. "Thank you," she said when I came in.

"No biggie," I lifted my shoulders a little. "Just make sure to take that pistol when you got out." I glanced down at her eyes to give her my stern look.

"I can't believe I forgot it," she shook her head with dismay on her face.

"I will make sure to remind you. When you go back out. I will go back with you." Going to the fridge for a bottle of water.

"Ok," she responded distantly and looking out the window. She glanced at her laptop, scrolling through pictures as her eyes got wide. "Looks like they have been patrolling this area now. They must be looking for my female livestock guardian dog." Holly sucked in a ragged breath.

"Where is that big dog?" I asked.

"I put her in one of the stalls. That way I didn't have to worry about her. She has the young male I got to back her up." Holly looked out the window.

"Then she is safe." I smiled. Getting up behind her at the window, I wrapped my arms around her waist pulling her closer to me like a backward hug.

"What is going on between us?" Holly asked in my arms

"Friends," I smiled deviously.

"You sure that is what this is?" Holly turned a little, undoing my arms around her. Her brown eyes found mine.

"Friends can hug and support each other right?" I gave her my best innocent look.

"They can," she looked back outside. "This just feels different." She mumbled to her self I was pretty sure.

"How does it feel different?" I whispered near her ear.

"I am not sure," there was a look of confusion and defeat mixed on her face.

I would get her to confirm her feelings to me. She needed time, to sort out what it was that was holding her back. I was going to keep being as persuasive as possible.