“Oh my god.” She leaned over the fence and he jumped, moving quickly to yank her back from Big Hoss, who hated anyone near his bed or his food. Instead Big gave her a grunt and kept on eating.

Okay then.

“Sometimes pigs can be mean. Just a warning,” he said to her, brushing a curl back from her face. “I like you in one piece. Hoss will cut a bitch in defense of his bed.”

She smiled at him. “Protector of all things living, apparently. Thank you. I do know better, but he’s so big and adorable and I lost my mind for a moment. I love pigs. I guess I should have told you that.”

He laughed, kissing her quickly before setting her back. He couldn’t defend against that. At all. It was fucking adorable that she was so exited over his pigs.

Still grinning, Tuesday turned back to the enclosure. “And you’re Violet. I’ve heard all about you from Mary.”

At the sound of Mary’s name, Violet gave a squeal and trotted over, grunting a little.

Tuesday made an excited little eeee as she laughed. “You are indeed a very fine pig. You’re both very smart to have come to live with Ezra. I bet he’s a big giant softy who gives you apples and all the things you like.”

“I beat them with nettles and I’m going to make Big Hoss into bacon.” Ezra frowned and Tuesday snorted, rolling her eyes.

“Sure you do.” Tuesday looked at him over her shoulder for a moment and then turned back to Violet. “Between you and me, Violet, I love pigs. When I was a little girl I had a necklace with a pig pendant on it. I loved that necklace. I had pig stuffed animals, too. And maybe a few dozen ceramic pigs people bring me back from trips they take. Oh, and some salt and pepper shakers.”

Damn, he’d known she was unexpected. Funny. Heartbreaking. Strong. But he was partial to silly. He’d not noticed the salt and pepper shakers but he did remember seeing a red-and-white ceramic pig in her bedroom.

Violet made her little grunts and squeals to Tuesday, who nodded and spoke back to the pig. Violet let off one of her little satisfied squeaks and gave Ezra a look.

“She approves of me, huh?” Tuesday straightened with one last pat to Violet’s head.

“She can be vicious if she chooses. If she hadn’t liked you, she’d have found a way to make you sorry. She’s a vexing female.” He watched his pig trot over to get herself some more apples before she settled in for a nap.

“I’m glad not to be a victim of suspicious pig gang activity. I’d have some story to tell about how I lost my eye—probably get me lots of free drinks in bars.”

He barked a surprise laugh. “Maybe next time. She loves bad influences. Look how much she digs Mary.”

“Can I come back to see them? Really?”

The idea of Tuesday being around more was one he liked a great deal.

“You’re welcome to come see these pigs anytime.”

She hugged him. It was an impulsive, easy thing and holy shit he liked it. So much he wrapped his arms around her, just soaking it in for long moments before he kissed her forehead and stepped back.

She looked around, peering closer at the corner of his garden. “Do you have a garden, too?” She pointed at the nearby hedgerow.

“I do. Just a little something I do in my spare time.”

“Show me.”

He took her hand and led, feeling proud and a little embarrassed at once.

* * *

TUESDAY PAUSED, sucking in a breath as they got a few steps past the wall of hedges. “Wow. This is what you do in your spare time?” She took it all in, the paths lined with flowering plants, the trees and bushes and plants. It wasn’t a huge garden, but it was big enough that as she wandered through she began to see that each area had its own feel, its own sounds even.

“I think this is my favorite.” She sat on a little bench under a tree, near a water feature.

He sat next to her. “Really? It’s just a thing, this isn’t...” Again the man tried to wave away something amazing he’d done.

She took his hand. “This isn’t just a thing. Ezra, this is like...I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s a whole different world in here. It’s quiet and it feels faraway and serene. It’s nice to have a place to escape to when you need to clear your head.”

She could totally see bringing her stuff out here and making bracelets all day as she listened to the water and pretended the world was a million miles away.

He rumbled and she smiled.

“No wonder you’re so good at sex. God.”

He barked a laugh. “What? Is there a link between gardening and sex I didn’t know about?”

“No. There’s a link between a man who’s undeniably good with his hands and his imagination and really good sex. Ask anyone. I’m sure there’ve been studies even. You should volunteer. Let them study you. For science.”

He pushed to stand, heading to a nearby bush and pinching off some dead growth.

“Are you ever still?” She eased toward him, waiting until he unbristled before taking that final step, bringing her to his chest.

“What do you mean?” He kept his tone wary.

“You’re very suspicious.” He frowned and she wasn’t sure why, but she was charmed, drawn closer by how hard he tried to be gruff. She petted his beard and hummed happily.

“You confuse the hell out of me,” he mumbled and she grinned.

“I know. I’m vexing, just like your pig. Except I have boobs. But back to you. You’re rarely still. I look at you and your life and I see a man who does more in just one part of his life than most humans ever will. And you do it on several levels. It’s pretty impressive.”