Reaching Little Robyn (Littles of Rawhide Ranch #8)

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

Winston

He was having the best day of his life. Not only because it appeared they’d had a breakthrough, but because he was simply in the same room, sharing the same space with a woman who made him feel complete.

“Now what?” he asked as he slid a tray of cinnamon buns into the oven.

“We wait,” Robyn said from her place on top of the island where she’d sat and supervised the making of breakfast fit for a king. Or in this case, an entire palace full of her guests. “You did good, Rooster.”

It wasn’t Daddy, not yet, but he’d take it. Wiping his hands on a towel, he caged her in much as he had the day before, but this time didn’t utter any rules. Those would also come later. For now, he bent to kiss her again. He’d been stealing kisses every chance he had and she’d only complained once and that was when he’d almost set the house on fire by leaving the dish towel too close to the flame on the stovetop.

Her arms rose to wrap around his neck and he slid a hand behind her back and pulled her closer. She tasted like coffee and caramel and smelled like the cinnamon and vanilla she’d used to make the crumble filling for the rolls she’d left rising. He felt like he could eat her up and that thought as well as the swirl of her tongue against his had his cock lifting in salute. His free hand moved to the back of her head to tangle his fingers in the black curls. He tightened his hold, tugging just the slightest bit and swallowed the low moan of pleasure she uttered. It made him wish to draw more sounds from her, but the sudden squeal wasn’t what he’d been aiming for.

“Mmmmmummph.”

The word, if that’s what it was, made no sense, nor did the fact she was pushing hard against his shoulders until he remembered she was injured.

He pulled back in an instant, his fingers pulling her hair in his haste to reach for her foot.

“Ouch!”

“I’m sor?—”

“Good morning, Ms. Ethel.”

What?

“Good morning, my dear.”

The new voice was enough to have him turning to the door where he found Ethel standing with a big smile on her face.

“Hello, Rooster,” she said.

“Good morning, Ms. Ethel.” Winston thanked the gods that he was standing on the opposite side of the island from her. Being found kissing a girl was one thing. If Ethel became aware his dick was standing up in salute of said girl, he feared he’d see a look of disappointment on the older woman’s face.

“I know breakfast doesn’t start for another half-hour, but I thought I’d just sneak in and grab a cup of that coffee I smelled brewing.”

“I’ll get it for you,” he offered, then hesitated when he heard a soft giggle. Glancing down, he saw he wasn’t quite ready to make a public appearance. Telling his body to behave, he silently thanked Robyn for stalling by asking Ethel if she’d slept all right.

“Oh yes. The bed is so comfy and my room is just delightful. How about you, my dear? How is your ankle? Did it keep you up?”

Robyn thanked Ethel for her part in helping her get to bed the night before which had Winston thinking of how his little bird had looked in her bed which had his dick twitching again. Gritting his teeth, he dropped a hand to rearrange himself, grateful he’d not only put a shirt on, but had slipped into a pair of jeans instead of the sweatpants he’d pulled on before heading to Robyn’s rescue.

As the women chatted, he selected a tea cup with a hummingbird on it and filled it from the carafe he and Robyn had almost emptied. “Cream or sugar?” he asked.

“Both, please,” Ethel said.

“Rooster, if you’ll help me to the table, it will be easier to chat while waiting for the timer to ding.”

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Ethel said. “I can take my coffee in the dining room.”

Winston didn’t need to have taken any courses in hospitality for him to recognize that asking this kind woman to leave them would be a very insensitive move. “How do you feel about joining us on the porch to watch the sun rise over the mountains?”

Ethel’s eyes lit up as if the sun rose within their depths. “Oh, that would be lovely, but I really don’t wish to intrude.”

“It’s not an intrusion at all, it would be our pleasure,” he assured her. Within a few minutes, he had Robyn settled on a chair with her foot on a cushion he’d placed on top of a small table. Ethel had accepted the invitation to join him on the swing once he promised not to go too crazy with the swinging bit.

Each had a cup of coffee and he’d started another pot.

“I’m beginning to understand why my daughter loves living here,” Ethel said. “This must be what Shangri-La looked like in that movie. It’s absolutely breathtaking.”

“I think it’s the most perfect place on the planet,” Robyn said, giving him a soft smile.

“I agree. Between the view and the people, I honestly don’t think there is a more beautiful spot on the planet.”

Ethel’s laugh was like the soft tinkling of a windchime. “Young love is so beautiful, don’t you think? It’s like waking each day knowing that beyond a shadow of a doubt that such things as fairies and wishes and magic truly exist.” Her gasp startled him and had him ready to reach out and steady her but then Rooster realized she was simply leaning forward to stare at the first rays of gold appearing over the mountains.

No one spoke as they watched more rays appear to pierce the purplish black as night retreated and day began. The skies lightened and the greens of grass and trees became visible. Rocks of grays, blues and browns at the mountain’s base shone as if they’d been dipped in gold. When birds began to sing and a cardinal flew across the backyard, Ethel whispered, “Birds on the wing take beauty into so many places that would be dark and empty without their song.”

He couldn’t have said it better nor could it have affected Robyn more deeply as he watched her wipe a tear from her cheek. Knowing she wouldn’t want to make a scene, he reached over to drop an arm around the older woman’s shoulders. “I’m really glad you came to Robyn’s Nest, Ethel.”

“Me too,” she said looking up to give him a smile.

He gave her shoulder a squeeze and then rose when he heard the timer going off. “I’ll be back to get you in a bit. Just sit and enjoy.”

“Are you sure you don’t need help?” Robyn asked.

“I think I can ice a few rolls, little bird. Just enjoy the day before it gets busy.” He stopped by her chair and kissed her cheek. “If I need anything, I’ll shout.”

“Okay.”

He managed to not only ice the rolls, but by the time the other guests emerged from their rooms, he had set the tables and filled the chafing dishes Robyn had indicated she used to serve food.

“You know, you really are pretty impressive,” Robyn said as her guests each dropped by where she’d been stationed in an easy chair by the front window to tell her how lovely their rooms were and how delicious breakfast had been before they headed out to enjoy their day.

“I just did what you told me,” he said, stacking the last of the dishes on a tray to be washed.

“No, anyone could have done that. You made a point to engage every single person and not with general comments as to the weather, but asked questions that changed them from strangers staying at a B&B to people who were actually glad to meet other travelers who share the desire to be here. Is that how you managed to be successful in the big city?”

“Business can be cutthroat, but at the end of the day, we are all human beings who only want to be seen and heard.” He leaned down and spoke close to her ear, “And I can’t wait to see far more of you and listen to more of those sweet sounds you make when I’m kissing you.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“Nope, a little bird just told me I’m impressive.” He stood and began whistling as he took the tray into the kitchen. He wondered if Ms. Ethel was any relation to Derek Hawkins as they both not only believed in magic, they shared it with those around them.