Epilogue
S ydney Jeremiah. Child prodigy, near genius, sarcastic as fuck, with an evil sense of humour that somehow tickled Declan’s funny bone in ways he never expected.
He swore she was trying to drive him out of his goddamn mind.
It wasn’t the fact that she was smarter than him by umpteen degrees. Or even that she kept putting herself into fucked up and dangerous situations by offering medical services to cranky bastards who lived in remote-as-hell places. Her bravery annoyed him but also turned him on.
That? That was the issue.
She only had to glance his direction, and he was ready to fuck her into tomorrow.
Barely over five foot three with curves that would not end. Deep red hair that shone with golden highlights as it lay over his pillow. Her silvery eyes flashed fire as he adjusted his hips and drove them together again, pleasure rippling up his spine until it blasted the base of his skull.
It was only supposed to be sex. Hot, sweaty, dirty sex that left them both satisfied and boneless. No obligations, no expectations.
They’d fallen into bed the first night they’d met at Rough Cut pub, nearly a year ago. A quick release of urgent need and mutual attraction that had turned into booty calls and clandestine meetings all over High Water and Heart Falls. Somehow they’d kept it secret from her best friends and his brothers, although how, Declan had no idea.
Now as he leaned on an elbow, free hand slipping between their bodies to slick over her clit, the need to get her off before he lost control was the only thing on his mind.
After, though? When he lay there with barely enough energy to move and she was happily pulling her clothes back on, that’s when it hit again.
Dissatisfaction.
Not with the sex—hell, no—but with the rest of it. The secrets and the idea that it was only sex. As fucked up and strange as it was for him to feel that way.
Sydney stood, tucking her shirt into her pants and pulling her hair over the collar of her neat medical shirt. “I’m pleased to confirm you don’t have a concussion.”
Declan grunted his amusement. “You figure that out while fucking me?”
“No. I knew before. The fucking was a bonus.” Sydney leaned over him, one hand pressed to his chest as she looked him over carefully. “Your brother did make me promise to haunt you and make sure you didn’t overdo it after the accident.”
Another grunt escaped Declan. “Like you need permission to annoy me.”
She smiled sweetly. “Hydrate well today, and no riding for another few days.” When he would have protested, she held up a hand. “You don’t have a concussion, but you did get hit hard enough to go unconscious. Humour me. If you don’t feel like humouring me, do it anyway. I have zero problems telling everyone at High Water you can’t ride for a month.”
He swore at her softly.
“Right? I can be such a bitch.” Sydney put a knee to the bed and leaned in close enough to press their lips together, and suddenly all he could think of was getting her back into bed for another round.
But she moved like lightning and slipped away, waving evilly before vanishing. Leaving him with thoughts that kept circling back to what in the hell was wrong with him.
Sexiest woman in all of Heart Falls was down for a quiet, no-holds-barred affair, and he was…
Declan folded his hands under his head and stared at the ceiling.
Don’t sugarcoat it, love. You want more.
He heard the comment in his wife’s voice even though Sadie had been gone for four years now. He didn’t talk to ghosts, but sure as shit, he knew she’d give him hell if she was able.
It still hurt, thinking about Sadie being gone, but his subconscious, or his id, or whatever the hell they called the part of the brain that wouldn’t let a person blow smoke up their own ass was calling the shots right now.
It was time.
He’d been grieving for Sadie, and nothing had interrupted that pain but the plans for High Water. Then he’d still been grieving but ready for sex, and Sydney had jumped in with both feet.
He didn’t think he’d ever fully be done grieving for Sadie, but superficial sex, even spectacular superficial sex, wasn’t enough anymore.
Which meant he had some figuring out to do. Sydney was everything Declan had ever wanted in a woman. He liked them smart, he liked them sexy, and he liked them stubborn.
Now to convince her she wanted him too.
I hope you enjoyed this story for Jake and Tansy. Thanks so much for reading, and if you do have a few minutes to leave a review for others, I’d appreciate it.
Next up are Sydney and Declan. Their secret trysts have been fun, but things are about to change. Get ready for two strong silent types to find a path forward in A COWBOY’S CLAIM .