Chapter 44
Kip whinnieswhen I step into the stable, and I grin in return, a light feeling sweeping through me. The sunshine streaming in from the open door behind me has his black mane shining, looking like silk. I wasn’t expecting to see him still inside, so I know Wade did it on purpose. Fuck, that shouldn’t make me so damn happy to know.
The old man didn’t even say hi to me when I returned. He took one look at me and then ordered me to change and get back to work with a list a mile long of tasks. But seeing that he left Kip in the stable for my arrival tells me everything he didn’t. He’s thawed to me whether he wanted to or not, and despite my own efforts, I’ve done the same toward him.
“You look good, Kip,” I say, stepping up to his gate and reaching over to scratch his neck. “They been taking care of you while I was gone?”
He blows a fierce puff of hot air through his nose and burrows into my palm, demanding more pets. I chuckle, not leaving him wanting.
“What do you think the odds are that I could hop on your back and use you for a bit today without Wade whooping my ass?”
Footsteps sound on the stable floor, and I turn my head to catch a glimpse of Johnny striding toward me, a massive grin parting his lips. He moves quickly toward us, and without his usual cowboy hat perched on top of his head, we’re nearly the same height. His baseball cap is old and flipped backward, so his messy hair pokes through the Velcro strap. He looks his age today with a wild and free aura about him that I don’t hate at this very moment.
“My man!” he hollers. I’m pulled into a strong hug before I can back out of it. Clapping me on the back, he adds, “I hardly recognized you without a scowl on that million-dollar face of yours.”
I step out of the hug and straighten my T-shirt. “Only million-dollar?”
“Searching for compliments already, I see. I’ll have to tell Poppy to step up her game.” He tuts.
“She’s doing just fine.”
“Oh yeah?” He reeks of mischief, which isn’t out of the ordinary.
“Did you only come in here to give me a hard time? I have a list of chores from Wade to start on,” I say.
“Is that why I found you gossipin’ with your horse? Nah, don’t even try and pretend you weren’t. We all do it.”
“Kip is a better listener than most of the people I’ve met.”
Johnny snorts a laugh. “Yeah, you’re telling me.”
“How was he the past few days? I haven’t seen a trainer around.”
“Could’a asked Wade about him, ya know?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t. I’m asking you.”
He turns and leans against the post between Kip’s pen and Sky’s empty one and kicks his feet out before crossing them at the ankles. “Kip’s always good, Garry. I’d say he definitely missed you, though. Was a bit more vocal than usual with Wade.”
“How vocal?” I ask, suddenly concerned. “Is something wrong with him? Has Wade called a vet to have him checked out?”
“Slow down, Cowboy.” With his hands tossed up in front of him, I get the feeling he’s trying to soothe me like he would a wild animal. “He’s all good. Just trying to tell Wade to bring you back.”
My stomach sours even as my anxiety slowly trickles off. “After six days?”
“After the third day, I’d say,” he answers honestly, solemnly.
“Fuck.”
If he’s upset after three days, how will he be after I’m gone for good?
Reading the emotions on my face, Johnny says, “He’ll be fine, Garry. Don’t start worrying about it already. Kip’s tough as nails.”
“He is,” I agree, but the words are hollow.
“You could always call me while you’re back home and I can let you video chat him.”
“That seems more unfair than just leaving.”
“Maybe. Or maybe it’s what both of you will need.”
I’m unable to come up with a reply that feels worth speaking. My upcoming departure from Cherry Peak weighs heavier on me than anything else. Kip is just another piece of this place that’s going to kill me to leave behind, and I don’t know what to do with that realization yet.
Kip’s ears flick as he turns to look at the stable door. The clopping of hooves sounds a beat before Sky appears, her golden mane flowing in the breeze as Brody leads her into the stable.
It’s been weeks since I’ve seen him, and not once have I gotten to witness him perched on Sky’s back, his legs curved around her saddle with the same ease I watched Poppy’s have. He’s a natural, obviously at home in that position. His dark brown cowboy hat is tipped down, casting a shadow over his face before he flicks it up and waves two fingers at us.
In dirty jeans and a pair of cowboy boots that have seen far better days, he swings off Sky and lands gracefully on his feet. After patting his horse’s neck, he gives his attention to Johnny and me.
“You’re back,” he states.
I nod woodenly. “I am.”
“Ran into my grandpa on the way here. He told me you’d be here. Said you’d most likely be here all day despite the list he gave you.”
“It actually might be my fault that he’s still here, actually. I’ve held him up,” Johnny admits before jerking his head in my direction. “He was about to take Kip out before I interrupted him.”
I stiffen. “I was considering it. I’m not certain if I’m even allowed to do that. Kip is Wade’s.”
I’m quick to defend and explain myself to Brody. He may be my employee in every other environment, but right now, he holds the power, and Poppy would be upset if I pissed off her best friend’s boyfriend.
Brody stares at me for a beat too long for it to mean nothing before saying, “Take him out. He gets restless if he’s kept inside too long, which I’m sure you’ve learned.”
I grapple with my surprise. “Wade won’t want him?”
“He left him here for a reason.”
My throat constricts. I incline my head, and Brody does the same before Johnny interrupts.
“I was just telling Garry that Kip’ll be fine once he’s gone back to the big city. Sad, yeah, but there’s FaceTime for a reason.”
Brody looks taken aback by Johnny’s words, and I fight back a groan. Just when I think the kid isn’t going to be a colossal pain in my ass, he goes and does something that shows me just how naive I was.
“Seems you have a lot you plan on leavin’ behind in Cherry Peak,” Brody replies roughly.
I fight past the sudden pain in my chest and attempt a weak smile. “Much more than I intended to.”
“There any way you could avoid doin’ it?”
“No plausible one.”
He clears his throat, leaning against Sky’s side. “It’s never easy. Doesn’t get easier either. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lyin’. Cherry Peak isn’t a place you can move on from or forget. I’ve tried and failed too many times. It’ll be easier on you if you admit that to yourself sooner or later.”
“I think everyone comes back here sooner or later. This place doesn’t look like much, but if you give yourself up to its pull, you’ll find a home here forever,” Johnny adds, suddenly a wise old fucking man.
Their statements dig too deep. My pulse grows frantic as my skin heats, panic rising. I’ve already felt the truth of their statements in every moment I’ve spent here without needing to hear the words spoken out loud. Every day with Poppy proves how right they both are, and that terrifies me. I’m not ready for what all of that could mean for me and my life.
After work,the porch door swings shut, and then the sound of scuffing shoes fills the entryway. “Honey, I’m home!”
I rub the back of my neck in an attempt to ground myself before going to meet Poppy. I’m thrilled to have her living here with me for the remainder of my time in Cherry Peak, but I’ve never lived with a woman before. The few days we spent in Bora Bora were only a beginner lesson, and suddenly, I’m wishing I’d asked someone for advice on this before diving in head first.
Seeing Poppy after going all day without her is like seeing the sun after years in an eternal night. Her warmth fills the entire house the moment she abandons her shoes and suitcase and comes running toward me.
“Hey, baby,” I murmur against her lips when she leans up to kiss me.
“Hi.” She grins against my mouth.
We break apart, but I tuck her into my side, not allowing her to get too far away quite yet. “I could have helped you pack your stuff.”
“And let you witness my absolute meltdown when I got home and saw all of the presents in my living room? As if.”
“You like them, then?” I ask eagerly.
She shakes her head in disbelief. “Like them? That’s a criminal understatement. I don’t think I’ll need to buy a damn thing for the next decade. You really didn’t need to buy me all those things.”
I drop my eyes to her wrist and find a gold bracelet dangling from it. The P charm glistens with diamonds, and I feel downright smug knowing that she liked it enough to wear it already. It’s the smallest of the few gifts that were waiting for her today but my favourite.
“Consider the gifts proof that I spend an obscene amount of time thinking about you. Shopping for you kept me busy. Helped me feel like maybe I hadn’t completely screwed things up with us,” I say.
She softens, eyes a warm chocolate brown. “That’s acceptable, then.”
“Plus, I’ve never had anyone to spend my money on before. I’m quite enjoying spoiling you.” Another criminal understatement.
Twirling to face me, she lands a hand on my chest and tips her head back to meet my stare. “That’s another fair reason.”
I smirk, lifting a hand to push her hair behind her ear. “Are you sure you’re ready to live with me? There’s still time to back out.”
“I think I should be the one asking you that.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well, for one, I definitely don’t share your OCD when it comes to laundry or altogether cleanliness.”
“I don’t have OCD. I just don’t like when laundry piles up or doesn’t get put away,” I argue.
She doesn’t buy it. “Both of which I do on a daily basis. But for you, I did put that new washer and dryer to the test and got all my post-vacation laundry done before coming over.”
I hum, tipping her chin back further before kissing her just once. “Good girl.”
“Keep talking like that and we won’t be unpacking anything of mine until I’ve been properly fucked in my new digs.”
“Is that supposed to be a threat?”
“Not a very good one if you have to ask,” she breathes, a soft laugh trickling behind the words.
I curve my arm around her back and tug, sending her careening into my chest. Bumping her nose with mine, I say, “Let’s get you unpacked first. If I get my hands on you now, we won’t be touching your things until tomorrow.”
“I suppose that’s fair.”
Goosebumps explode all over my skin as the hand on my chest starts to dip lower, down to the waist of my jeans and lower still. Her palm is hot against my cock as she palms it firmly.
“Better get a move on then, honey.”
Once the taunt escapes her lips, she’s out of reach, the wheels of her suitcase rolling through the house as she pulls it behind her. It takes me a moment to collect myself before I’m trailing after her, chuckling in disbelief.
It may have been a good thing I hadn’t wasted my time asking anyone for advice on how to live with a woman. Because Poppy is no ordinary woman, and I think I’ll do just fine figuring it out as I go.