Chapter 15
Farrah
Goddamnit. Why did they make hair ties for children so fucking tiny?? I’d been working on an 'Elsa' braid that Hadley insisted I put in her hair for the last ten minutes, but every time I went to tie it off, the tiny little fucker launched off my fingers.
"Mommy, bwaid?" Hadley turned her head to look back at me, clearly over this process taking so long.
"Not yet, Hady girl, Mommy's trying. These hair ties are so tiny, they keep slipping.
Can we just wear a ponytail or headband today?
" I waited with bated breath, hoping she would agree to one of my suggestions. Hadley was at the wonderful age of tantrums. I’m talking, full-on meltdowns if she didn't get her way… . we were working on it.
She sighed. "Hayban." I sent a quick thank you up to Jesus and grabbed her Elsa headband off her dresser.
My little brother Nolan was coming over to babysit Hadley while I went to dinner with Ryan. Ryan and I had been out a few more times for coffee and for lunch. I felt like things were progressing, so I was excited for tonight.
Nolan was twenty-three years old and the fraternal twin of my other little brother, Nate.
The twins were wildly talented and completely obnoxious about it.
Nolan was a professional reiner and horse trainer.
Reining was a Western riding discipline designed to showcase a horse's athleticism through precise, pre-set, high-speed patterns that include circles, spins, and sliding stops. Nate was a first baseman in his second year in the MLB—he played for the Chicago Cobras. Both were completely wrapped around my daughter’s finger and great uncles.
Once I got Hadley's hair how she wanted it, I picked her up and carried her into the kitchen. I set her on the island's counter and then turned toward the fridge to grab the ingredients I needed. "Do you want to help Mommy make Uncle No's favorite cookies before he gets here?"
Nolan accepted payment in the form of cookies.
When Hadley had first started talking, she couldn't quite say Nol or Nolan, so she settled on calling him Uncle No.
Nate became Uncle Na. She had no issues saying their names now, but she refused to change what she called them.
In the King family, what Hadley wanted, Hadley got.
Aria and Grayson got off easier; Aria was Auntie A, and Grayson was Uncle G.
I began creating the dough for the salted dark chocolate cookies my brother was obsessed with.
My hidden talent was baking. It was a stress reliever for me, and my siblings tended to reap the rewards.
Hadley was helping me shape the dough into little balls to place on the cookie sheets when a knock, followed by my brother's voice, echoed down the hall from the front door. "Farr? Princess Hady?
"Here, Uncle No!" Hadley shouted. Nolan appeared in the doorway, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his cookies being placed into the oven.
"For me?!" He placed his hand against his chest in shock, as if I didn't always make him cookies when he babysat for me.
I rolled my eyes. "Nah, they're for the neighbor."
Hadley began giggling. "They for you, Uncle No!" My brother reached over and started tickling her until she couldn't breathe.
"Oh, are they, silly girl? Did you help your mama?" Nolan picked her up, slinging her onto his hip.
"Yes! I help Mommy." Hadley smiled proudly.
"Good girl. Now go find a movie for us to watch while I chat with your mom for a minute.
" He placed Hadley on her feet, and she scurried off into the living room.
Nolan turned toward me. "So big dinner date tonight, huh?
" He reached over to the bowl that had the dough in it and dragged his finger up the side before putting the leftover cookie dough into his mouth. He groaned. "So fucking good."
I swatted his hand away when he went for round two, "You're an animal." I placed the bowl in the sink and turned the water on to rinse it out. "Yeah, Ryan's taking me to dinner tonight."
"Things going well then? I feel like you’ve been out with the guy several times now." Nolan straightened to his full six-foot-one height and leaned his hip against the counter.
I nodded, continuing to clean up the kitchen. "Yeah, I'd say so. I really like him; we have a lot in common and always have fun."
"Good to hear, I'm happy you're getting back out there."
I smiled. "Thanks. Okay, so I just need to go fix my hair, and then he should be here shortly. I'll be home by ten or eleven, I'll text you. You know the bedtime routine with Hadley."
Nolan laughed. "Farr, just stay out as long as you want, I'll crash in your guest room. I was planning on just staying over anyway. I've been up since five this morning with the horses, so I'll probably just crash after I put Hadley to bed."
I smiled and wrapped my arms around his waist. "Thank you, little bro. I love you, you're the best."
Nolan gave me a squeeze back. "No problem, but make sure you tell Nate that."
I shoved him against the counter as I made my way to my bedroom to finish getting ready. Nolan's laughter followed me down the hall.
"You look incredible," Ryan leaned over and whispered against my ear as I sat down in the chair he pulled out for me, sending a shiver down my spine.
He looked pretty incredible himself. He wore dark jeans, cowboy boots, and a crisp white button-up that clung deliciously to his biceps and chest. His shirt sleeves were rolled up slightly, revealing strong, muscular forearms.
"Thank you," I replied shyly. I’d never known how to take a compliment well.
"You know, we could have gone to some place in Forest Park. I feel like you're always driving out to Primrose Hill for me."
Ryan flashed his perfectly charming smile. "I don't mind, it's only a twenty-minute drive. Plus, I love McCullen's; they have the best steak." He winked, sending another little thrill through my body.
I was very attracted to Ryan, but deep in the back of my mind, I was waiting for more of a spark. A yearning, a deep need, a craving. I thought maybe if we moved into the physical stage of dating, that part would follow. I hoped tonight would prove that.
Because I had plans.
I also had a very bad habit of comparing every man to Walker.
That man used to set my body on fire. Jesus, he still could.
The other night at the winery was proof that the connection was still lying dormant beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed—but I think Walker and I both knew that we could never go there again.
We were different people now; there was too much history and hurt between us.
Friends was a better and safer option for us both.
Ryan was the first man since my divorce that I’d felt this attracted to, and I was determined to make this work, because hell, I needed to get laid. I needed to be touched by a man again. It had been far too long, and my vibrating boyfriend that lived in my nightstand wasn't cutting it.
After ordering a bottle of wine and placing our orders, we drifted into our usual conversation around the Guyer project we were both a part of.
"You were right about opening up that other wall in the kitchen at the Guyers’ place, makes it look at least double the size now," Ryan said before our server made his way back over to our table with our wine.
He served Ryan a small taste, and after Ryan nodded his approval, he poured us each a glass.
"Oh, I know, right? I'm so glad they agreed. I think showing them the Propp project I did last year was what convinced them. That house had a very similar layout." I shrugged, "I'll try to keep them on budget elsewhere, but that wall just had to go." I smiled, taking a small sip of wine.
Ryan nodded. "You're really talented."
Again, not being able to take a compliment, I could feel the heat from the small blush creeping up my cheeks, and I quickly changed the subject. "That custom vent hood will look great now. Before, I was worried it would look too large in the space. It should be coming in any day now."
"I look forward to seeing it." Ryan cleared his throat, and his dark gaze softened when he reached across the table for my hand. "Enough about work. Tell me more about your family, since I didn't grow up in Forest Park."
I glanced down at where our hands met. "Well, you already know how large it is, and all their names.
My parents own JLK Ranch, which sells cattle for beef, and we breed Longhorns.
My older brother, Grayson, is being groomed to eventually take over as CFO, but he also works the ranch.
He's a cowboy in a suit. My younger sister, Aria, is a track star and an Olympic athlete, as I'm sure you’re aware.
She retired from running this year and is working on creating her own shoe line.
Then there are the twins, the babies of the family.
Nate is a professional first baseman who plays for the Chicago Cobras, and Nolan is a professional reiner and horse trainer.
So essentially, everyone but me and Grayson is insanely gifted athletically. "
Ryan chuckled and gave my hand a small squeeze. I liked the feel of his hand in mine. "You’re insanely gifted in other ways, but yes, that is quite the roster of accomplished athletes in your family."
"I know, a bunch of freaks," I scoffed. Our salads were placed in front of us, forcing our hands to separate, and I immediately missed the warmth.
He took a bite of salad before he spoke again. "But I will say, I've seen your older brother, and that dude is massive. Could kick my ass. And you ride horses, do yoga, and run. I think your entire family is athletically gifted." He threw me a wink.
I laughed. "Okay, fair enough." I paused, debating whether I should broach this next subject, which I'd been wanting to ask him about. I took a sip of wine for courage. "So, we've talked about my divorce and my daughter, but we haven't really talked about yours."