3. Chapter 3
Chapter three
Ivy
I must have dosed. The next thing I knew I was prying my eyes open to see Cooper crouched down in front of me.
“Hey. They just told us the doctor won't be by until tomorrow morning. It’s already almost midnight. Why don’t you go back to the ranch and rest. You can come back tomorrow.”
I frown, my fingers reaching up to rub the sleep from my eyes.
“But mom,” I start.
“Mom insisted.” He stands. “And we both know she doesn’t like it when we don’t listen. I’ll stay out here.”
He has a point.
“I’ll walk you out,” he adds.
Gathering my purse, I follow him out of the waiting room. It’s empty, so I’m assuming Ryder has already left. We make it down the elevator and into the parking lot.
“You can just stay in Houston’s old room at the cabin. It’s empty.” He grips me in a hug. “Watch for deer.”
I almost roll my eyes, but the fact Cooper is being his usual, protective self makes the anxiety built up in my muscles ease a little.
“I will. Call me the second you hear anything.”
After climbing back into my car, and the thirty minute drive to the ranch, I can barely keep my eyes open. I manage to make it to the cabin that Cooper has lived in since he turned eighteen. Letting myself inside, I sluggishly slide my feet to the bedroom, dropping my bag on the floor before I’m crawling under the covers and letting the exhaustion finally take over.
A sharp ray of light hits my face, causing me to groan out my frustration. I hadn't slept that hard in weeks, and getting out of bed was the last thing I wanted to do. But I had things to do today. People to face. Fears to conquer. Sliding out from underneath the covers, I pad into the kitchen in search of a coffee pot. One is placed on the counter, so I quickly start what will be my life saver today then resort to the bathroom for a hot shower. After scalding my skin, and possibly ruining the hair mask I did last week by using whatever dollar store shampoo and soap combination Cooper had on the shelf, I shut off the water and step out onto the bath mat. Shivering, I toss open the cabinet above the toilet, my hand searching for a clean towel. My fingers meet solid wood, not the plush material I assumed would be there. Gritting my teeth, I stomp to the door, peeking out towards the laundry room. It’s just a few steps away, and knowing my brother, the towels are still in the dryer, most likely having been tumbled at least three times by now. Laundry was never his strong suit. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if my mother still comes over and does it for him.
Tiptoeing across the old wood floors, the air conditioning kicks on, which causes my nipples to peak immediately. I curse under my breath, rounding the corner with a skid, before I collide into a solid wall of muscle. A surprised scream erupts from my throat as I stumble back, but a warm callused hand catches my upper arm. My eyes finally raise, traveling up the broad chest, before they lock with a pair of blazing hazel eyes. Eyes I’ve seen give me this same look hundreds of times. Eyes that I wish belonged to anyone else. Anyone else besides Maddox Sheppard. Those angry eyes dip down, raking over me, reminding me that I’m not only naked, but soaking wet. I rip away, one arm covering my boobs, while the other hand shoots down to cover everything south.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I hiss, backing away.
“Me?” He lifts a brow. “You’re the one in my house.”
“You’re house?” I frown in confusion. “This is Cooper’s cabin.”
He never moves from the hallway, his gaze still hard and unwavering.
“I’m assuming Copper didn’t tell you that he moved into the apartment above the barn two years ago. I live here now.”
I want to die. Crawl inside a hole with some rabid coyote family and let them rip me to pieces so I don’t have to live through this mortification.
“I…” I shake my head, my hands still covering the goods as I take another step backwards.
“Watch the…” Maddox begins, but it’s too late.
My ankle catches on the corner of a saddle that’s inconveniently tossed in the floor, and I tumble down, landing flat on my naked ass.
My hands instinctively leave my body to break my fall, exposing every intimate part of me to the man I would have gladly given myself to on a silver platter years ago, but that was no longer the case.
“Damn it, Ivy," he grits out before he’s storming in my direction.
Before I can stand, I’m yanked up and tossed over his shoulder. He rounds the corner to the bedroom, where I’m thrown down onto the bed like a useless sack of Idaho potatoes. The door slams, and I remain motionless. Breathless. Embarrassed.
The door cracks open again, and a towel comes flying in my direction. Before I can respond with a weak thank you , he slams it again, causing the house to practically shake from its force.
You can always go home they said.
Well, they, were full of shit.