Chapter 35 Thirty-Four
Thirty-Four
Wyatt
I trailed my knuckle up and down Quinn’s bare shoulder.
I wanted to wake her up, but couldn’t bring myself to do so.
I knew the minute she woke, we’d banter about something.
It could range from anything, really. The water being too cold in the shower, the massive amounts of boots she was about to pull out of her closet—again—or the fact that I cuddled a little too hard last night.
The longer she slept, the longer I could get away with just watching her—like a creep.
Okay, she had to wake up.
I kissed her shoulder, lifting my knuckles. “Quinn, baby,” I whispered against her skin. “Time to wake up.”
She hummed, scooting closer to me. A moan escaped me as my fingers trailed to her waist, pinching her hip slightly.
Bickering over boots suddenly became the last thing on my mind.
Last night, we made love for the first time; we fell asleep only to wake a few hours later to savor everything all over again.
I would never get enough of her. Never understood why she had finally chosen me.
“Wake up,” I said again, my fingers sliding lower.
She inhaled, exhaling a soft sigh once my fingers began trailing down her navel.
“We have a lot to do today,” I cooed. “Breakfast, Abi wants to have lunch with us, we need to start planning our next leg…but first—” I kissed her neck.
“Wyatt,” she mumbled, her eyes still closed. “I’m sleeping.”
“From what I can tell,”—I began to move my finger in a slow circle, feeling her wither against me—“you’re wide awake.”
She rolled to her back, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “You mentioned breakfast.” Her voice was breathy. I could tell she was trying to ignore my touch, but I was winning this battle.
“After.” I took over, knowing exactly how to touch her.
I never spent this much time wanting to learn about a woman’s body, and I wanted to know everything about Quinn.
I never woke up multiple times with the same woman, and I couldn’t wait to wake up every morning next to her.
I never found myself wanting as much as I did with her, and I wanted everything.
I never found myself wanting to give myself fully to a woman before, and with Quinn…I wanted to give her all of me.
As soon as her body calmed, she finally opened her eyes, the desire still lingering there behind the green specks. Her lips twisted into a sleepy, sexy smile. “I was promised breakfast.”
I chuckled. “Breakfast.”
“Shower first?” Quinn smiled.
“Sounds perfect.” I kissed her, but before I could deepen it, she shot up—the blankets flying off the bed entirely—and rushed into the bathroom. Without even a second thought, I ran after her.
Abi’s gasp startled me as I rounded the corner of the stable, completely stopping me in my tracks.
I stiffened, looking at her, trying to read her, but having no luck—which was weird because normally I could read my sister like an open book.
She stood there, her eyes wide, her jaw dropped as she stared at me, her hand flying to her chest. Then it hit me—she was gonna throw a joke.
“Oh my gosh,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. My shoulders instantly loosened. “It’s Wyatt…without Quinn!”
I glowered at my sister. “Oh my gosh,” I mimicked her tone. “It’s Abi…without Cash!”
She grinned. “Joke’s on you. He’s in the arena.” She tossed her thumb over her shoulder, and one glance behind her proved her right. I saw Cash leaning up against the gate, watching a client run drills. “But seriously, where’s Quinn? You two have been glued at the hip since the wedding.”
“She’ll be by for her training block. She’s currently packing for the weekend, and I don’t need to be surrounded by all her boots again. Plus—I figured I’ve been skipping work too much.”
A ping from my pocket pulled my attention away from Abi for a moment. I twisted on my heel to head to my side of the stables.
Hawkins
Group chat still alive?
Sam
Depends on Hartwell.
Me
Still alive.
“I haven’t touched Rusty’s stall yet. He made a mess with his water bucket, so…” Abi trailed the O. “Have fun cleaning that up.”
“I’ll do all the stalls, sis.” I gave her a wink and shoved my phone back into my pocket.
“I see a few new horses?” I glanced up and down the stalls, seeing some that were free a few days ago now occupied.
Who knew that when I suggested this, it would really take off and become Abi’s new passion?
Oh, wait—she knew. Abi loved these stables more than she loved me, only second place to Stetson and Cash.
“Yeah,” she mused, “and this one is pregnant. Owner said maybe a few more weeks. They didn’t have room for a foal.”
“And we do?”
“How many acres do we have?” She raised a brow, giving me a come on, you dumbass look. Of course, we had room for one more horse.
“Okay, true.” I shook my head. “I take it you’re gonna try to buy the foal?”
“Damn straight.” She grinned. “Of course, once it’s able to be away from mama. I’m thinking Poppy’s first birthday present.”
“She’s nine months, and you’re gonna up her parents and get her a pony for her first birthday?” I chuckled at my sister, opening up the gate to Rusty’s stall. I was greeted by a shit ton of wet hay.
“I’ll talk to Rhett first.” She leaned her arms over the gate.
I looked up at her with a single brow raised. “You weren’t kidding about this stall.”
“He had fun. I think Hook is becoming a bad influence on him.”
I peered across the stall to the black gelding that was already watching my every move. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he just gave me a head nod and a huff.
“You’re next.” I pointed at him.
A few more pings came from my pocket, and once again I dug my phone out.
Hawkins
Just wondering what your schedule looks like the next couple of weeks.
Me
Committees need names?
Hawkins
Not that I know of. You’ve been with Compton. We wanted to see if our schedules match. Sam and I are partnered up for the next month or two.
Sam
Unfortunately.
Hawkins
Fuck you.
I listed the cities Quinn and I would be at over the next few weeks and shot them off to the group.
August was jam-packed, probably more so than July was, and I honestly couldn’t wait for the break in September when it was just Quinn and me.
She’d be training more for the NFR since she was well on her way there, and I would watch in wonder and then make sure she knew just how wonderful she was.
“You said Quinn was packing?” Abi asked right as I shoved my phone back into my pocket, reaching for my gloves and pitchfork.
“Yeah, we leave next weekend. We’ll be gone for a stretch this time.”
“Is any of this helping you in the announcer field?”
I shrugged. “Not really, but you know that’s not the reason for it.”
“I know I just…” She paused and pushed herself off the gate, hitting the ground with a thud. “Wanted to ask.”
“Don’t want me on payroll anymore, huh?” I teased.
“How many times do I have to tell you I love you being here? It’s refreshing to see you like this.”
I narrowed my gaze at her. “Like what?”
“Happy,” she said, her eyes hardening on mine. “Like yourself again.”
“Happy,” I parroted with a huff. “It was always going to be with her, the second she walked back into my life.” I caught my sister’s gaze and gave her a smirk. “Told you I wouldn’t mess this up.”
She raised a brow. “I can see you and Quinn traveling together, you know. You announcing, her racing—all the way to the NFR. She’s good for you.”
She’s the best damn thing that ever happened to me.
“I love her.” My voice broke as I whispered the words. It wasn’t like telling Cash and Lach I was feeling more—this was Abi. My sister, who knew everything there was to know about me and then some. And the look in her eye, the gleam that hid there, told me she already knew.
Abi’s lips formed a small smile. “Never thought I’d hear you say that. But I’m glad it’s her. You two took a hot minute, but you’re perfect for each other.”
“Wyatt!” Lachlan’s voice echoed through the stables, his stern owner's voice front and center, until it changed. “Abi?”
“He says my name like it's sour and yours all soft and sweet.” I gestured to the hall opening, keeping my voice low so only Abi would hear.
“He’s still making up for the ‘put your big girl pants on’ comment.”
“That was over a year ago.”
“Exactly. I’m holding a grudge.” She spun on her heel. “We’re here, Lach,” she called.
Lachlan rounded the corner. “The architect is here; this is your meeting, Wyatt, so…let’s go.”
I dropped the pitchfork and glanced at the disgusting stall, then at the gelding. “Don’t make a mess while I’m gone.” I rubbed my palms together and turned to Abi. “Let’s go.” I parroted, basically jumping out of the stall, grabbing Abi by the shoulders to push her out of the stables with me.