CHAPTER 35
JAMIE
J amie stirred, blinking against the morning light as hazy memories from last night drifted back. She shifted slightly, turning her head—and there he was. Clayton was fast asleep, his hair a wild mess, his face relaxed in a way she’d never seen before. Peaceful. Handsome.
And completely unaware of the emotional storm brewing inside her.
How was she supposed to handle this? She hadn’t meant for things to go this far. But she didn’t regret it. Not even a little. And from what he’d murmured last night when he crawled back into bed, neither did he.
He loved her.
At least, that’s what he’d said.
But maybe it was just the tequila. Maybe he hadn’t meant it.
She stared at the ceiling, her pulse unsteady as she tried to sort through the fine mess she’d landed in.
Beside her Clayton shifted and let out a low, sleepy murmur.
“Hey, darlin’.” His voice was rough, groggy. “How’d you sleep?”
Jamie swallowed, forcing herself to sound normal. “Fine.” She rubbed her temples. “I think I drank too much. ”
He reached out, his fingers tracing a slow, lazy path over her arm. His gaze met hers, warm and amused. “Nah. You did a good job of drinking.”
“I did.” She let out a laugh, tension easing ever so slightly. “Maybe we should go back to not drinking?”
“Well, I ain’t going to argue with that.”
But the question still lingered: Did he remember?
And if he did . . . did he mean it?
“You said something interesting last night,” she said, looking at his face for any sign of recognition.
“I did?”
Shit. He didn’t remember. She hesitated, debating whether to tell him, but she was done playing games.
“When you crawled back into bed,” she said, hoping to jog his memory.
He sighed. “You heard that, huh?”
“Did you mean it?”
His gaze softened. “I sure did.” He let out a slow breath. “I love you, Jamie.”
A smile crept across her lips. “I love you, too, Clayton.” She stroked his beard before pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “I wish I could remember everything about last night.”
His mouth curved into a knowing grin. “Well, if you need a refresher I’d be happy to oblige.”
She winked. “I might take you up on that.”
He pulled back the covers and pressed a slow kiss to her neck, but before he could go any further she tugged the blankets back over herself.
He frowned. “Something wrong?”
She hesitated, then shook her head. “I’m just not comfortable with my body. ”
His brows knitted together. “Jamie, you’ve got the best damn body I’ve ever seen. Not that I’ve seen many—only been with two women in my life.”
Two?
Her throat tightened. She didn’t want to tell him. Didn’t want to show him the scars. Didn’t want to admit what she used to do.
But she had to.
She pushed back the covers, tracing a finger along the faint lines on her thighs. “I used to cut myself.”
Clayton’s gaze softened but his voice was steady. “Why?”
“Because feeling pain was better than feeling nothing.”
A beat of silence stretched between them. Then he reached for her, his fingers brushing over the scars with a touch so gentle it made her chest ache. “I can’t change the past,” he murmured, “but I damn sure want to be part of your future. I’m not going anywhere, Jamie.”
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her skin, and something in her heart shifted. She swallowed hard, almost believing him. “Thanks.”
Clayton rolled onto his side and held up his left elbow. “We’ve all got scars, darlin’.”
Jamie exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing. He didn’t flinch. Didn’t pity her. Just accepted her.
She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Now, about that refresher . . .”
Later that morning Jamie and Clayton drove toward the horse camp. She couldn’t stop smiling, still feeling the lingering warmth of his touch. Honestly, it was the best sex she’d ever had. Slow. Intentional. Like he was memorizing every inch of her.
But now reality was creeping in. What was he going to tell his family?
As they pulled up to the fence, the sight of children trotting around on horseback greeted them as their parents watched. Charlotte and Emily rode alongside them, guiding the way with Clayton’s parents and Nolan not far behind.
And then Jamie saw her.
Ruth.
Shit .
Her stomach flipped. She hadn’t expected her to be here. She’d know the minute she laid eyes on her.
Clayton leaned over, stealing a quick kiss before they climbed out of the truck.
“Howdy, folks,” he drawled, flashing his signature grin.
The parents standing near the fence lit up, some rushing over. Clayton greeted them like old friends, taking selfies, signing hats and shirts, and tossing out easy laughs. Jamie lingered back, watching.
God, he’s good at this.
“Jamie!” Clayton called, waving her over. “Come say hi to these fine folks.”
She hesitated. Would they even know who she was? Would they care? The cameras were pointed at him, not her. Maybe she should stay back . . .
A woman in the crowd turned, eyes widening in recognition. “Oh my God! Jamie Keaton!”
A ripple of excitement spread through the group and all eyes were on her, including Ruth’s.
Jamie smiled and shook the woman’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you. ”
“I love your new song!” the woman gushed. “I heard it on the radio this morning.”
Jamie tilted her head, confused. “What song?”
“‘When We Two Parted,’” the woman told her.
So much for Shorty keeping her in the loop about her single. Then again, she didn’t exactly get cell service at Clayton’s house.
“I didn’t know it was out yet,” Jamie admitted, covering her surprise. “But I’m glad you liked it.”
“Miss Jamie! Saddle up!” Charlotte hollered.
Clayton chuckled beside her. “What do you say, darlin’?”
Jamie eyed the horse warily. “I don’t know how to ride.”
“It’s easy.” His lips curled into a smirk. “I’ll show you.”
A ranch hand brought over two saddled horses, handing the reins to Clayton. He helped Jamie onto the smaller one and she swung her leg over, gripping the saddle tightly. Her stomach clenched. What if she fell? What if she broke something?
Clayton’s horse moved into a steady trot but hers barely took a step.
“Giddy up, now,” Clayton instructed, squeezing his legs against the horse’s sides.
Jamie mimicked his motion but her horse barely budged.
“You’ve got to squeeze,” Clayton coaxed.
A slow grin spread across her face. “What? You don’t like the way I ride, Clayton?”
His face reddened and he laughed before trotting off toward the girls.
Ruth rode up beside her, brow raised. “Okay, what was that about?”
Jamie shrugged. “Nothing.”
Ruth guided her horse a little closer to Jamie’s. She smirked. “Then why are you wearing yesterday’s clothes?” Her gaze landed on Jamie’s T-shirt. “Don’t tell me you actually like wearing Clayton’s face. ”
Jamie adjusted her reins, grinning. “I did last night.”
Ruth gasped, nearly dropping the reins. “James! Did you—”
She nodded. “We did.”
Ruth blinked and steered her horse forward. “Okay, wow. I mean, I don’t need details, but if this was just a one-night thing, it’s about to get really messy.”
Jamie exhaled, the warmth of the morning sun on her face. “It wasn’t just one night.” She glanced over at Ruth, her voice quieter now. “We did it this morning too.” A breath, then, “I love him. And he loves me too.”
Ruth let out a delighted squeal, startling her horse, which flicked its ears in protest. She grabbed the saddle horn to steady herself. “Oh my God! I’m so happy for you—for us! Does this mean you’re staying?”
Jamie stroked her horse’s mane, her gaze fixed on the horizon. “I’m staying for the summer,” she said. “After that, I’ll figure things out.”
Beside her Ruth nudged her horse closer. “I meant to ask you last night, but with all the commotion—”
“The engagement?” Jamie guessed.
Ruth beamed, lifting her hand to admire the ring catching the sunlight. “Yes, the engagement. Will you be my maid of honor?”
Jamie’s breath hitched in surprise before she grinned. “Of course.” She reached over and squeezed Ruth’s arm. “I’ll plan everything with Birdie and Sue—you won’t have to lift a finger.” She scanned the open pasture. “Where are your parents?”
“They were up at dawn and gone before breakfast,” Ruth exhaled. “Running a farm is a full-time job.”
As soon as horse camp ended Clayton drove Jamie back to the penthouse, leaving Poppy and her puppies at the ranch.
“I told Ruth,” Jamie said somewhere between Franklin and Nashville.
Clayton glanced over. “Did you, now?”
She nodded. “She’s happy for us.”
“What exactly did you tell her?”
“That we’re in love.”
Clayton smirked. “We sure are.”
She smiled, but the warmth faded as she asked, “What did you tell the girls?”
“Nothing.”
She blinked. “Nothing?”
He shrugged. “Just that you’d be bunking with us.”
Bunking with us?
Jamie closed her eyes and counted to ten. This wasn’t how she’d imagined it. She wanted him to tell them they were together—officially.
“Why didn’t you say anything about us ?”
“Wasn’t sure if you wanted me to.”
She frowned, tilting her head to search his face. “If you’re having second thoughts—”
“I’m not.” His voice was steady, reassuring. The kind of steady that settled deep in her chest. “But you said you didn’t want young’uns, and I didn’t want to make you feel like you had to change your mind.”
Jamie let out a slow breath, the late afternoon heat pressing down around them.
Outside the truck the vast Tennessee countryside stretched wide and open—rolling hills, weathered wooden fences, and a lazy dirt road that wound its way back to town.
Cows milled in the pasture across the way, their low grunts blending with the distant hum of a tractor somewhere beyond the trees.
So that’s what this was about.
She shifted, angling toward him, her arm draped over the worn leather seat. Dust from the drive stuck to the floorboards, kicked up from the sunbaked road.
“I meant I don’t want biological children.” She met his gaze, her voice soft but sure. “I always figured I’d adopt.”