CHAPTER TWENTY
W armth from Cassidy’s grin spears straight into me, spreading her joy through my veins. “I think we should celebrate.”
She laughs. “I haven’t decided yet. It’s a maybe more than anything.”
“That’s just a delayed yes. The smile on your face says it all.” I trace her upturned lips with a curved knuckle.
“Does it matter that much if I compete?”
“No, not to me.” When her features crumple, I rush to explain. “But it does to you. I can tell how much it bothers you. This has been holding you back. I also see how much Leita means to you. If she’s destined to be a great champion, only you can ride her to victory. But again, no pressure. Whatever makes you happy.”
The green in her eyes shines, turning glassy. Wildflowers and devotion float on the breeze. “You’re such a sweet man. Perfect, really. How do I deserve you?”
I tuck stray stands behind her ear, fresh from escaping her ponytail. “If you believe me to be perfect, it’s only for you. But for the record, I’m far from it.”
She leans into my touch. “You make me so incredibly happy.”
A rumble sounds from deep within my chest to announce my pleasure. “That’s definitely worth celebrating.”
“We’ll have to wait. My hay delivery is arriving.” Cassidy’s gaze flicks over my shoulder.
“Your what…?” The question trails off as I track where she’s looking. A massive tractor is puttering down the road, pulling two gated wagons stacked with bales. “That’s a wide load.”
“Sure is.”
“Is the delivery going to make the turn into your driveway?” Seems impossible from this angle.
“Don’t worry about him. It’s not his first rodeo.” The familiarity in her voice sits in my gut like a rock.
Kenzie races from the barn, arms and legs a blur. “He’s here!”
“Yayyyyyyy! Gonna be sooooo fun.” Charlie zooms behind his sister, equally as excited.
My mind struggles to focus. “Who is this guy? Why are your kids acting like he’s Santa? And where have they been hiding?”
“A lot to process, huh?” She bumps me with her hip. “The twins were probably chasing the dogs or goats. Maybe both. They’re free range farm kids. Crop up when they’re ready and make themselves scarce otherwise. It’s a smooth system.”
I cross my arms and study the glint in her gaze. “You skipped over the dude and his big rig.”
Cassidy squints, examining my expression in return. “Wait. Are you… jealous?”
“Just protective. I’ve never met him.”
“Uh-huh.” A snarky brow quirks. “Ease off the trigger, trouble. He’s harmless.”
“Like when Barbie offered to give me very private riding lessons?” I didn’t miss my girlfriend’s rabid reaction to the blonde. It pumped my junk a bit, not going to lie.
“That’s different.” She sniffs.
“Or exactly the same.”
The slap of her eye roll is diluted by a coy grin. “Scott is just a nice guy who lets the kids climb in the hay while he unloads it.”
“How cute,” I mutter.
Her attention slides to where Mr. Nice Guy is chugging up her driveway. “You don’t need to stick around. This will take an hour or so. I can text you when he’s done.”
As if she can get rid of me that easily. “Nah, I want to see what all the fuss is about.”
“Maybe he’ll let you slip into his tall stacks,” she coos.
“One can only hope.” A vibration from my back pocket gives me an excuse to unclench my jaw.
Unknown Number: Hello, Mr. Granger. This is Alan from Sutherland Homes. It was great meeting you in person several weeks ago. Your contribution and assistance to the Knox Creek project has been extremely valuable. We’re hoping to connect with you about another investment opportunity. Unfortunately, our calls and emails have gone unanswered. Is this a better method to contact you? It would be extremely beneficial for both parties. Please get back to me at your earliest convenience. Call or text. Thank you.
Aggravation distracts the potential rivalry on the tractor. I delete the message, similar to what I’ve done to their previous attempts to communicate with me. These leeches are sucking on a dry teat.
“Hey.” The angelic tune of my beautiful sunflower soothes the upset. “Are you okay?”
I roll my shoulders. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“That’s an evasive response.” Cassidy’s gaze lowers to where I’m clutching my phone. “You’re about to crack your screen.”
She had a similar reaction to them and their persistent methods. Now I understand her frustration. But this is what I volunteered for. They can harass me until they quit. That’s the only option.
“It’s nothing.” Which is the truth. “Just an annoyance.”
Her lips press into a firm line. “Sutherland?”
I consider avoiding again, but nod instead. “They’re just trying to squeeze more money out of me.”
“Since when?”
“It’s just been a couple calls recently. I didn’t think much of it.”
“You won’t—”
“No, I made you a promise. One I won’t break.” I brush my lips against her forehead.
“Even if they come after me again?”
Plastic creaks in my fist. “They wouldn’t dare.”
“But they’re ruthless,” she reminds.
“The situation is under control. You can trust me.”
She smiles and wraps me in a hug. “I do.”
The pressure whooshes out of me as I soak in the comfort she provides. I bury my nose in her hair and inhale. Peace and sweet dreams flow to my lungs. All is well in this moment.
But then my gaze shifts to where Kenzie and Charlie are greeting Mr. Nice Guy. I bristle at their interaction. The twins are leaping at him in an attempt to get the candy in his grip. He grins at them, but doesn’t relent. His jaw works like he’s chewing, which only gets the kids more riled. They’re practically begging when he finally tosses a few gummy bears into their hands.
“He’s teasing them. Real nice,” I grumble.
Cassidy steals a glance at what’s reinstated my attitude. “Oh, stop. He’s like family. Think of him as their uncle.”
Scott’s gaze moves to where Cassidy is flush against me. He narrows his eyes on me before taking a meaningful dip to her ass. My palms roam from her back to cover what’s mine from his view.
“That’s not how a brother should look at this sister,” I remark.
“Harmless,” she reminds.
“We’ll see about that.” I loop an arm around her waist and lead us toward the action.
Kenzie spots me first. Her expression goes bright, chasing off any hint of gloom. The little girl doesn’t hesitate to lunge at me and quickly attaches herself to my leg.
“Pinkie Pie!” Her hold could cut off circulation. “I’ve missed you.”
“Hi, Rake!” Charlie cinches himself to my other side. “Where you been?”
“Right here, Cheese. You’ve been busy playing with Mac.” I ruffle their hair.
The twins share a glance before shouting, “Horsey ride!”
And I’m off as if spurred. My stride is stiff and wide to keep them latched on. Their giggles could flip the stiffest frown right side up. We take several laps along the path, their glee tickling my ears. Cassidy sighs. The sound is pure bliss.
“What about me?” The candy hog dumps more pieces in his mouth.
The kids don’t react to his petulance. They’re too busy padding my ego. At least until their short attention spans shift to hunting cats in the grass. Charlie scrambles off me and kneels in the dirt. His sister is more practical with her dismount, folding into a silent crouch.
“Good luck,” I whisper.
That earns me double the thumbs-ups. Soft laughter escapes me as I amble back to Cassidy and the dude who still hasn’t started doing what he’s here for. Nope, he’s preoccupied himself with my woman. Such a nice guy. His beady leer ogles her curves in the cowgirl uniform I’ve already thoroughly admired.
Confidence widens my stance, putting my six and a half feet frame on display. “Who are you?”
“Took the words outta my mouth,” he chuckles. “The name’s Scott. I’m the hay guy ‘round here.”
The intro matches with what I’ve already heard. Not that I’d admit we were talking about him.
I extend a hand, squeezing hard on purpose. “Cassidy refers to me as the best sex of her life, but you can call me Drake. You’ve probably heard about me.”
My girlfriend’s freckled cheeks burst into flames, but she doesn’t dispute the title. I wink at her while keeping Mr. Nice Guy in a firm vise.
Scott smirks. “Tight grip. Use it for jerking Jill up the hill?”
“That’s clever.” My fingers clamp down until he winces. “Gotta show dominance, right? This is my house.”
Cassidy exhales roughly. “If you two are done flirting, there’s work to do.”
Paisley chooses that moment to join us. “Did somebody say two for the price of one?”
A disgruntled scoff rejects her discounted rate. My biceps clench in preparation for heavy lifting. “I’ve got this. Just tell me where to put the bales.”
“Whoa there, buckaroo.” Scott blocks me from the nearest wagon. “Are you trying to do my job?”
“Thought that was obvious.” But I do a few more stretches to prove my point.
“I’m used to handling Cassidy’s hay by myself,” he boasts.
“That was before she had me. I can do it.”
“Trouble, let him stack the bales. He knows what he’s doing,” Cassidy presses.
“And I don’t?”
She cringes. “No offense, but—”
“Gonna stop you right there,” I interrupt. “It can’t be that difficult. I’m built like an ox from Oregon Trail.”
Scott grunts. “You got those muscles in the gym. True grit isn’t sculpted by a monthly membership at Planet Fitness. That strength is given to those who earn it the old-fashioned way. But let’s see what you’ve got.”
He strips off his shirt as if that’s a requirement for manual labor. The dude is ripped, almost making me feel inadequate. Cassidy appears unaffected, discussing evening chores with Paisley. If interest sparks in her gaze, I want that desire solely aimed at me. I reach back for my collar and yank the cotton over my head. We stand bare chested, flaunting our toned worth. This scene is beginning to have a Gladiator vibe and I’m hyped to beat him at his own game.
As if entering the gauntlet of my thoughts, Scott’s grin curves to a vicious angle. “How about we make this interesting?”
“I highly doubt you have anything interesting to say but I’m willing to listen.”
His glare threatens to flay me open. “You do that wagon. I’ll take this one. It’s an even one hundred fifty bales each. Whoever empties theirs first is the winner.”
“Deal,” I agree.
We don’t need to state a prize. There’s not a price on bragging rights. Cassidy catches wind of our plans as we approach our designated trailers.
“This isn’t the competition we were going to celebrate,” she says.
“Consider it extra credit. When I come out on top, I’ll buy dinner.”
She parks her hands on her hips. “Shouldn’t I pay? You’re stacking my hay.”
“Snappy rhyme, but now isn’t the time.” I blow her a kiss.
“When I win,” Scott barges into our conversation like a drunk relative. “I’ll let you buy me dinner, Cass.”
“Pathetic,” I sneer. “I’m going to enjoy beating you.”
“Bold claim coming from a guy who doesn’t know the weight of a bale. Too bad I didn’t bring my elevator for you. Could’ve offered you a head start.” He makes an ‘awww shucks’ motion but it’s faker than his charm.
“Don’t need it.” Not that I have a damn clue what equipment he’s referring to. I lower the rear grate on my wagon and then, with a fluid motion that feels practiced, hop on. “Ready when you are.”
Scott gets to copy my lead for a change, which morphs his scowl into fierce determination. “May the best man eat.”
That sounds like something I would say, but his rushed movements don’t allow me to appreciate the phrase. A strategy for success forms and a loophole presents itself. I’m ready to execute.
My fingers grip twine and heave. The square is probably pushing fifty pounds. I toss the bale off the trailer and grab another. Throw, bend, lift, repeat. A somewhat smooth cycle directs my motions.
Scott slams to a halt after exiting the barn, his glare pinned on the pile I’m creating. “What’re you doing?”
“Emptying my wagon,” I breathe. “As we wagered.”
His eyes widen. “That’s… fuck!”
A chuckle scolds his assumption that I’m cheating. These are the rules he set. Mr. Nice Guy didn’t read the fine print. Bummer. Now he’s racing to imitate my methods. There’s not a chance he can beat me. But just in case, I increase my pace.
It doesn’t take long for my back to start cursing me. Sweat slicks my skin and hay particles stick to me like glitter. The sun is cranking up the heat to a punishing extreme. There’s a burning sensation streaking through my muscles. This specific task isn’t my norm but I don’t falter. I’ve trained my body and mind to push harder. Quitting isn’t an option.
Cassidy appears in my peripheral, clutching onto the trailer’s metal cage. “What’re you trying to prove, trouble? You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“Beauty,” I exhale gruffly. “There’s something you should know about a man’s ego. It’s fragile and needs to be pampered. Give me a stroke, not a shove.”
“What?”
“Praise my reckless decisions and then coddle me once I get injured,” I rephrase.
“No,” she huffs.
“Just this once?” I pause to wipe my damp forehead, seeing that half the stack is gone.
Cassidy’s shoulders slump. “Fine.”
My steady but rapid pace resumes. “You’re the best girlfriend ever.”
“I feel like we’re back in middle school.”
“Now you’ll know how it could’ve been.”
Her laughter slices through the pounding in my ears. “Mhmm, a real thrill so far. Very mature.”
“Almost done.” The reassurance is for me more than her.
Paisley sidles up beside Cassidy to watch the demonstration of male stupidity. We’ll do just about anything to prove a point. It seems that gender trait isn’t a trade secret. While I’m busting my ass, parts of the women’s conversation reaches me.
“They’re acting like boys,” Cassidy complains.
“Hush. Let ‘em swing their cocks around.”
My girlfriend gasps. “Don’t suggest that. My children are home!”
“Um, wow. I didn’t mean literally. Get your mind out of the gutter. It’s like peacocking. Sword fighting.”
“A dick measuring contest,” Cassidy adds.
“Exactly. Fun for us, right?” Amusement is thick in Paisley’s voice.
“Until they need medical attention.”
“Not our problem,” her cousin chirps.
“Just mine.” Cassidy doesn’t sound too upset to be hitched to my wagon.
“You claimed him. It’s your responsibility to spank him upright after he collapses.”
Which happens the instant I pitch the final bale. My knees crash into the wooden floorboards before buckling completely. I flop flat on my back, staring at the cloudless sky. Every nerve is pinched. The numbness from running on autopilot cuts off and allows pain to flood me. Spots dance in my vision. I’m panting, fighting for oxygen.
The only consolation is that Scott must be in a similar state.
Cassidy’s beautiful face appears above me, blocking out the sun. “Hey, trouble. Still ticking?”
My heart thumps triple its regular rate but going strong. I try to lift my arm to pump the air but fail. “Victory is mine.”
“Worth it?”
“That depends,” I rasp. “Are you proud of me?”
“Sure.” Her tone lacks a convincing edge.
“Am I doing better than the other guy?”
She peers over to the left, humor immediately curling her lips. “Yup.”
“Home run, beauty.”
Cassidy extends an arm and wiggles her fingers in invitation. “Need a hand?”
“Nope, change of plans. How about you eat dinner off me?” I wince when a spasm attacks my calves. “Not sure I can move.”