Chapter 20
Head Over Boots
I stir as golden sunlight spills through the blinds, casting a soft glow across my bedroom ceiling.
Part of me is afraid to get up, convinced last night was too good to be real and must have been a dream.
The familiar scent of vanilla drifts through my senses, giving me the courage to crack an eye open, and I sigh in relief when I find Birdie curled beside me, her blonde hair a tangled mess on the pillow.
One arm is draped across my chest, the other tucked beneath her chin.
She responded to my every touch last night as if she were made for me, each movement drawing another low moan or gasp until she was begging for release.
I half expected her to shy away afterward, but she surprised me by lacing her fingers in mine and murmuring her thanks as she drifted off to sleep.
I’m the one who should be thanking her for showing me what true happiness feels like. I was blinded for so long thinking fleeting connections were enough, when all along nothing could compare to the way it felt being inside her for the first time, claiming her just as fiercely as she claimed me.
Birdie’s chest rises and falls in a steady rhythm, a faint smile playing on her lips. I lean in, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead.
“I think I’m falling in love with you, Birdie, baby,” I whisper.
There’s a sense of peace in saying those words out loud and admitting the truth—even if only to myself.
Birdie Matterson is my endgame. I may have been her first, but I fully intend to be her last.
I’ve lived a life without her in it, where she was just a friend, and now that I’ve experienced what it’s like to call her mine, there’s no going back.
I’ll wait as long as it takes to convince her that what we share isn’t temporary.
We belong together, and I intend to fight for our future and earn my place in her heart.
I can only hope she understands that everything I’ve done for her reflects how much she means to me—including looking after the people who matter most to her.
I brush a loose strand of hair from Birdie’s face, taking in every detail—from the way the sunlight dances along the curve of her cheek to the birthmark I discovered earlier on the top of her left shoulder.
I’m still not sure how I got so damn lucky to be the one she trusted enough to spend the night with, but I’m not taking a single second for granted.
After several minutes, her lashes finally flutter open, and she blinks up at me with a soft smile.
“Hi,” she whispers.
“Good morning.” I shift to hover over her, brushing a kiss across her lips. “How did you sleep? Are you sore?”
“A little, but in a good way,” she admits, a flush coloring her cheeks.
“Don’t get shy on me now, sweetheart,” I say, trailing a finger along her jawline. “There’s no shame in admitting you enjoyed all the things we did last night.”
She playfully swats my arm, letting out an exasperated sigh. “You’re too smug for my liking.” My lips trail along her collarbone as my hand slides over her hip. “Walker, what are you doing?”
“Just making sure you remember how much you loved my charming side last night.” I press slow kisses along the swells of her breasts, my eyes locked on her. “Is it working?”
She tilts her head, letting out a throaty moan. “You’re incorrigible.”
“It’s not my fault you’re so irresistible,” I murmur, moving back up to capture her mouth in another kiss.
She leans back, her gaze searching mine. “Is this usually how the morning after goes? You know… after sex…” She trails off.
I wince, not wanting the reminder that for her, this might have been just another lesson—when for me it was a religious experience, and I’d declare my love for her on my knees if I thought she’d have me.
“This”—I motion between us—“is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and if we didn’t have to work today, I’d bury my face between your thighs again and make you come until you couldn’t think straight.”
Birdie groans. “Now you’re just being a tease.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty more time for that later.” Every damn night for the rest of our lives if I can manage it. “For now, I’m going to cook you breakfast and then get you to work on time.”
It’s the closest I’ll get to seeing her all day with my shift at the sheriff’s office—unless, of course, someone reports suspicious behavior at the feed store, like haphazardly stacked hay bales that could be a danger to pedestrians or a bag of chicken feed mysteriously left in the middle of the aisle.
Birdie sits up, eyes bright. “Does this breakfast of yours include an oat milk latte? Preferably two.”
“Sure does.” I grin.
I’d stocked up on all the supplies to make her coffee order, including an espresso machine the day she agreed to our arrangement.
I give her one last kiss before I climb out of bed, heading straight for the kitchen. I measure and tamp down the espresso grounds, place a mug under the nozzle, and pull the shot to start Birdie’s coffee.
“You’re working at the sheriff’s office today, right?” she asks from her spot on the bed.
“Yeah. I’m working a double and I have a mountain of paperwork to catch up on.” I pull the oat milk from the fridge and set it on the counter. “Not the most exciting part of the job, but it’s unavoidable.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask—do you like splitting your time between there and the ranch? Or do you find it challenging to balance the two?”
Makes sense she’d ask, since I rarely discuss it with anyone—not even my family.
Heath and my parents had questions when I first took the deputy role, but I never gave them a chance to press for more details.
Over time, they stopped asking and eventually adjusted to the change in my schedule—mainly Heath.
I’m momentarily distracted as I watch Birdie slip out of bed, her creamy skin on full display.
She casually picks up my T-shirt from the floor and slips it over her head.
The shirt hangs from her frame, the hem hitting mid-thigh, and my cock stirs, growing hard from just the sight of her in my clothes.
Each sway of her hips as she saunters toward me is a battle to keep my hands to myself and resist the urge to claim her again.
“You going to answer my question?” She hops up onto the counter next to the espresso machine, shooting me a smirk. “Or are you too busy staring?”
I settle between her thighs, bracing my hands on either side of her.
“You’re mighty distracting this morning.
” I lean closer, our lips barely an inch apart.
“But I did promise I’d behave myself.” She lets out a huff of disappointment when I step back and move to the machine.
The espresso shot is finished, steam rising from the cup.
“To answer your question, it’s a challenge juggling being a deputy and helping Heath run the ranch, especially on days like yesterday when an emergency had me pulling double duty. ”
Birdie leans back on her hands. “I can imagine. Dad has mentioned he wishes he could have you around full-time.”
To distract myself from the way my shirt rides up her thighs, I pour oat milk into the frothing pitcher and heat it, the liquid swirling until it’s hot and foamy.
“If the sheriff were ever serious, he’d have to take that up with Heath,” I reply with a dry chuckle. “Though, he’s already convinced I’m not invested in the ranch’s success as much as I should be, so I’m not sure he’d even be surprised if I wanted to step back more than I already have.”
I’ve never given it much thought. Sure, the sheriff has mentioned it in passing, but it’s never been a serious offer.
“Think you’d ever consider it?”
“Truthfully? I have no idea.” I pause to pour the steamed milk over the espresso shot, then add the foam on top.
“Heath might doubt my commitment, but I could never leave him high and dry after all he’s done to turn the ranch into a success.
I’m really lucky to be a part of it, it’s just that it’s not… ”
“Your dream?” Birdie finishes for me.
“Right.” I sigh, glancing at the ground then back at her.
“There’s nothing I love more than riding out on the pastures and tending to the cattle.
Still, I sometimes struggle with the idea of spending my entire life solely devoted to ranch work.
It’s a solitary existence, and I thrive on the energy of social interactions and being part of a community.
Being a deputy has given me a balance that eases that pressure, and I’m grateful for it. ”
I’m a people person through and through.
The best days on the ranch are when the entire crew is together, rounding up the cattle or mending fences, trading stories and joking around.
But most days aren’t like that—everyone sticks to their own tasks, the energy more subdued and the sense of isolation suffocating at times.
Birdie studies me carefully, her voice barely at a whisper when she speaks. “Have you ever told Heath how you feel?”
I shake my head. “He wouldn’t understand.”
I’ve always wanted to do my part to carry on the family legacy, but it’s never been my true calling—it’s Heath’s.
He’s known what he’s wanted since the age of five.
He’s built for the endurance, determination, and endless grind it takes to run a large cattle ranch, and he has devoted every ounce of himself to it, no matter the personal cost—not caring that his social life is practically nonexistent.
“He might be a one-man thundercloud, and a little intimidating, but he’s your brother,” Birdie reminds me. “I think you’re underestimating how much he cares about your happiness.”
I sprinkle some cinnamon on her latte and hand it to her.
“Maybe.”
“You’ll never know if you don’t talk to him about it,” she points out before taking a long sip of her drink.
I’ve always let Heath make his own assumptions about my intentions and figured that dealing with his grumpy moods was inevitable.
But Birdie might be onto something. Heath is a hard-ass, but he’s not heartless or unreasonable.
If I explained that my decision to become a deputy was about striking a balance between prioritizing my interests and my responsibilities, maybe he’d finally cut me some slack.
I arch a brow. “Never thought you’d end up as my therapist, did you?”
“It’s a perfectly fair trade for mind-blowing sex and world-class coffee.” She takes another drink from her mug, letting out a pleased sigh. “Seriously, you make the best lattes.”
“Glad you think so.” I grin. “Be sure to leave a Yelp review before you leave.”
She bites her lip. “You sure you want my honest rating? I won’t sugarcoat it.”
I come to stand in front of her again, resting my hands on her knees. “Lay it on me, pretty girl.”
She tilts her head to the side, thinking it over with a playful frown.
“Last night’s performance was four stars at best. Three orgasms was a solid start, but I know you weren’t giving it your all.
” She smirks over the rim of her mug. “But this morning’s excellent coffee and stellar service?
That definitely bumps you up to four and a half stars. ”
I click my tongue as I drop to my knees. “That won’t do.”
“Walker.” Birdie swallows hard as I move my hands to her thighs and spread them apart. “What are you doing?”
I hike up her T-shirt, giving me a clear view of her pussy. “I can’t send you home unsatisfied, now can I?”