Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
TUCKER
With the door closed behind me, I take a deep breath and rub my hand over the back of my neck.
The woman I’ve wanted for way too fucking long is currently getting naked in my bathroom.
She’s going to soak in my tub—the one I haven’t even sat in yet—and I want nothing more than to march back in there and get in with her.
To wrap my arms around her and hold her to me while she soaks, and then carry her to my bed, spread her out before me, and eat her until she’s screaming my name.
I’m so fucked.
I hear the faucet in the tub start, and I have to make myself walk into the closet, grab one of my T-shirts, and lay it on the bed for her, then walk downstairs and out the back door to go make sure that the fire is contained and going out on its own.
I stand next to it, my hands in my pockets, watching the red embers flash in the bottom of the pit. It’s safer for me to be out here than in my own house.
There’s nothing I want more than to make it clear to my duchess that if she wants to go on a fucking date, I’ll be the one to take her. Not some random asshole from Lucky’s. Absolutely not.
But it’s not my place to say that.
And I think that’s what pisses me off the most. Because every instinct inside me wants to claim her. To make her mine in every way possible. But she’s made it clear that as long as I’m her boss, there’s a line she doesn’t want to cross, and I can respect that.
I don’t want to. But I can.
Now that the embers are reduced to hot ashes, I walk back to the house and pour myself two fingers of bourbon, lean on the counter, and listen for movement upstairs.
I hear footsteps above, and then Darby walks into the kitchen, in my old green Hendrix Ranch T-shirt, her sweater clutched to her chest, and when she sees me, she stops and bites that lower lip.
I want to nibble on that lip.
“Thanks for loaning me the shirt,” she says softly.
“You look better in it than I do.”
“Somehow I don’t believe that,” she mutters, and then clears her throat. “I feel better. The salts helped. I should go check on that fire.”
“I already did. It’s out. You could have soaked longer.”
She shakes her head. “I think if I’d stayed in there, I would have fallen asleep and drowned, and then you would have found a mess, and I don’t think that’s polite.”
“Damn rude,” I agree with a laugh, enjoying her. The sound of her voice alone makes me hard. “Please don’t ever do that, Duchess.”
“Deal.”
“There’s one more thing.”
I should absolutely not say this. Shut it, Tuck. It’s none of your business.
“What’s that?”
No looking for dates unless you’re looking for me.
It’s on the tip of my tongue. I want to say it so bad, but it’s out of line.
She bites that lip again, and I can’t resist crossing to her.
“I’m going to touch you.”
She doesn’t hesitate before nodding, and I take that as a good sign as I reach up and tug her lip free from her teeth, then brush my thumb over her jawline, soaking in the softness of her skin.
“Just tell me whenever you want the tub, okay? Anytime.”
Her brows pull together, just for a heartbeat, and then she gives me a little nod.
“I appreciate it, but I’m sure it’s unnecessary.”
“So fucking argumentative,” I murmur as my thumb drifts up and over her soft as rose petals mouth. “So goddamn beautiful.”
Pulling myself out of her spell, I drop my hand and step back.
“I’ll see you Monday?” I ask her.
“Oh, this is a weekday job?” she returns, looking a little lost. “I assumed—”
“I’m not going to ask you to work seven days a week. But I’d appreciate it if you helped during the branding weekend coming up.”
“Of course, I planned on it. Tucker, I can work tomorrow. I mean, I’m always on call for Dr. Fisher, but if he doesn’t need me, I can work here.”
“Take it off. I mean it.”
I need some time away from you so I don’t do something stupid like boost you up against the wall of the barn and fuck you senseless.
Boss of the year, right here.
“Well, I don’t have plans, so if you need me for anything, just let me know.”
“Appreciate it.”
“Wait, do you have my number?”
I pull my phone out of my pocket and pass it to her.
“Do you need to unlock it?” she asks.
“No. I don’t have anything to hide, Duchess. Plug yourself in there.”
She bites the tip of her tongue as she taps on the screen, and we both hear her phone vibrate in her pocket. Then, she passes the device back to me, and I set it on the counter.
“Now you can let me know if you need anything,” she says.
“Thanks. Same goes.”
She nods and lets out a long breath before she yawns hugely and then chuckles. “I think the bath made me sleepy.”
She’s fucking adorable.
“I’ll walk you back.”
“It’s a few yards, Tucker. I’m sure—”
Before she can argue any further, I simply take her hand in mine, lace our fingers, and walk her out the door.
The fact that she doesn’t jerk away from my touch makes me stupidly happy.
“Are you always bossy?” she asks as she walks beside me.
“I’m the oldest of five. What do you think?”
“Bossy,” she confirms. “Just like Holden. And, if I’m being honest, me.”
I glance down at her and lift an eyebrow. “No way.”
“I hear the sarcasm, Mr. Hendrix.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Mm-hmm,” she returns as we get to her door. She unlocks it and pushes it open, then turns to me. “Thank you. Really.”
“You’re really welcome. I’m going—”
“You can just touch me, Tucker.”
I slowly raise my hand and brush her hair back and over her ear. She’s so fucking soft. So sweet.
Leave the poor woman alone, man.
“Get some sleep.”
“I’ll try.” She steps inside, and before she closes the door, she says, “Hey, Hotshot.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m not interested in other dates. Just tossing that out there, for what it’s worth.”
She smiles softly and then closes the door, and I push my hand through my hair as I turn back to the house.
“I’m getting the hang of it,” Darby says with a proud smile on her perfect face as she rides Ellie through the pasture. It’s been a few days since that first time she rode, and we’ve been out here each day, getting her into the saddle.
She’s a damn natural. And the fact that her father kept her and her sisters off horses is a fucking shame. The man should be flogged.
“Christ, that’s pretty,” I say, unable to help myself, and she looks down at me, quirks her eyebrow.
“What is?”
“That smile on your face.” Everything about you. “You like this.”
“I actually do.” She rubs Ellie’s neck and gives her a little pat. “I should have taken lessons a while ago, but I just never did. Hell, my brother has dozens of horses. He and his wife have a rescue.”
“I heard,” I reply with a nod. “I think that’s awesome. Do you help him with the horses?”
“No.” She nibbles her lower lip and leads Ellie to the left. “I have a firm belief that I shouldn’t work for my brother. He and I are too much alike, and we butt heads. I want to keep liking him.”
I smirk at that. I get it. “Yeah, I’m close with my family, too, but we don’t work or live together.”
She nods, and then to my surprise, she leans forward and presses her cheek to Ellie’s neck.
“You’re such a wonderful girl,” she croons, and holy shit, I think my heart just swelled in my chest. “Thank you for going easy on me.”
I’ll go easy on you.
Jesus, I’m going to hell.
“Tomorrow, I’ll saddle up and ride with you, and we can go out and check some fence line together, if you’re up for being in the saddle for a couple of hours.”
“Sure, that sounds fun. I bought stock in ibuprofen, so I should be fine.”
“Just come up to the house and soak in the tub at night, Darby.”
She wrinkles her nose as I lead her into the barn. “You shouldn’t give up your tub for me every day.”
“I’m not giving up anything. I’ve never used that tub.”
Her eyes go round as she stares down at me. “Never?”
“Nope.”
“That’s a crime,” she replies and goes to swing down off the horse, but she catches her foot and starts to fall. I rush forward and grab her, holding her flush against my chest as she lowers to the ground. “Whoops.”
“I’ve got you,” I murmur, my eyes falling to her lips.
She’s pressed against me and feels like she was made for me.
She’s not too short, but still several inches smaller than my six foot three.
Her dark hair is up in a ponytail, and I want to press my lips against the skin of her neck.
I want to wrap that hair around my fist, tug her head back, and feast on her mouth.
Christ, I want her.
She doesn’t immediately step out of my arms, so I don’t pull back.
I want to see what she’ll allow.
Her gaze bounces over my face, and to my utter shock, she reaches up and brushes my hair off my forehead.
“You have good hair,” she decides and then pats my chest, and I take that as my cue to back away.
So, I do. I move back, putting a couple of feet between us, and Darby exhales, as if she’d been holding her breath.
“I have to go into town for a meeting with Dr. Fisher, and my sister is coming to town.” Her brows pull together, as if she doesn’t know why she told me that much.
“Which sister?” I ask, just to keep her talking.
“Charlie.” Darby’s face goes soft at the mention of her sister. “She’s the baby, but she’s not a baby anymore. She wants to have lunch.”
“Enjoy your lunch.” I don’t ask for permission before I reach out and tuck her hair behind her ear, and she doesn’t flinch. “If you want to use the tub later, just text me. My siblings are coming over to watch the game. You’re welcome to join us.”
“Xander’s game?” she asks.
“That’s right.”
She nods and then shrugs a shoulder. “I might come watch. I like hockey.”
“It’s a religion in our family. Comes with having a pro player as a brother.” I smile at her, and she nods. “Ava and Harper will be here.”
“Well then, I’ll poke my head in.”
Is it bad that I’m jealous as fuck of my sisters? I want Darby in my house because she wants to see me.
Get it together, Hendrix.
“I’ll see you this evening, then.” I move away from her, and she nods.
“Do you need anything from town?” she asks.
“I’m fine, Duchess. But thanks for the offer.”
She nods, and then slips past me, not bothering to make sure she doesn’t touch me this time. Her arm brushes mine and she doesn’t flinch.
We’re making progress.