Chapter 27
Bestest Day Ever
? Cowboys and Angels - Dustin Lynch
Griffin
I never gave much thought to what heaven would be like, but I imagine it’s a lot like waking up with Angelina in my arms. I stare down at her sleeping form, taking in the way her eyelashes fan out across her cheeks, the quiet exhales escaping past her parted lips, and the way her delicate nose twitches when she’s dreaming.
I wonder what she’s dreaming about—lately she’s played a starring role in all of mine. I close my eyes, and there she is. Beautiful. Ethereal.
I press a gentle kiss to her temple, letting my lips linger on her soft skin. I get a hit of her feminine scent, and it sends a jolt of electricity through my veins, more potent than any drug. I’m addicted to this woman and the feelings she stirs within me.
Her eyelashes flutter open, and her eyes meet mine. She gives me a lazy smile, stretching her arms above her head. “G’morning.”
“Morning, gorgeous. Sleep well?”
She nods and nuzzles into my neck. She’s adorable first thing in the morning, like a cuddly kitten. “You smell good,” she says sleepily.
I chuckle against the side of her head. “Right back at ya, baby girl. How’s the little tater tot this morning?”
She groans. “Sitting on my bladder. I need to get up.”
All too soon, her warmth disappears, and she trails to the bathroom wearing nothing but a T-shirt and panties. The globes of her ass hang out the bottom, leading to the sexiest goddamn legs I’ve ever laid eyes on.
I’ll never get tired of this view.
She’s only gone for a few minutes before she slips back into bed. Her freezing toes press into my shin, and I flinch. “Holy hell, your toes are like ice cubes.”
“I know. That’s why I need you to warm them up.” She slides them under my legs again. “Mmm. Much better.”
“For you, maybe. Now my legs are cold.”
“Suck it up, buttercup. I’m growing a whole human being here.”
I smile and tug her closer. “Can’t argue with that.”
I make a mental note to look into heated floors. The hardwood can be pretty cold in the winter months, and I’ve never cared much about it, but I want to make sure Angie’s comfortable.
We stay like that for a long while, letting the silence linger. When her toes have thawed, I slide down the bed, pulling the blankets down with me to expose Angie’s belly.
She squeals. “What are you doing?”
“Saying good morning to my baby.” I kiss the spot below her belly button and lay my head just above the rounded part of her stomach. “Good morning, tater tot.”
Angie’s fingers run through my hair from my temple all the way to the ends. It’s soothing. I don’t think anyone’s ever played with my hair before, unless you count the rare times I let my mom take her scissors to it.
“I can’t wait to meet you. I’ll take you riding and swimming in the creek. You can help feed the chickens and goats and run around with all of your cousins.”
Like the tiniest high five ever, the baby kicks against my palm.
“You like the sound of that? I can’t wait to show you the ranch and all of my favorite places to play when I was growing up.”
My brow furrows as Angie’s ministrations change from petting to something else. “Are you… braiding my hair?”
“Mhm. Honestly, it’s a bit unfair. I don’t know if I can stay married to a man who has better hair than me.”
Before she finishes the braid, I roll her beneath me, careful not to squish her belly. “Well, it’s too late. You’re stuck with me.”
I take her mouth in a lazy kiss, playfully nipping and sucking at her lips and tongue. When I pull back, her eyes are heavily lidded, and her cheeks are flushed.
“Do you have to work today?” Angie asks.
I slide up the bed and pull her into my arms. “Why? Gonna miss me?”
She rolls her eyes, but I don’t miss the smile she’s trying to hide. “Just wondering.”
“I promised Emmy Lou I’d give her another riding lesson.”
“Bring cash. You know she’s gonna take you for everything you’re worth.”
I bark out a laugh. “Yeah, she’s already on her second jar.”
“That’s my girl. Jess would be so proud.”
“She really would.”
Something solemn crosses her features, but it’s there and gone in a heartbeat. I know she misses her best friend. I just wish there was something I could do to make it better. This is the one thing I don’t have the fix for, and it eats away at me every day.
I slide out of bed and walk over to the dresser, returning with a pair of Angie’s fluffy socks. After slipping them onto her feet, I say, “Come on. Let’s get some breakfast.”
She throws back the covers, but before her feet can touch solid ground, I lift her into my arms. Irritation flashes in those deep brown eyes, and she squirms to get down. “I’m pregnant, not incapacitated. Let me walk.”
After I set her on her feet, she strides out of the room with purpose, and I follow after her, watching the subtle sway of her hips all the way to the kitchen.
While I pop two bagels into the toaster, Angie lifts onto her toes to reach for a bag of coffee grounds on the top shelf. She’d normally be tall enough to get it herself, but lately, her belly gets in the way.
She grumbles a curse under her breath and tries again. I walk up behind her, my chest brushing against her back as I grab the bag and set it on the counter.
“I’m perfectly capable of doing things myself! I can walk to and from bed, put on my own socks, even make my own coffee.”
I capture her chin and force her to look at me. “I know you can do it, but I'm going to reach for things on tall shelves and carry you when you’re tired because you deserve to be taken care of. You’re not helpless, but by god, sometimes I wish you were, so you’d stop fighting me.”
She snatches the coffee from the counter and walks over to the coffee maker. “You can be really overbearing sometimes, you know that?”
“We can’t all be perfect like you, Angel.”
She scoffs. “I’m not perfect. I have plenty of flaws.”
I lean back against the counter, arms and feet crossed. “Not a single one comes to mind. Well, except that you talk in your sleep.”
She whirls to face me. “I do not.”
“You do.” I quirk an eyebrow and pitch my voice higher. “Oh, Griffin.” I moan. “Yes, Griffin. Just like that.”
Her face turns an adorable shade of pink as I stalk toward her. “What were you dreaming about, Angel?”
She cocks her head to the side and plants her hands on her hips. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I toy with a strand of her hair and lean in close. “Where was I touching you?” I press my lips to the spot between her neck and collarbone, eliciting a shiver. “Here?”
My hand glides lower, over the swell of her right breast, my thumb grazing her stiff nipple. “Here?”
Her pupils dilate and her chest heaves.
My fingers slip between her thick thighs, grazing her already wet panties. “Or was it here?”
“Griffin,” she whines.
I step away, leaving her unsatisfied. “That’s exactly how it sounded in your sleep.”
She narrows her eyes at me and huffs out an irritated breath. “Asshole.”
Angelina
I’m standing inside the brand new indoor riding center at the sanctuary, with slanted ceilings and sandy floors, watching Griffin guide Emmy around the ring. To my surprise, she’s sitting atop Sadie, who seems perfectly content.
Emmy’s a natural—perfect posture, confident and sure. I’m not certain she even needs help anymore. She looks at me and raises one hand in a wave. “Hi, Auntie Lina!”
I smile back and return the gesture.
Griffin says something to her, but I’m too far away to hear. She nods and adjusts her feet in the stirrups, tightening her grip on the reins. I watch the lesson unfold, taking Sadie from a trot to a canter.
I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve also stolen a few glances at Griffin here and there, watching the muscles in his forearms flexing, down to the way his ass looks in his wranglers. He is my husband, after all. I have every right to gawk.
But nothing compares to the way he looks at Emmy like she’s the light of his life. I just know he’s going to be an amazing father.
By the time it’s over, Emmy’s practically beaming. She dismounts with ease and rushes over to me. In my periphery, Griffin guides Sadie out of the facility.
“Did you see? I went so fast this time!”
“You sure did, Em. You and Sadie were amazing.”
“I really like Sadie,” she says. “She’s so pretty, and she listens really good.”
I can’t help the smile that breaks across my face. “I’m sure she likes you, too, sweet girl.”
Her expression shifts to one of curiosity, her nose adorably scrunched. “Auntie Lina?”
I tilt my head to the side.
She leans in next to my ear, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I think Uncle Griffin has a crush on you.”
I bite down on my bottom lip to stifle a smile. “Is that so? Who told you that?”
She shrugs. “Nobody. He just looks at you a lot. Like a lot a lot. All the time. He missed it when I did no hands today!”
I crook my finger, beckoning her closer. “Well, guess what? I didn’t miss it. I saw everything, and it was amazing! You did so good.”
She throws her arms around my neck and hugs me.
“You’re the bestest. I think you should go on a date with Uncle Griffin.
He’s my favorite. Well, except for Daddy and Uncle Jaxy.
They're my favorite too.” She continues to list off all of her favorite people until she’s essentially named every Hayes in existence.
In all the chaos of the last several months, I haven’t been spending as much time with Emmy as I would’ve liked, so she’s a little out of the loop.
I’m not even sure if she knows about the baby.
She was at family dinner when we announced it, but how much can a five-year-old understand about pregnancy?
I’m not about to bring it up and find out.
Not my circus, not my adorable little monkey.
I tuck a lock of blonde hair behind her ear. “You wanna know a secret?”
She nods excitedly.
“I think I like your Uncle Griffin, too.”
“I sure hope so.” Griffin’s deep baritone interrupts our secret conversation. “We are married after all.”
Emmy squeals. “Really?”
He picks her up and tickles her. “Really, really.”
“This is the bestest day ever!” she says.
Wilder trails into the facility, and Emmy squirms to be let down, rushing over to her dad as soon as she’s free.
“How was your lesson?” he asks.
“Good. I like Sadie a lot. Can we go home now? I wanna tell Sissy a secret.”
“Sure thing.” Wilder smiles. “Can’t stay and chat. I’m just an errand boy, apparently.”
“Bye, Uncle Griff. Bye, Auntie Lina.”
We both wave, and they exit through the massive double doors, leaving us alone in the giant empty space.
The air crackles as an oppressive silence descends around us.
My thoughts trail back to the heated moment at breakfast, and my pussy pulses beneath my jeans.
Pregnancy hormones. It definitely has nothing to do with the way Griffin’s looking at me.
“What brings you to my neck of the woods?” he asks, his voice low and sultry.
My body reacts instantaneously, skin prickling with awareness. “Just wanted to see how Sadie’s doing.”
We both know it’s a lie—one I’ve used countless times. His fingertips trail down my arm in a gentle whisper of a touch.
When did we get so close?
“Sadie, hm? Nothing at all to do with seeing your husband?”
My eyes roll of their own volition. “Not everything is about you, Griffin Hayes.”
He chuckles. “I’ll take you to see her. She did good today, and she deserves a little extra attention.”
Apparently, my pussy thinks he’s talking about us.
Down girl.
With our fingers entwined, he leads me one building over to the stables.
I check in with Sadie, giving her tons of treats and affection.
A lot has changed since we rescued her last spring, and she seems to be thriving under Griffin’s care.
It seems my husband has a gift, and not just with horses.
I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through the last six months without him.
It would be so easy to fall if I could trust myself to let go of the reins.