Chapter 18
LUCY
Beep, Beep, Beep. Beep.
I groan as the alarm clock rings, wrenching me out of my peaceful sleep. Covering my eyes, I reach for my phone to silence the blaring noise. I run my fingers up and down the bedside table, across the spot where I always leave my phone to charge at night, but come up empty.
“Damn it,” I mumble, cracking open my eyes to search for the stupid thing through my still dark bedroom, determined to shut the damned thing up and go back to sleep for another hour or two.
Why in the hell is my alarm going off this early?
It should be illegal to be up before the sun, I think, looking for my phone.
It takes me a moment , but eventually I realize it’s not there, and I sit up, confused.
After a second of looking around the room, I spot my phone sitting on my dresser, far enough away that I have to get up to turn the alarm off.
Suddenly, the events of last night come rushing back— the mind-numbing orgasm Colton gave me, falling asleep outside in his arms, and the vague recollection of him carrying me inside and placing me in my bed.
“Real fucking funny,” I moan, throwing the covers off and walking over to pick my phone up off the dresser with a huff. Tapping the screen, I turn the alarm off and see a text from Colton on my screen.
Colton: Good morning Darlin’.
Colton: I’m running over to my place to check on the cows before things get too crazy around here. I made sure your alarms were set. And when I get home, I’ve got breakfast for you.
My annoyance is immediately squashed as I read his text, and I can’t help the smile that takes over my face at the knowledge that last night really happened. My phone buzzes with another incoming text, and I look down to see what else he said.
Colton: And I know you’re gonna want to, but don’t go back to bed. When I get back there’s something I want to show you before we have to open Cedar Creek for the day. Get dressed, and I’ll be home soon.
Damn him for knowing me well enough to know I fully intended to lie back down.
Lucy: Not sure how I feel about you at the current moment.
Lucy: I’m all for surprises, but it’s fucking early.
Lucy: I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I don’t really do early.
Colton: I know, but I promise it’ll be worth it.
Colton: Coffee is waiting on you in the kitchen though.
Colton: And I bought you more of that pumpkin creamer you like. It’s in the fridge.
Damn it, this man is impossible to stay mad at.
Lucy: I guess you’re forgiven.
Lucy: But you’re on thin ice with me, Cowboy.
Colton: Noted. I’ll see you in a few.
Setting my phone back on the dresser, I head to the bathroom to wash my face and pull my hair into a messy bun before throwing on a pair of jean shorts and a T-shirt and heading into the kitchen in search of the coffee Colton mentioned.
Sure enough, the pot is full of steaming hot coffee, and I grab the biggest mug I can find in the cabinet and fill it almost to the brim.
The scent fills the room, making me smile as I move to the refrigerator to grab the creamer.
Pouring it into my cup, I lose myself in thoughts of last night. I knew I was pushing him with the way I teased him, but a large part of me never thought he’d actually give in to what we obviously both wanted. But now that he has? I’m pretty damn happy with how the evening ended.
I bring the cup to my lips, taking a large sip and sighing as the taste of the liquid hits my tongue just as the back door opens. I turn as Colton enters the room, sliding up behind me and wrapping his arms around me.
“Morning, Lulu. You almost ready to go?” he asks, dropping a kiss to my temple as I take another sip of my coffee. “If you’re good with it, I’ll wait to cook breakfast when we get back.”
“As soon as I finish this,” I say, holding up my coffee. “There’s no way I’m going anywhere this early without at least one full cup.”
“Fair enough,” Colton says with a laugh. “But hurry. I don’t want us to miss it.”
I give him a dirty look before taking a couple more slow sips and setting my mug down on the counter. “Fine. But whatever this is better be pretty damn good.”
“I really think you’ll enjoy it, okay? Come on, we’ll take the farm truck,” he says, grabbing the keys to the orange pickup from their spot by the door and threading his fingers through mine.
I follow him outside into the dark morning to the beat-up Ford and slide across the broken leather to sit next to him. He smiles and leans over to plant a soft kiss on my lips. “So damn pretty,” he murmurs. “Now, for that surprise.”
He takes off down the long dusty drive, and I lean my head against his shoulder, waiting to see where he’s taking me. We ride for a few minutes in silence before he pulls into his driveway next door.
“Did you really wake me up at the ass crack of dawn to go see your house?” I growl, looking at him accusingly.
“No, Darlin’, not the house. Just trust me, okay?” he asks, passing his house and pulling down a small dirt road trail off to the side of his house.
We ride for a few more minutes through a heavily wooded area until he finally stops at a small opening in the trees.
“You woke me up to look at trees then?” I ask, still trying to figure out what’s going on.
“Nope. We just have to walk the rest of the way. But don’t worry, it’s not far,” he says, opening his door and jumping out of the car. He comes around the front of the truck, waiting for me to get out, and holds out his hand for me to take.
The sun is starting to rise, giving us just enough light to see the small path in front of us.
After walking for a couple minutes, I see a large meadow in between the trees, covered with small orange and yellow wildflowers.
There’s a small pond across from us, and the sun is rising in the distance, casting the entire field in a pink and orange glow.
I freeze, the sight taking my breath away as I stare at the land that looks like it’s never been touched.
“Oh my God, Colton. This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” I breathe out. “I had no idea this was even back here.”
“I didn’t either until I decided to explore earlier this week. I’ve been wanting to share it with you ever since, but you only get the full effect at sunrise,” he explains, before leaning in to kiss me. “It’s nowhere close to as beautiful as you are, though.”
I blush, knocking his shoulder. “Aww, who knew that Colton Harris could be such a softie?”
“Only for you,” he says, pulling me into his arms.
My stomach growls loudly, causing both of us to laugh.
“Okay, so about that breakfast,” he mumbles, turning to grab the backpack he brought with him.
“I brought us breakfast sandwiches and coffee. Oh, and a blanket to sit on.”
He spreads out the blanket and hands me a breakfast sandwich wrapped in tin foil, along with a thermos of coffee made just the way I like it.
“Is there anything you didn’t think of? And when the hell did you make these?” I ask, tearing into the sandwich wrapper.
“I fixed them before I checked the cows,” he says. “I knew we’d be pressed for time when I got back.”
“What time did you get up?” I ask, my eyes wide.
“Around four this morning,” he says nonchalantly, and I stare at him in shock.
“Oh my gosh, that sounds terrible,” I groan, taking a long sip of coffee from the thermos.
“It was worth it,” Colton says, looking over at me.
I smile, waving him off. “Well, either way, I love this place. Thank you for sharing it with me.”
“Of course. I thought you might like it. Was it worth the early morning?”
I pretend to think about it before answering. “I guess. But only because you brought coffee,” I tease.
“Glad to hear it,” Colton says, taking another bite of his sandwich.
We eat in comfortable silence, and after we finish, Colton wraps his arm around me.
“You know, everything’s much brighter with you around,” he murmurs, leaning in. And when he kisses me, I’m convinced that this is the happiest I’ve ever been.