Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
ERIN
“ H oly shit.” I drop my phone in my lap, relieved that Remington’s on his way, and take a deep breath. “Holy shit.”
Feeling perilously close to hyperventilating, I lean forward and press my forehead to the steering wheel.
I can not believe that I put Remington’s Suburban in the ditch. I don’t even know if it’s okay. I haven’t tried to get out. Well, I didn’t try all that hard.
I just called him as soon as it happened. I was on the verge of tears and a panic attack, but hearing his voice calmed me right down.
I could have called Millie or Brooks, but Rem was the first person who popped into my head. He’s not grumpy all the time, he’s just…serious. He has the weight of the world on his shoulders. His kids adore him, and I can admit that I feel an intense attraction to him.
It isn’t Millie or Brooks that I want to come help me.
It’s Remington.
I’ve just managed to slow my breathing and get my heart rate in check when I see the Jeep pull up behind me. Remington, wearing a frown on that handsome face, hurries over to the driver’s side and opens the door.
“Are you okay?” he asks immediately, cupping my cheek in his hand as he stares into my eyes intently.
“Yeah.” I swallow hard and nod. “Just shook up. I’m not hurt.”
I unclip the seat belt and turn to him, embarrassed to find that my lower lip wants to quiver.
“I don’t know why I want to cry.”
“Adrenaline,” he says and simply pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly against him. “Scared the fuck out of me. What happened?”
“There was a deer.” I can’t help it; I break down into tears. My adrenaline is through the roof.
“Fucking deer,” he mutters as he tightens his arms and comforts me. “Come on, let’s get you into the Jeep, and I’ll see what’s up with the Suburban.”
I nod and let him lead me to the passenger side of the Jeep. Once he gets me all settled in the seat, he drags his fingertips down my cheek, as if he just can’t keep himself from touching me.
“I’ll be right back.”
I nod and offer him a brave smile as he shuts my door and walks back to the Suburban. He takes a quick look around the entire car, then hurries back to the Jeep and gets inside.
“It doesn’t look like there’s much damage. I’ll have a couple of the ranch hands come get it in the morning.”
“Will it be okay out here all night?”
He glances over at me and grins. “It’s not going anywhere. Come on, let’s go home.”
“Uh, Rem?”
“Yeah?”
“I live in town.”
“I’m taking you to my home.” Without any further discussion, he flips the Jeep around to head back to the ranch. “I don’t want you alone tonight.”
“I’m sorry,” I begin, shaking my head. “I should have called Brooks or Millie. I shouldn’t have bothered you because you were probably in the middle of putting the kids to bed, but you were the first person that came to mind when it happened.”
“You absolutely should have called me,” he disagrees, his hands white on the steering wheel where he grips it.
“I don’t have anything at your place. Clothes or toiletries.”
“I’m sure I have everything you’ll need for one night.” He glances my way. “You’re obviously still upset, Doc. You’re shaky and as pale as the snow on a January morning. I don’t want you to go home alone. Besides, I need to make sure that you’re not hurt.”
“I’m not. ” I clear my throat. “But I guess you’re right. I don’t want to be alone right now. What a way to end my birthday, huh?”
“It’s not over yet,” is all he says as he turns into his driveway. We’re quiet as he parks and leads me back inside the house. I can still smell the cake I helped the kids bake. The TV is on in the family room.
“Where are the kids?”
“With my parents,” he replies and leads me to the kitchen. “Let’s boost you up onto the counter.”
Before I can object, Rem grips my hips and lifts me onto the countertop, and I raise an eyebrow.
“Why am I up here?”
“So I can check you over,” he replies, looking into my eyes. “Did you hit your head?”
“No. Seriously, it didn’t hit hard. I just went into the ditch. To avoid a deer. And yes, I know that you’re not supposed to do that, but I couldn’t live with myself if I hit and killed a poor, defenseless deer.”
“Hmm,” is all he says as he goes to work, checking me over. I admit, I like having his hands on me, even if he is just making sure that I’m not injured.
“Rem?” He pats down my legs, and I want to wrap them around his waist. “I’m fine. ”
With a sigh, he rests his forehead against mine, and for the first time since I met him, he seems…vulnerable.
And that’s just as sexy as his firm muscles and handsome face.
Unable to hold back, I frame his face in my hands. “Thank you for coming to my rescue.”
“You should move out here, to the ranch.”
I blink, then scoot back so I can look at him better. “What?”
“You heard me. You’re here most of the time anyway.”
“I can’t just move here, Remington.” I scoot off the counter and walk away from him. “I have an apartment. I have another job.”
“You can quit the other job.”
“Whoa.” I hold up my hand, stopping him. “No. I need that job. Besides, I like it there.”
Rem pulls his hand down his face in agitation. “Obviously, I’m fucking this all up. I’m not trying to be a controlling prick. I’m being logical.”
“Logical.” I laugh at that and pace away from him. “It’s not at all logical for me to quit the job that I need.”
“Listen, I was going to ask you to work full time through the summer anyway,” he says. “I’ll need the help, and my mom enjoys having more free time. We’ll renegotiate your salary for that, and I’ll more than make up for what you’d lose by quitting the coffee shop.”
“I’m not quitting.” Yes, I sound stubborn, and I don’t care. “But maybe I could go down to one day a week.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because they’re like family to me,” I reply, my voice raising. “They gave me a chance when I moved here, and I love it there. I want to stay.”
“Fine.” He sighs and shoves his hands into his pockets, which I’ve discovered he does when he’s agitated.
“And I don’t want to move out of my apartment.” My voice has quieted, but I feel just as strongly about this. “I rent from Roger Sherman. Do you know him?”
“Sure.”
“He’s alone. I like him, and I want to stay living nearby, in case he needs me.”
“I’m not saying you can’t have any ties to town. If you want to go visit Roger every single day, I say do it. I just don’t want you driving back and forth so late or early in the day that it’s dangerous. If you’re here more and more, it only makes sense that you would live here.”
“As your nanny.”
Now his eyes narrow, and his jaw tightens.
“Listen, I’m going to just be brutally honest here because that’s how I was raised, and I like spelling things out. I feel the chemistry between us. The attraction. Do you think I don’t want you to kiss me again? Because I totally do.”
He takes his hands out of his pockets and balls them into fists.
“But I’m not moving in here, and into your bed, when you have two little kids here who?—”
“Jesus, that’s not what I’m asking,” he says, shaking his head. “I’m fucking this up. Come here.”
He reaches for my hand and leads me through the house to a doorway at the end of the house that’s always been closed. When he opens it, my jaw drops.
There’s a pretty queen-sized brass bed dressed with white linens. A wooden dresser is on one wall with a big mirror over it, and there’s a chair by the window that looks perfect for curling up with a book or gazing out to the mountains and pasture.
“There’s an en suite bathroom,” he says, gesturing to the door. “ This would be your room. I’m not going to confuse my kids, Erin. And I’m not asking you to do anything that you’re uncomfortable with. The room is part of your salary, so you’d be saving money on rent anyway.”
Well, when he puts it like that, it would help me out a lot.
“Yeah,” he continues, “there’s chemistry here. Attraction. Fucking hell, I want to toss you onto that bed and kiss every inch of your body so bad that I ache with it, but I’m not an asshole. There’s a line.”
“There’s a line that we both seem to want to cross,” I toss back at him and watch as those eyes narrow on me once more. “Like I said, I’m being honest. But I do work for you. I need the job, and if that means that we keep this strictly professional, then that’s what we’ll do.”
“Do you think I can’t do both? Be professional and have a personal relationship with you?”
“Maybe you can. Maybe it’s me who can’t.”
His sigh is loud and deep as he watches me from across the room. “Why didn’t you tell me that it’s your birthday?”
I blink in surprise at the change in subject. “We may have chemistry, but it’s not like we talk a lot, Rem. It would have been weird if, in the middle of you telling me what to make for dinner, I interrupted with, ‘By the way, it’s my birthday tomorrow.’ ”
“Here’s what we’re going to do,” he says quietly as he shoves his hands back into his pockets. “We’re going to talk. I want to get to know you better. And I’d like for you to move in here.”
“I’ll talk with Roger tomorrow.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “That was easy.”
“I’m not easy. But I’m also not stupid. I’ve had safety drilled into me my entire life, so I won’t argue that it’s safer to stay out here. And, yeah, I want to get to know you better, too.”
He rocks back on his heels, watching me carefully before walking to me. I don’t back away because I know what he’s going to do, and I’ve been wanting it since that night at the bonfire.
As soon as he reaches me, my hands dive into his thick, dark hair, and I hold on tight as he kisses the ever-loving hell out of me. It’s hot and full of need and makes me feel so desired in a way I never have before.
This time, he lifts me, and I wrap my legs around him, clinging to him as he kisses me like he’s drowning and I’m his lifeline.
“So fucking sweet,” he murmurs against my lips. “Jesus, you’re so damn sweet.”
I moan and press myself even harder against him just as someone’s phone starts to ring.
“Damn it,” he mutters. “It’s my mom.”
I grin. “I haven’t heard that line since high school.”
Remington laughs and sets me on my feet before pulling out his phone. After one last lust-filled look at me, he answers.
“Hey, Mom. Yeah, she’s fine. I brought her here to the ranch because she was a little shook up. Yeah, I’ll come get the kids here in just a minute. I’m sure they’re tired and ready for bed. No, you don’t have to do it. I’ll be there soon. Thanks, Mom. Bye.”
“Is it going to freak out the kids if I’m here?”
“No. They’ll be happy to see that you’re safe. They were worried about you, too. I’m going to go get them really quick. Make yourself at home here.”
“I don’t have anything with me to make myself at home with,” I remind him with a rueful smile. “But thanks. It’s a really nice room.”
“I’ll get you some things once I get back. Or, if you want to, go on up to my room and grab a T-shirt to sleep in and whatever you want out of my bathroom.”
I raise an eyebrow in surprise. “It’s okay. I can wait.”
“Your call,” he says with a shrug. “I’ll be right back.”
He turns to leave, but then rushes back and kisses me, more gently than before, but no less passionately.
“That’s gonna have to tide me over for a bit,” he murmurs. “Be right back, Doc.”
He winks, and then he’s gone, and I can’t help but touch my tingling lips.
“What a weird birthday,” I murmur.
“Well, damn.” Roger sighs and looks so sad it makes me want to break down into tears. “I’ll sure be sad to see you go.”
“I’m not going very far,” I assure him. “And I’ll still be able to come visit. You haven’t seen the last of me, Roger.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “It’s okay, honey. I know you have the best of intentions. But people move on. As they should. I’m glad that you’re enjoying your time at the ranch. I always liked John Wild a lot. He’s a good man. Has good kids, too.”
“They’re all very nice people,” I agree with a nod. “I’m not kidding when I say that I’ll still come by. It may not be quite as often, but what would I do without you?”
That brings the smile to his eyes as I reach out and pat his hand.
“I’m sorry if I’m leaving you in a lurch with the apartment.”
“Oh, you’re not. I’ll rent it out quick enough. Rentals are hard to find around here.”
“That’s true. Would you like me to leave the furniture? I won’t have a need for it, and it fits the apartment so well.”
“I’ll buy it from you,” he says sternly, and from the look on his face, I know that he won’t let me argue the point. “And I appreciate the offer.”
I can’t help myself. I walk right into Roger’s arms for a long hug. “Thank you for everything, Roger. I am so grateful for everything you’ve done for me.”
“It wasn’t much.” He tightens his hold and then releases me. “And you have done a lot for me, too. It’s just what friends do, right?”
“Yeah.” I smile at that and nod. “That’s what friends do. I’ll have the place all clean and ready for you by the end of the week.”
“I appreciate it,” he says. “And if you ever need a place, this one is waiting for you.”
“That’s wonderful to know.” I kiss Roger’s cheek and then head for the door. “Thanks, Roger.”
“You betcha.”
I was dreading that conversation. I don’t like letting people down, and I know that Roger is lonely. But I’ll find a way to visit with him at least once a week. Maybe more. Maybe the kids will enjoy a trip into town to bring Roger some soup or cookies.
I’ll make it fun for all of us.
“Now I have to pack,” I mutter to myself as I stare at everything in my apartment. Thankfully, I don’t have a ton of stuff. Since Roger will keep the furniture, I just have to pack up my clothes and a few personal things, along with the stuff in the kitchen.
It shouldn’t be too bad.
But rather than dig in, I flop onto the couch and open up social media so I can see what my cousins have been up to.
It looks like Hudson bought a new motorcycle. He looks so proud of the new Harley, so I give it a heart and comment under the photo, Born to be wild, with a wink emoji.
It seems that everyone has been busy and has no problem documenting it on socials, so it takes me a little while to comb through and comment here and there. Before I close out of the app, I see that I have a message.
It looks like it’s from a spammer, so I don’t open it before deleting and closing the app.
With a gusty sigh, I look around again.
“I really do have to pack.” Remington and the kids will be back in a couple of hours to pick me up, and I’d like to have most of my things ready to go by then. They dropped me off so I could get some stuff done while Rem ran errands. He offered to help me, but I’d rather dive in and take care of it myself. It won’t take long.
Thankfully, the Suburban was just fine after my incident. There wasn’t even a scratch on the bumper. I really lucked out there. It’s not good to wreck your boss’s vehicle.
Or the hot guy you’ve been kissing and lusting after.
Especially when those people are one and the same.
“Okay, let’s not overthink this,” I mutter as I stand and walk into the bedroom, open the closet, and pull out my suitcases. “Just pack.”
I have more than I originally thought, but I guess that happens when you live somewhere for any length of time. You accumulate things.
Luckily, Roger has a few empty boxes in his garage, and I’m able to finish gathering everything that I’ll move out to the ranch with me. I’m just packing the last few things when there’s a knock at my door.
When I pull it open, Remington stands on the other side, leaning on the doorjamb.
“You know,” I say, and then have to pause so I can swallow hard. “You read about how hot it is when a guy leans on the doorjamb, but I had no idea. ”
A slow smile spreads over his lips as he looks me up and down. “Happy to oblige. Is that your stuff?”
He gestures to the two suitcases and three boxes in the living room.
“Yep.”
“Where’s the rest of it?”
“That’s it.”
His eyes turn to mine. “That’s all of your stuff?”
“Yeah, I don’t have much. Roger’s keeping the furniture.”
“Okay,” Rem says as he walks in and lifts two boxes, one stacked on the other.
“Those are heavy, you know.”
His eyes narrow. “I don’t need to take insults from you.”
With a laugh, I grab a suitcase and follow him down to the waiting Suburban. With one more trip each, we have everything piled into the vehicle, and Holly and Johnny are practically bouncing in their seats as I get in next to Rem.
“You get to sleep over at our house,” Holly announces. “We put special stuff in your room.”
“Shut up,” Johnny says. “It’s a surprise.”
“I’m not going to tell her what it is,” Holly says in her own defense and then grins at me. “It’s flowers, and I put my favorite teddy on your bed so you’re not scared, since it’s a strange place and all.”
“Holly!” Johnny exclaims, but I laugh and look over at Rem as he puts the vehicle in gear.
“Come on,” he says as he pulls away from the curb. “Let’s go home before Holly spills any more secrets.”