Chapter 32 Lucy
I’ve been thinking about Reese all day, the dinner he made, our awkward conversation, even Jarrett’s words have rolled around my mind. I can’t get them out, ‘sloppy seconds’ he called me.
“Loooooo,” Heath calls from the porch as I’m just about ready to step into the shower. With a deep breath, I turn the shower off and wrap up in my robe.
“Coming!” I holler, walking down the stairs.
“You know, you really shouldn’t shower with the doors open,” he comments, pulling the screen door open and stepping in. “There’s weirdo’s out there.”
“Like you?” I ask, laughing at my own joke.
“Har-har,” he says, poking my sides. “On a serious note…”
Oh no, Heath doesn’t do serious, not really.
“Colt has to serve community service at R&M Training Ranch,” he says, taking his hat off and laying it on the kitchen table. “And Spence thought maybe you’d take him?”
“Colt’s a big boy, can’t he drive?” I don’t know why they’re asking me, other than the obvious.
“He’s not allowed to, somethin’ about the way the ranch is run… And Sheriff Folley can’t because he got called into some meeting. I know it’s your day off and you probably had plans, but we figured…”
He doesn’t have to say what he’s thinking, I can tell by his sheepish smile. They figured I’d love an excuse to go see Reese.
“I’ll take him, and I’m guessin’ Briar’s wantin’ to go too?”
He pokes out his lips and raises his brows. I know it was a stupid question. “When you take them, maybe you can get some of that hot ranch owner.” He bites his lip and waggles his eyebrows up and down, making me laugh.
Called it.
Swatting at him, he picks up his hat and dances out the door, horribly enough that I laugh. Shooting a quick text to Briar, assuming she’s with Colt, I shut the front door to make Heath happy and head back upstairs.
If I’m going to see Reese, I’m going to look irresistible.
Later, in the truck, I let Briar control the music the whole way to the ranch. A girl can only take so much pop, so once we’re there, I’m glad to be out. Colt’s got his bag slung over his shoulder, and Briar's hooked to his side.
Another man greets us, he’s got blonde hair cropped close to his head. I can’t tell if it’s the same on top since it’s covered by a cowboy hat.
“You must be Lucy,” he says, extending his hand my way, “I’m Mason, Reese must’ve mentioned me.”
“You wish, asshole,” I hear his voice, and when he comes into view I swear I could jump his bones right here. He’s sweaty, shirt rumpled and sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Boots dusty, hat pulled low over his face, and just the right amount of dirt on his hands. He looks damn near edible.
My smile spreads and when he walks up to me, I lift up on my toes and kiss his cheek. His arm snakes around my waist and he pulls me into his chest. I don’t care that he’s sweaty, and I don’t care that we have an audience.
He’s touching me, and it feels so fucking right. Stepping back, I eye him as his gaze roams over my body.
“Zachariah,” Reese says, holding out his hand. “Welcome to R&M. Mason will be your go-to adult while you’re here on the ranch,” he tells him, as Colt looks around.
He nods and grips Reese’s hand.
“Actually, it’s Colt,” he says, eyeing the rest of the place. Kids of all ages run about, it’s almost dark so they must be getting ready for bed. Bunk houses dot the space between larger buildings.
“Colt it is,” Reese says, gathering our attention back. “Lights out at nine for the older kids, Mason will show you where you can put your stuff,” he looks at Briar and back to Colt, “Briar can go with you, but Mason will stay with you the whole time.”
Tilting my head, I look up and he looks down and winks at me.
“Alright, let me show you to your new home away from home.” Mason says, clapping Colt on the back and leading him and Briar toward one of the bigger bunk houses where a few boys have disappeared.
“How’d you know that was Briar?” I ask when we’re alone.
“I pay attention when you talk, plus she looks like you,” he says, sliding his arm around my waist and leading me toward his house.
Walking inside he shuts the door and leans his back against it letting out a sigh so long I wonder just how tired he is.
“Goldie,” he almost purrs. “I don’t want you to think I’m not happy to see you, it’s very much the opposite.”
“But…” my heart starts to pound in my chest and I wonder if I misunderstood after last night. I know our conversation wasn’t typical, and then I left, but I thought–
“Don’t do that,” he says, snapping me back to the room. “I’m inappropriately happy to see you.”
“Oh? Is that all?” I ask with a smirk.
“God, please don’t do that,” he almost sounds like he’s begging, “I’ve wanted you ever since I saw you at your flower booth, and seein’ you here now… In that fuckin’ dress… I want nothin’ more to strip it off you and see just how far those freckles go.”
His honesty makes me rub my legs together. Anticipation rockets through my blood and I want nothing more than to let him do whatever he wants.
It’s been too long.
Crossing the room to stand before him, I brush my breasts against his chest and he growls, a vibration that crawls up his throat.
“Goldie,” he warns but I’m done waiting for him to make a move, and I’m done caring what anyone thinks of us. Laying my hands on his chest, I tip my head up and press my lips against his.
They’re just as soft as I imagined, his wiry beard tickles against my skin. He’s stoic at first, unmoving and I worry I made the wrong decision but then he swoops down, capturing my lips in his with a noise that makes my toes curl in my heels.
His lips move over mine, slanting over my mouth with a precision that threatens to make my knees turn to jelly. His hand snakes into my hair as he positions me to take the kiss deeper. At my surprised gasp, his tongue sweeps into my mouth and I melt.
God, I’ve been wanting to do this ever since he helped me at the diner.
Pulling my head by my hair he separates our mouths, rests his forehead against mine, and lets out a satisfied sigh.
“Fuck.”