Chapter 45 Reese
Seeing her like this, in my bed, it’s right.
Like a lifetime of indifference came crashing to a halt and now everything I see is her.
Her hair in the straw out in the barn, her happiness in the kiddos running around here.
The way her green eyes become brighter in the sun, everything about her is stuck on me, and I want that forever.
Bending down, I place my lips on her forehead. She stirs but doesn’t open her eyes, her hair is fanned in different directions over my pillow, naked under my sheets. It makes going to work hard.
I want to crawl back into bed, bury my face between her legs, and wake her up slowly with my tongue.
The thought instantly hardens my dick and I bite my knuckle to keep myself from doing just that.
It’s a busy day, especially since qualifiers have passed and our trainees that have been selected are waiting for training.
Walking into the chow house, most of the trainees are already here, plates full and energy high. Mason, Lin and the rest of the ranch-hands are all at our table, forks scraping plates as they fuel up for a long day.
Mason notices me first, Lin’s head turns my way and they both smile. Preparing myself for the inevitable, I take my plate from where Hank left it and sit down.
“Late night, Boss Man?” Lin surprises me by starting first.
“Yeah, did your sleepover buddy make you late?” Mason asks.
“I’m on time by your standards,” I nudge, stuffing my face with the food Hank prepared.
Mason grumbles under his breath, but doesn’t say much of anything else. Colt walks in, hands in his jeans pockets, talking to Kayce. I’m still baffled at their quick friendship, especially since Kayce’s been known to be prickly.
They talk and load their plates, both boys laughing and cutting up.
My eyes scan the room, looking for Jarrett who I find sitting on his own eating his breakfast. He’s been serious about training with Mason, and it shows because he also qualified.
He shows up for his community service chores early, and then trains until the sun’s gone behind the mountains.
Mason talks about how much he’s improved in such a short amount of time. Most of our trainees take at least a whole summer before they get into an arena.
Jarrett’s eyes are locked on Colt and Kayce, but he doesn’t say anything, doesn’t even threaten to get up.
I’m impressed, since the first moment Colt stepped foot on the ranch he’s been nothing but angry towards him.
Starting fights, going out of his way to talk shit about him to the other trainees.
I know why now, and though I try not to get involved, I have a feeling Jare’s gonna need a helping hand. He’s scared to come out, and I hate that for him.
“We’ve got a lot to do this week,” I start, “tell me who’s tacklin’ what.”
Mason smirks and I cut him off with a stern look.
Lin rolls her eyes, “I’ve got the littles. We’re gonna train with the barrels first, get ‘em good and warmed up. Then we’ll head to the sheep. The ropers are training with Rae this mornin’ on horseback through the trails, and Mason’s got the racers. Figured you’d want the first bull riders.”
I nod, on board with the plan. I left Lucy a note that I’d be in the training arena when she woke up. Hopefully she’ll find me there.
The day’s already gotten hot by the time we’ve warmed up. The trainees are ready, anxious to get to Friday. They work harder, put in more effort and I have to admit, they look good.
“Fuck you!” Someone shouts, and I close my eyes. That sounds an awful lot like one of the twins. “You’re unbelievable.”
“And you’re an asshole,” Jare’s voice bounces off the stalls and I hear what sounds like a scuffle. I shake my head and walk over to where I think the voices are coming from.
“He’s my friend, Jare,” Kayce growls, a thump sounds from one of the stalls and I walk over. I’m surprised to find Jarrett backed into the wall, Kayce’s hands bracketing his face against the wood. “I’m not gonna pretend Colt doesn’t exist just ‘cause you like me.”
“Don’t pretend this is one sided,” Jare seethes, leaning closer to Kayce who stands his ground and doesn’t move despite the close proximity.
Kayce scoffs, and inches closer, “Just like a little puppy, huh?”
“I know you feel some kinda way about me, whether you want to admit it or not.”
Kayce leans in, Jare’s eyes are hard but loaded and I clean my throat. Whatever’s about to happen… I shouldn’t be here for, so I clear my throat.
Jare jumps, but Kayce stays there, only looking back with thinly veiled frustration.
“Hate to interrupt, but you should both be at training,” I say firmly.
Kayce hangs his head and steps away, looking back at Jare as he pushes past me. Jare looks down at his boots, his cheeks red.
“Look, I don’t know what that was about, but be careful with Kayce, he’s…”
“I know,” he whispers, stepping away from the wall and walking past me. “Could you maybe forget about what you saw?”
“Jare,” I gently grab his arm to stop him. “I’m not ashamed of you, nor am I judgin’ you. I just want you to be careful because I care about you. You know that right?”
His eyes jump up and there’s a look of relief that makes me think he needed to hear that. Suddenly he wraps his arms around me and hugs tight.
When he steps away my eyes lock on Goldie, her hand covers her mouth but I can see the smile there. Jare walks past her and waves, whatever he says makes both her eyes and her smile widen.
“That looked promising,” she giggles, “and he said hello, without an ounce of disdain in his voice. Or at least that’s what I’m goin’ with.”
With a chuckle, I wrap my arms under her ass and lift her into my arms. She circles her legs around my waist and giggles. “Good morning, Old Man.”
I scoff, nudging her nose with mine before kissing her. Letting her back down on her boots I hold her hand and spin her around. She’s wearing a dress I’ve never seen before. A checkered thing that crosses over the back of her shoulders. It flows down to her knees and ruffles near the skirt.
“I like this,” I tell her, pulling her back into my body. “Did you pack a bag to come here last night?”
Her nervous laugh is cute, and all the confirmation I need.
“I’ve got to head back now though, the diner needs some attention, and I’ve got this whole thing with Indy. We need to figure out what to do to save her farm, and we had an idea but then the town council stomped on it, and now she’s acting all resigned, and I just need to–”
“Okay,” I say quickly, cutting her off before she passes out. She didn’t take a breath during that whole rant. She’s rambling, I’ve noticed it’s what she does when she’s got to do something she doesn’t want to. “Promise to call me when you get there?”
“I will.”