24. PAIGE
24
PAIGE
I shoot off another text to Abby, who just sent me photos of sweet little Janie.
Please give her a kiss from her aunt Paige!
She’s the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen. I’m so excited for her and Nick.
I have to admit this is giving me a vision for my future.
As Rhett and I drive down the bumpy road, I try not to let myself be too happy. With the window down and the fresh scent of cedar in the air, it’s hard not to smile, especially when my husband’s hand rests possessively on my thigh.
I take him in while trying not to appear like I’m staring. He’s wearing a t-shirt that stretches over his broad chest and shoulders, faded jeans, boots, and an old baseball cap that reminds me of what he looked like in high school.
Except now he’s sporting a full beard, all those muscles, and those sexy as hell tattoos. My husband is a total smoke show.
“You really don’t have to drive me to my PT appointments.” He always seems to find an excuse to drive me into town. I can’t really take my car because the driveway to the ranch needs to be repaved. I can borrow his truck if I need to, but it’s super sweet that he offers.
He shrugs. “Kinda like spending time with you. Besides, your appointments are in the afternoon, which gives me an excuse to avoid going into the office.”
He likes spending time with me.
Ugh, I love him so much, but since he refuses to talk about the future, I refuse to say the words. I put myself out there by telling him I wanted more and sleeping with him, but my bravado has limits.
Plus, he hasn’t said those three words to me.
Rhett’s hand drifts up my thigh, and I grin but put my palm over it to stop him. “You’re not allowed to turn me on before PT.”
He makes a face. “Why’s that?”
I shake my head, a little embarrassed to admit the reason.
Rhett chuckles. “Why’re you turning red?”
Fine. I’ll tell him the problem. “Because you make me really wet, and I don’t have a change of clothes. I refuse to endure an hour of physical therapy with damp panties. It’s uncomfortable.”
Groaning, he shakes his head. “Fuck. Now I wish I hadn’t asked.” He reaches down to adjust himself, and I laugh.
“Serves you right. You’d think with all the sex we’re having that you’d have it out of your system by now.”
Rhett gives me a heated look. “Do you really think two months is all it would take for me to get you ‘out of my system?’”
Ignoring his question, I pull up my legs and turn to him. “If we go to bed any earlier, your brothers are going to know we’re boning like our lives depend on it.”
“Beau and Jace don’t care. Hell, they’re hardly home at night. And it’s good to get Gabriel and Austin to bed early. If they’re gonna take over the ranch someday, it’s better if they’re used to our schedule.”
As we pull into town, I motion toward the pharmacy. “Can we pull in here real quick? I need to pick up something.”
“Sure thing. I’ll wait here.” I pop open the lock, but before I open the door, he grabs my hand and tugs me back. “You forgot something.”
“What’s that?”
“This.” He pulls me to him for a kiss.
I run my hand over his beard. “You’re a handsome devil, you know that?”
He chuckles. “So I’ve been told.”
Ugh, why doesn’t he want to have more children? I swear my body is chanting, We want babies! We want babies!
With a smile on my face, I slip out of the truck. I’m back in a few minutes and hand him a package.
“What’s this?”
“Just a little something I thought you’d like. Really, I should frame them first, but I can’t wait.”
He opens the bag and pulls out the packet of photos. He grins as he flips through the pics of him, Jace, and the boys when they went fishing. I made sure Jace took a bunch. “This was really sweet of you. Thank you, honey.”
I uploaded them to the pharmacy photo website a while back but kept forgetting to get them. They were such adorable pics, I thought he might want to have printed copies.
Leaning over, he gives me another kiss, but this one is long and sweet, and by the time I pull away, I’m out of breath. “Can we go to my PT appointment before I crawl into your lap?”
He adjusts himself again and nods. “Yes, ma’am.” We drive a few more blocks, then turn into a parking lot. “Meet you here in an hour? I need to head to the hardware store. I read that chickens need a perch, so I wanna add a few to their run.”
I grin. “When I said I wanted chickens, I thought we’d get a little coop.” But Rhett basically built me a mini-barn that houses thirty birds. “I think you’re going overboard.”
“My wife wants chickens, so we’re doing this right.”
I love you.
I want to tell him so badly, but instead I kiss him again and then head in for my appointment.
Why does my husband have to be so swoony?
An hour later, I step out into the late afternoon sun. My heart skips a beat when I spot Rhett’s truck. I keep waiting for that physical reaction to subside, but every time I see him, especially when he’s gone all morning, adrenaline rushes through me and I get giddy.
As I approach, he gets out to open my door. “How’d it go?”
“Great. My ankle is strong enough to do more weight training. My physical therapist said he wants to make sure I’m strong enough before I start tumbling again.” I’ve been jogging in the mornings, but tumbling adds so much more pressure to your joints.
Am I taking rehab slow? Yes. Do I care? Not really.
If I were back at Lone Star State, I would’ve wrapped this ankle and done my cheer routines regardless of the pain for nationals, but I have to admit it’s nice to not kill myself. In fact, I’m enjoying not living at a back-breaking pace. I love life on the Walker Ranch.
And if I’m considering not heading to Boston later this year, well, that’s my business for now.
Rhett nods. “Glad to hear it, but, um… He’s not getting too friendly, is he? Because I can break one of his hands if he is.”
I chuckle. “He’s been a total gentleman. Need I remind you that I have therapy in a big room about two feet away from his assistant?” Rhett and I got a tour of the facilities at my first appointment.
“Good. Just making sure.”
I get a little thrill knowing Rhett’s protective of me.
I’m expecting to head back to the ranch, but instead, he pulls in front of the Prairie Rose Trading Post, which is a country store. “Did you need something here?”
“No, but I figured you do.” Me? What do I need? He gets out and comes to my door to help me down. “Now that you’re feeling better, I wanted to get you some boots. You used to like horseback riding when you were a kid, and I thought you might enjoy heading out with me some time, but you need boots to do that. Plus, I wanted to get you a graduation gift.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Unless there’s something else you’d like.”
Who knew that gruff Rhett Walker was such a sweetheart?
“I’d love a pair of boots, but I don’t want you spending money on me.” I’ve heard the guys talking. If the cattle don’t gain enough weight, we won’t get the prices we need for them. Or if the prices fall again, we could be in trouble. There are a ridiculous number of variables.
He threads our fingers together. “Darling, I’m really fucking proud of you for getting your degree. Let me get you the boots.”
My heart melts. “Okay. I’d love that. If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
We walk into the store hand in hand. Mrs. Nash greets us. “How are my favorite newlyweds doing?”
I haven’t seen Mrs. Nash in ages, but she used to give me candy when I was little even though I couldn’t afford it. “It’s so nice to see you.” I let go of Rhett to give her a hug.
“What can I get y’all?”
Rhett wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Wanted to get my wife a pair of boots, a coupla sundresses ’cause she likes those, and maybe some fabric ’cause she loves to sew.”
I glare at him. “That’s not what we agreed to.” And oh, my God, this man has been paying attention. I dated Marcus for ten months and I’m pretty sure he didn’t know those things about me.
Rhett chuckles and leans down to kiss me. “It would make me happy to get those things for you.”
Damn it. I wave a hand in my face so I don’t start crying. “Okay.”
Mrs. Nash looks back and forth between us. “Aren’t y’all the sweetest! Back in the day, I never would’ve imagined little Miss Paige would marry you, Rhett, but don’t y’all make the cutest couple.” She winks at him. “A happy wife makes for a happy life, and obviously Paige is doing something right to put that look on your face.”
His ears go red, and I chuckle. I can only imagine what he’s thinking right now.
Twenty minutes later, I come out of the dressing room in a burnt orange sundress and a lovely pair of brown boots.
Rhett lets out a wolf whistle. “Damn. You’re almost perfect.”
“Almost?” I frown.
He puts a cowboy hat on my head and tilts it back. “There ya go.”
I catch a glimpse of myself in the full-length mirror. A happy farm girl stares back at me. Her long red hair cascades from her cowboy hat. Her skin is golden brown from the Texas sun, and light freckles dot her rosy cheeks.
Rhett stands right behind me and leans down to whisper, “You’re hot as fuck in this outfit.” He turns to Mrs. Nash who’s behind the register. “We’ll take this. Can she wear it home?”
We don’t make it back to the ranch because he pulls off the road.