Chapter Four
Before I can read further, I hear laughter again.
I close the book, head upstairs to my workshop, and slip the book into the safe.
I lean against the countertop, my mind a swirling mess, unable to comprehend what the hell kind of game Austin is playing.
I don’t even want to think about how much that book is worth.
For all he knew, I might burn the damn thing.
However, he doesn’t know that I would rather burn a man than a book.
I squeeze my eyes shut, give myself a stern fucking talking to about letting this man get under my skin again, and stomp downstairs.
It’s a few hours before I relax completely.
Spending time with Dawn and Hannah helped, as did eating half a dozen cookies.
When Hannah gets lost in a movie, I leave her with Dawn and drag Riggs out to the ranch house with me.
“Houston, we have a problem.”
“What’s wrong? You’ve been quiet all afternoon. I know you’re worried about them, but they’re safe here.”
“I’m sorry, I guess some of it hit a little too close to home,” I tell him, skirting the truth, not ready to share about the book just yet. I might not burn it, but I can’t guarantee Riggs wouldn’t, and I’d hate to have to throw out the whole man for the sacrilege.
“But that’s not the problem. Well, it is, but not the one I’m currently worrying about. Not that I’m not worrying, but this seems to take precedence and—”
My words are cut off when Riggs’s mouth covers mine, stealing my breath along with my sanity. By the time he pulls away, I’ve forgotten what I was worried about.
“So, the problem?”
“Huh? Oh, right. I would like to move Dawn and Hannah in here, at least temporarily. Living in someone else’s space is difficult.
It makes it hard to relax properly, and that’s what they need.
Out here, it’s like having their own home within mine, if that makes sense.
Plus, they’ll be protected. Nobody is getting past all those trees, and the only other way to get to the ranch house right now is through the main house, which is never going to happen, and—”
He kisses me again, shorter this time but just as effective.
“I’m rambling again, aren’t I?”
“Little bit.” He grins. “So what’s the plan? You want me to watch over them?”
I wince, realizing I didn’t explain it as well as I should have. “Well, yes, but not like you’re thinking.” I take a deep breath before blurting it out. “I want you to move in with me. Into the main house, I mean.”
“But what about my sleep issues?”
“I’ve been around you before when you’ve fallen asleep,” I admit. “And you’ve never hurt me. If you’d feel more comfortable, I can always lock my door. I’d cope better having a man walk around in a daze in the dead of night, though, than Dawn would.”
“Shit, I didn’t think of that.”
I move closer, sliding my hands up his arms. “I’m not scared of you, Riggs. I want you in the house with me. I always feel better when you’re close.”
With a growl, he closes the remaining distance between us and kisses me. His lips are hard and demanding, and, as usual, I melt into him.
“Fuck, Opie, you drive me crazy. You have no idea how much I want you.”
I slide my hand between us and grip his hard cock, making him hiss. “Oh, I think I have some idea.”
“Please tell me I’m not alone in feeling whatever this is between us.” He cups my face and presses his forehead to mine as I release him.
“No. I feel it too. I’m just not ready to say it out loud and jinx us. I like what we have, what we’re building. I want it to be strong before we have to test if it can weather a storm.”
“I get that, but for the record, I don’t doubt that we can weather anything.”
“You say that now, but there is so much you don’t know…”
“I don’t care. I know what I feel when I’m around you.
I see the kindness you show others.” He indicates toward the house, so I assume he’s talking about Dawn and Hannah.
“I believe in you, in us. Never really considered myself a man of faith before. I’ve seen too much, had it tested one too many times, to blindly believe there is something bigger out there than all of us.
But then there you were, offering me everything I never knew I needed. ”
“Riggs…”
“Nope. You get to take things at your pace. And baby, I respect the fuck out of any woman who has boundaries she won’t let a man bulldoze through.
But I won’t hold back how I feel. I’m not ashamed.
I’m fucking proud to be yours, because I am, you know.
Regardless of if you ever consider yourself mine. I will always be yours.”
I grab a fistful of his shirt and yank him down to me, pouring everything into the kiss that I’m not ready to say out loud.
I hate that I’m letting fear and uncertainty hold me back.
But I don’t want to ignore it either and rush forward, full speed ahead, only to end up in a head-on collision I’m not sure I’d survive.
By the time I pull back, we’re both breathless, and I can see that Riggs is hanging on by a thread.
As much as I’d like to have him bend me over the counter and do every little dirty thing I’ve been thinking about since the first time he kissed me, we have more pressing things to do.
Dammit, this whole being a responsible adult thing is not nearly as much fun as I thought it would be when I was a kid.
“We need to get your stuff packed up and moved over to the main house. Why don’t you do that while I get some fresh bedding, towels, and anything else they might need? We can order more, but they’ll need something to tide them over.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll raid the fridge and pantry in the main house, too, for the kitchenette. I mostly eat with you, so there isn’t much here. And though we both know they’ll be welcome with us, they might need a little time alone to decompress.”
“Good idea.” I peck his lips and pull away, scowling at him when he gives me a hard slap on the ass.
“Couldn’t resist.” He winks.
I roll my eyes but put some extra sway in my hips as I head back to the house.
I gather a cart I use for moving large quantities of potions around, fill it with things I need, and head back out to the ranch house.
I pass Riggs with an armful of things, stopping only for another kiss.
I can’t wipe the goofy grin from my face as I make up the beds, humming softly to myself.
By the time I’m done, the two rooms closest to each other have been aired out and have fresh bedding and towels.
They share a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, which I’m sure Dawn will be fine with.
I add a small pile of clothes to Dawn’s closet, nothing fancy, just comfortable pieces like yoga pants and sweats, and PJs that will be soft on her skin while she heals.
I put a couple of small T-shirts in Hannah’s room that will work as nightdresses for now.
I make a note to order new clothes and toiletries once I’m done here, so hopefully they will be delivered tomorrow.
I fill the bathroom with soaps and shampoos I made myself, along with new toothbrushes and my cream for the bruising.
I unearthed a teddy with a big red bow tied around its neck that I won at the fair when I was about eleven.
I’d gone alone, as I didn’t have any friends.
I planned to just look around and see what the fuss was all about, but then I found a string of tokens on the ground.
I didn’t know where they’d come from, but when nobody came looking for them, I used them to play a few of the games.
I ended up winning the bear with my last two tokens.
I still remember how proud of myself I felt that day, and it was worth the beating I received for sneaking out.
“This looks good.”
I look behind me. Riggs leans in the doorway, his cowboy hat resting on his head, his jean-clad legs crossed at the ankle, his black shirt untucked on one side and just begging for my hands to slip underneath it.
I’m struck with a sudden clarity staring at him.
He was born to be here. Maybe even more than me.
Though I’ve downsized the part of the ranch that deals with cattle herding and whatnot, I’m glad I didn’t get rid of it completely.
A man like Riggs can’t pander to my needs for the rest of his life.
He deserves far more than to be a sexy arm ornament tending to me.
He wouldn’t complain. I already know this about him.
He’d drive the tractor, help me tend the gardens and orchards, but over the years, I’d see a little of the light slip from his eyes.
I might have always known that—he has the same glint I used to see in my father’s eyes for this place, so I dismissed it.
Being a cowboy was the only thing my father loved.
Well, that and this ranch. It defined him.
I see that same passion in Riggs. And yeah, perhaps I hid from it to start with, because in the back of my mind, I didn’t want to be one of those women who fell for a man like their father, especially given what kind of man my father is.
But Riggs isn’t my dad. You can take him away from the ranch, and he’ll still be a cowboy at heart.
I guess the same could be said about me.
You can lock us up, take us away from the thing that we love most, but it’s etched into our bones, written like a prophecy into our blood.
So Riggs and me? Yeah, this was meant to be.
I know that with a certainty that almost shocks me.