Chapter 31
Best Day Of My Life – American Authors
Tally
We were like two adults in a kid’s playhouse moving around my tiny kitchen. I stepped on Wilder’s toes, and he knocked my coffee over, then we both tried to reach for the same piece of toast. It was bliss.
“We’re really going to have to come up with a routine,” Wilder said, chuckling as he wrapped his arms around my chest from behind. “Maybe have sections that we keep to, a bit like waitresses or bartenders.”
He rested his chin on my shoulder and my heart felt like it might explode with the warmth and euphoria it was filled with. I liked us being the way we were. Happy and easy.
“You got a full day?” Wilder dropped a kiss to my neck.
“Maverick and Isabelle. What about you?” I passed him a piece of buttered toast over my shoulder.
Instead of taking it, he just took a bite. It looked like we were sharing. As we both chewed, Wilder’s hand on my stomach moved under my t-shirt. Palm flat and warm, his thumb rubbing gently against my pebbled skin.
“Got to decide on the new bull. Got a video call with the guy in about an hour and then this afternoon I’m going with Nash to see one in Montrose.”
Turning in his arms, I rose up on my tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his lips. I wasn’t tiny, but I loved that he still made me feel delicate and safe. I’d never been a wallflower, but that didn’t mean I didn’t like feeling feminine in a man’s arms.
“Which do you think is your favorite?”
“The one in Montrose and not just because it’s not thousands of miles away.
You ever pulled a trailer for six hours with a huge fucking bull getting antsy inside.
” I shook my head and took another bite of toast. “Gunner and I did when we got Gideon, every time we stopped for gas, or a bathroom break we were scared to death that he was going to kick his way out.”
“Gideon is a sweetheart. As if he would.”
“He would in those days. He’s a lot older and wiser and a lot less horny now.”
“Think you’ll ever be less horny?” I smirked, hoping that would be a no.
He contemplated for a second and then shook his head. “Nope. Not going to happen, not when you’re around.”
The kiss was perfect. Soft, gentle, and beguiling, like a siren song for me to follow him back to bed.
“Damn you taste good,” he murmured. “Too good.”
I smiled shyly, embracing the warmth and the joy of him being there. The peace. The excitement.
“I really need to go,” he groaned, resting his forehead against mine while he toyed with a strand of my hair. “I don’t want to but…”
“I know, we have work to do.” I patted his chest. “Time to go, Mr. Miller.”
As I pulled away, Wilder grabbed my hand, linking our fingers. “Just one more kiss, Brownie, just to see me through the day.”
I was riding Maverick around the training ring, checking his gait when Poppy appeared at the fence. She was standing on the bottom rail, trying to get a better view. Always eager to learn and soak up as much knowledge as she could.
Leading the horse to her I was concerned by the frown on her face. Stopping in front of her I leaned forward to scratch Maverick between the ears.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Men. They piss me off.”
“Which man in particular?” I asked, giggling at the look of consternation on her face.
“Just all of them. I was in the stables, and I heard a couple of them talking about me. Apparently, I’m pretty but have a big ass.”
“What? Who the hell was it?” Swinging my leg over Maverick’s back, I got down and moved to the fence. “Tell me who it was, and I’ll make them apologize.”
“It was only one really, the other one just laughed.” She shrugged.
“But who said it, Poppy?”
She picked at the paint on the fence, running her thumbnail backward and forward, her eyes occasionally slicing to mine.
“Poppy.”
“It was Glenn.”
Instantly anger surged through my veins, making my skin heat to the point I thought it might blister.
My hands trembled and my vision was blurred with memories.
I’d had months of the man who was supposed to love me putting me down.
Waking up every morning with an ache in my stomach, wondering if that would be the day that I felt worthy.
Whether I would do something that he would finally praise me for.
Maybe my hair would look right, or he wouldn’t beg me to have a baby because it would make me feel like I was contributing to our relationship.
I would not let another woman feel that insecurity and bone chilling worthlessness.
“Take Mav for a cool down session for me, would you?” I hung his reins loosely over the fence before climbing over it.
“Tally, no, it’s fine. You don’t need to—”
“Yes, I fucking do. I’m not having him speak about you like that. Gunner isn’t here, so it’s down to me as his assistant to deal with it.”
Gunner and Wilder had gone to look at the bull in Montrose a few hours ago, so it was down to me to tell Glenn what a prick he was.
“Honestly, it’s okay.”
Shaking my head, I started to stride away. “No, it’s not okay. Let him tell me I’ve got a fat ass and see how that ends up.”
I hoped that he was still in the stables because I didn’t want to have to get on a horse and go looking for him.
Stalking across the yard my boots clip clopped on the concrete, like a horse’s hooves at full trot.
The wind whistled through the hooped earrings I was wearing and my braid bobbed on my shoulder.
“Glenn!” He was coming out of the stables with Danny, the new guy. He had a hand on his shoulder and was laughing loudly. “Glenn!”
His head turned in my direction and he instantly smiled, like I’d made his day just by being there. Well, he’d soon change his mind once I’d finished talking to him.
“Hey, Tally, how you doing?”
He looked me up and down lazily, his swagger lazy, his smile lazy. He was a poor man’s Wilder Miller. He had a lazy gait, easy swagger and slow grin but it came with humor, patience and respect. His ego was deserved, whereas this little fucker was not worth the dust on Wilder’s boots.
“Not so good,” I told him, as I clenched my hands into fists to control their shaking with the rage I was feeling. It was good they were in fists. I had two brothers so I could throw a damn punch if I needed to. “I need to speak to you.”
He winked at me. “Yeah, and what about?” He glanced at Danny and smirked. “Something good?”
“Nope.” I took a step closer and straightened my spine. “If I ever hear about you talking about any woman in a derogatory way ever again, you will be sorry.”
“What?” He frowned, taking a step back, while Danny shifted uncomfortably. At least he had the decency to look guilty. Whereas Glenn, he was standing there with a tight jaw looking like his shit didn’t stink.
“You know exactly what.” I took a step closer. “I know what you’ve been saying about Poppy like you have the right. The right to comment on her appearance. Her size. How dare you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. What’s she been—”
“Don’t try and lie because she heard you and everything you said about her.” I pointed my finger close to his chest. “When you see her you apologize. You never repeat anything like that on this ranch again, and you’re lucky it’s me who found out about this and not any of the Millers.”
“Just because you’re boyfriend is one, doesn’t mean you can bawl me out about stuff.” His denial had quickly turned to anger, but I doubted he’d follow the usual arc and move onto acceptance of his wrongdoing.
“Yes I can. As a woman and a human being.”
He shook his head and took a half-step back. Danny scratched his head, looking like he might be about to piss his pants.
“Seriously, you’re taking her word over mine, just because she’s a woman. Just because you’re knocking around with Wilder. Like that’s going to work long-term.”
“My relationship has nothing to do with you,” I ground out, the tether on my temper about ready to snap. “Keep your opinions to yourself and go and apologize to Poppy.”
Turning on my heels I started for the office, desperate to get away from him before I did something stupid and earned myself an assault charge. Rounding the corner, I walked straight into the muscular frame that I knew so well.
“Whoa, where are you going in such a hurry.”
“Wilder.” All the emotions plummeted over the edge of my heart, making my throat prickle.
Desperate just to feel him, I flung my arms around him and held on tight.
His familiar scent of leather and spice washed over me, instantly calming the storm in my chest. His solid warmth grounded me and made me feel safe again. “I missed you.”
Stroking my hair, he laughed deep in his chest, like it had been locked up in there all day and was grateful for the freedom.
“I missed you, too, Brownie.” He inhaled and kissed the top of my head. His arms went tighter. “What’s wrong, babe?”
“Nothing.”
He held me at arm’s length and looked down on me. His eyes searched. “You sure, cause I don’t think I believe you.”
I blew out a breath. “Just a run in with Glenn about leaving his tack all over the place.”
His brow was creased with concern as he looked over my shoulder. “And you dealt with him?”
Nodding, my belief in him felt like a bird soaring into the sky. High and free, with nothing but open space to explore. He didn’t offer to deal with Glenn for me. He didn’t suggest that he could do a better job of it. He trusted me.
“Good for you. The guys in the bunk house are always complaining about him leaving his shit around. I’ll keep an eye on him but I’m sure he’ll listen to you.” He grinned. “I mean I would hate to get on your bad side, I bet he shit his pants.”
My laugh was empty and hollow. “Yeah, he did.” I cleared my throat and ran a hand down his shirt. “How was the bull viewing?”
He grimaced. “Looks like we’ve got to go to Nebraska, Omaha to be exact.”
“Really? Shit. That’s a long way away, honey.”