Chapter 19
Zane
Dad and Grandpa excuse themselves as Sadie waves the thermos at me. “Coffee?”
She’s gone to a bit of trouble, so I say, “Sure.” Running a hand through my hair, I watch her pour the steaming liquid into two little cups, and it’s something about that gesture that makes my heart lurch in my chest.
The concern in her eyes when Dad was talking. I know she’s an animal lover, and even if she hasn’t actually been on the back of a horse yet, I know she’s fond of coming to the stables and helping out.
“I’m so sorry about Zeus.” She hands me a cup, then looks down at my boy, who’s resting in his stable. “Will he be okay?”
“He’ll be fine. He’s older than the others, almost twenty now.
It takes a little bit for him to recover.
” I feel it in my chest. The deep sadness at the idea that one day he won’t be here.
I know it’s a part of life. That it happens to all of us, but Zeus knows me like nobody else.
When I went through my breakup, he was the one I confided in.
It was just me and him, sometimes we’d ride for hours, taking our time along the trail.
People say you save animals when you rescue them, but I’m not so sure he didn’t save me first. “He’s just… special,” I add, my voice cracking on the last word.
“I’m sorry, Z,” she whispers. She’s been calling me that lately, and I don’t mind it.
Just like I don’t mind her being around at my house, not that we’ve seen each other all that much yet.
And I wasn’t sure at first, thinking Mom had gone insane, but so far, it’s working out just fine.
We’ve been like ships passing in the night, but maybe my mom is onto something after all.
Knowing she and Mindy are safe and have a roof over their heads resonates somewhere deep within me.
“I’m glad you’re back.” The words are out before I can stop them. I warm my hands on the plastic cup as I look at her.
“It’s good to be back. I made you ham sandwiches if you’re hungry.”
I glance at her. “You handled meat?”
“I used the tongs.”
I snicker.
“How long until Zeus is back to normal?”
“It’ll be a couple of weeks resting for him, but the doc says he’ll be good as long as he keeps the medicine down, and we keep him separated from the other horses so they don’t get infected. He won’t mind that. A little R and R, hey bud?”
Zeus raises his head slightly, then settles back down. He doesn’t often lie down, but the drugs are kicking in. I’m glad about that because he’ll be able to get some well-needed rest.
“Is there anything I can do for him?” she asks, her face looking so sad I want to sweep her up in my arms.
I shake my head. “He’s fine, but thank you.”
She nods, leaning back against the stable wall. “Do you mind if I stay for a while?”
“Are you sure you don’t want to rest? You’ve had a big drive today.”
“I’m fine,” she says. “Honestly. I want to be here.”
“This isn’t exactly the homecoming you were expectin’.”
She waves a hand at me. “Don’t be silly. I know how much your animals mean to you, and I’d be exactly the same if anything happened to Mindy.”
“Zeus and me.” I shake my head. “We’ve been through some shit together.”
She crosses the room, resting a hand on my forearm, giving it a small squeeze. “I get it. Mindy knows all of my secrets. The good, the bad, the ugly. Animals are our comfort creatures, and you acted quick when you realized Zeus wasn’t being himself.”
“I can’t imagine life without him, even though that’s dumb.
I know pretty soon everyone leaves, but he’s always been larger than life.
Tough. Able to face anything, and then I saw him visibly unwell.
My soul may have left my body for a second or two when I found him.
” I palm the back of my neck, taking a breath as I relive those moments out loud.
She nods. “I know exactly what you mean. He’s your boy.” She smiles softly, taking a sip of her coffee. I do the same; it’s just what I needed.
“Were your parents happy to see you?” I ask after a few moments of silence.
“Yes, they were very surprised.”
“After Christmas Day, things slow down a lot until January. That’s when people will come back and we’ll replant their trees. If you want, you can help Mom and Iz in the Lodge once we’re up to date,” I say. “I know they’d appreciate the help.”
“I’m done with all the paperwork,” she says. “I’m happy to do whatever you need me to, so yes, I can help in the lodge. I’d be more than happy to help with replanting too.”
“You would?”
“Sure.” She shrugs. “I think it’s an amazing thing you offer, and a beautiful way to replenish and give back. We call it upcycling in the city.”
Her eyes meet mine and the air practically crackles between us.
She’s so fucking beautiful. The stars would be jealous if they could see her tonight.
This tension, it’s been brewing for a while now. Maybe Sadie is right about me self protecting, and I’ve been an ass about it. I never meant to put her off.
“I’m your boss.” The words are out before I can stop them.
She blinks. “I know that, Zane.” Her hand is still touching me, it feels warm and electric.
“We probably shouldn’t go there.”
“Why? It’s not like I’m going to be working for Lawless Farms forever.”
I raise my brow. “Oh, really? Sick of us already?” I never believed Sadie was here for the rest of her life. I know how gun-ho she’s been to get back to New York. I’m not an idiot. But over the last week or so, she’s mentioned it less and less.
“No, not nearly. Your family has been amazing. I’ve felt more at home here than I ever have in New York. I miss my friends, but—”
“But?”
“Wow, I can’t believe I’m saying all this, but I don’t know. Maybe New York doesn’t have the shine it used to have.” She tucks a lock of golden hair behind her ear. “Maybe I like this small town and the people in it.”
“Do you like me, Manhattan?” I need to know.
Her lips part, and the sweetest words come out of them. “Yes, Z. I like you.”
My mouth feels dry. I know how to talk to women, heck, I’ve bedded plenty in my heyday, albeit there hasn’t been anyone lately. But with Sadie, it’s not like that. I want to spend more time around her, and I want to get to know her.
“So, you agree this is a dumb idea?” I shift, placing my coffee on the ledge nearby. I take her cup from her as she steps back.
“Y-yes.” Out of nowhere she reaches out and pulls on the lapels of my jacket. Not pushing me away, but pulling me closer. I glance down at her hands, needing more of her touch. She sparks something in me that lights everything up, things I thought I’d long forgotten about.
“I’ve tried to stay away,” I mutter, my hands moving into her hair as she lets out a groan that goes straight to my dick. “I swear I have, but I just can’t seem to get you outta my mind.”
“I feel the same.” Her breath comes short and raspy as she steps back.
I move forward until her ass hits the back of the stable wall.
I cage her in. My big body towering over her tiny frame.
She’s smells like fucking Christmas in a bottle.
Winter weather. Vanilla. Cookies. Jesus, this woman is the definitive of an angel.
My forehead presses against hers. “What am I gonna do with you, Manhattan?”
Her chest rises and falls, I know it’s not possible, but I swear I can hear the racing of her heartbeat. “I’ve got a few ideas, none of them are decent.”
“Such as?”
“I think I’d shock you if I told you.”
“Try me.”
“Well,” she sings, her lips brushing mine. “I’ve always had this fantasy about doing it in a barn with a hot lumberjack.”
Fuuuuuck.
“As long as that hot lumberjack is me.” I don’t let her answer as my lips find hers, and it’s like sweet, sweet heaven as I press into her. I want to swim in this moment and let it take me whole.
Her hands tug on my sweater, then — the cheeky little miss — runs her fingertips along my lower belly, edging under my clothes. Then her freezing, mitten-less hands stroke up my body, starting from my abs. Her touch may be frosty, but it burns a trail all the way up to my heart.
“Where are your mittens?”
“I forgot them,” she breathes.
“Fuck, Princess,” I mutter.
“Mmhmm?”
“I like your hands on me.”
“So, you’re saying you’re into me, too?” she whispers.
“Oh, I’m into you, you’re so fucking beautiful, Sadie Summers.”
Our lips crash together and it’s more urgent this time. When I slide my tongue into her mouth, she scrapes her nails ever so slightly over my pecs and I growl. To have her hands on me like this is a whole other level of unexpected. It’s sexy as hell.
“Tell me,” she whispers when we pull apart. “Tell me what you’ve wanted to do to me.”
“What if I shock you?” I smirk. “Will you go runnin’ away down that mountain?”
“Manhattan girls don’t run,” she reminds me. Touché.
I bump my hips with hers. “Funny.”
She gasps, and I frown.
“What?”
“Is that your… uh…”
“Dick?” I nip her ear. “You can say it, and it doesn’t bite.”
“Jesus. It feels like a freaking missile.”
Hearing her say things about my cock makes me want to explode. “Oh, honey, you have no idea what I’m gonna do with you in this very barn.”
“I’m thinking…hay bales?”
I bump my hips toward her again. “Oh, where we’re going, we don’t need hay bales, beautiful.”
And I get the pleasure of seeing the crimson rise on her cheeks.
Absolute perfection.