Chapter 59
CHAPTER 59
OLIVIA
C harlie’s passionate and playful kisses this afternoon were seared into my soul like a brand. I’d felt them everywhere , and when we’d finally stopped messing around to eat, I’d been seconds away from climbing on top of him and fusing our bodies together in the same way it felt like my heart had become attached to his.
In the end though, we’d finished up and made our way back to the stables, grooming the horses and getting them all settled for the night before we’d gone to wash up for dinner. I’d almost left, but he’d asked me to stay and I’d eaten with the Andersons.
Later on, when he’d gone to do his evening chores, he’d invited me with him and I’d happily accepted. I was having a great time with him, even helping as the sun went down and painted the sky in glorious pastel shades of orange, pink, and purple.
As I got into the chicken coop without hesitating or even checking for mud or poop, I realized that the ranch had really grown on me. In so many more ways than I thought he’d realized earlier when I’d told him the same thing.
I’d even missed this place while I’d been gone, the glorious views and the easy camaraderie I had with his brothers, the wide-open spaces, fresh air, and the loving chats with his mom. After he’d left New York, I’d realized that I’d also grown attached to the lifestyle they had here.
I liked the hard work and the physical effort they had to put in day in and day out. But I also liked going to sleep early and rising before the sun to go out and check on the animals again. While I still loved New York City and Houston too, the ranch had become like a template of how I wanted my home life to be one day. It was the kind of place where I’d love to raise my children, doing chores before I headed into the office and seeing new baby animals when I got home.
Charlie sat with his ass on the ground, tiny chicks swarming all over him and pecking at little treats I couldn’t see in the grass and dirt. Every so often, he’d set one down in the encampment beside him after checking it over, then he’d pick up the next ever so gently to give it the same treatment.
God, I love watching him take care of the animals like this.
“No, don’t fight me, little one,” he cooed softly to the fluffy yellow chick he was inspecting. “I’m trying to make sure you’re okay. I’m not going to hurt you. I promise.”
I smiled. He really was one of the best guys I’d ever had the privilege of getting to know, and I felt my heart swelling just looking at him. I knew this wasn’t a side of himself he’d allow just anyone to see and I felt honored he was showing me this softer side again without any hesitation at all.
Internally, a snarky voice in my head rang out. The others were right in New York. You are so in love with him, it’s not even a joke.
My cheeks started warming up as I stared at him caring so lovingly for the chicks, errant thoughts about him being a father running through my mind. I didn’t have to wonder about it. I knew he would be an amazing dad.
At that moment, naturally while I was having completely inappropriate thoughts, he looked up at me. “Are you going to pass me that little one next to your feet?”
I blinked hard, bending over to scoop up the chick in question and gently passing it over. “Sorry. I guess I got lost in thought for a minute.”
“It looked like a pretty good thought.” Those blues locked on mine, his head cocking just ever so slightly. “Do you want to tell me about it?”
I shook my head slowly. “No, thanks. Are we almost done here? It’s starting to get a little chilly out.”
“This is the last one.”
When I refocused, I realized that he was right. He’d worked his way through all the babies while I’d been thinking about his, well, babies, and I flushed again. “Good point. I knew that. Obviously.”
He arched an eyebrow at me before a smile ghosted across his lips. “You knew that? Really? It didn’t look like you knew it.”
I chuckled, sighing before I finally gave an inch. “I might’ve been thinking about that kiss you owe me.”
“Oh, yeah? I thought I gave you that this afternoon.”
“Nah, that wasn’t it, was it?” I curled my fingers and pretended to study my nails. “Pity. I thought you could do better than that.”
Instantly, his eyes narrowed to slits and he stood up, quickly checking over the last little chick before stalking over to me. Penning me against the fence with an arm on either side of my hips, he bent his head closer to my ear and a shiver ran down my spine.
“Keep going down this road, baby,” he said quietly right against my earlobe, his voice suddenly rougher and huskier than it had been a moment ago. “Please keep going, but just know that if you do, I’m going to make you beg later.”
I had to bite my lip to keep a moan from escaping. For the first time in my life, a man had managed to turn me into a gooey mess of desire just by whispering a few words to me. In a freaking chicken coop.
Turning my face into his throat, I decided to throw caution to the wind and I brought my lips to his skin to press a soft kiss there, but I also nipped him, loving the growl that emanated from his chest as my teeth grazed his skin. “Shit, Liv. Let’s get back to my place. This isn’t going to work. There are babies watching us.”
I giggled but nodded, accepting his hand as he pulled away and offered it to me. When we got back to his house, he strode out to the fire pit and started stacking kindling, turning to glance at me over his shoulder.
“You’ve still got your bags, so why don’t you go get warm and comfortable, grab us a drink, and meet me back out here? Maybe a blanket too. Just in case. I’ll get a fire going.”
I frowned. “I thought…”
“You thought I was going to bring you back here and ravish you?” Only the very corner of his lips hooked up into a slight smirk, those eyes still a little hooded as he stared back at me. “I told you I was going to make you beg, didn’t I? Besides, you said you were cold and we should probably talk.”
I sighed, pretending to pout when in reality, my heart was bouncing around in my chest and I was thrilled that he wasn’t just dragging me off to bed. Sure, I wanted him. Badly. I definitely wanted to end up there later, but the man had some serious self-control, as I’d learned early on in our relationship, and it was seriously sweet of him to make a fire just because I was a little cold, providing a comfy space where we could sit and talk.
“What if I start begging now?” I asked out of curiosity from where I stood in the doorway and he glanced back at me, a single eyebrow raising as his gaze met mine.
“It’s been days since I’ve seen you, Liv. Don’t tempt me.”
I laughed and pushed away from the doorframe, loving how desirable and feminine he made me feel. Unfortunately, I didn’t really have any comfortable clothes that were desirable or feminine, so I changed into sweats and a hoodie and joined him outside, two beers dangling between my fingers.
Passing one over, I sat down next to him, cuddling into his side in almost exactly the same place as we’d sat that first night. He slid his arm around my hips, his hand on the bench next to my thigh. Pleasure skated through me at the casual affection and I rested my head against his shoulder, staring at the flames dancing in the fire pit as the sky turned navy overhead.
“You’re amazing, Liv. I don’t feel like I’ve told you that enough.” He slowly lowered his head to mine. “I’ve been finding myself thinking about you more and more.”
My heart started another riot in my chest, but I didn’t say anything. “The last couple days that you were still in New York and I was here, I missed you more than I thought I could miss someone.”
“Same here,” I murmured quietly. “For what it’s worth, I think about you all the time, too.”
His cheek moved slightly against my hair, letting me know he was smiling. “I think it’s time for us to make this thing official. If you’d like to, I want to be more than friends with just the occasional benefits. I’m not interested in anyone else. It’s just you for me.”
I smiled, sliding my head out from under his and twisting to take his face between my palms. I loved the coarse feel of his facial hair against my skin and the open, almost vulnerable expression in his eyes as he looked back at me.
“That’s exactly what I want.” I smiled. “There’s no one else for me either, Cowboy. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”
“I can live with that.” He stroked his fingers into my hair and pulled me to him, bringing his lips to mine for a hard and hungry kiss that made my head spin. As he lifted his mouth away from my own, the expression in his eyes had changed to something determined and fierce. “I’m going to have a conversation with your father. I’d like to share my intentions and let him know what’s going on.”
“How about we talk to him together after the fair?” I suggested. “There’s a lot to catch up on at the office and the fair is going to be a pretty big deal, so it might be better to wait until it’s over and then we talk to him, calmly and together.”
He grimaced. “We have to wait?”
“I just think it’ll be better. We don’t know how he’s going to react and I really want to work on the fair with you. If he finds out before that, he might just decide to pull me out of it for now.”
“Fine.” He groaned and lowered his forehead to mine. “We’ll wait.”
“Thank you.” I pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose and cuddled into him again. “I don’t particularly want to drive home in the dark, or sleep alone tonight.”
He chuckled. “Then you’ll stay.”
I grinned and turned back to the flames, happy to just sit around talking to him until he finally took my hand and led me to his bedroom. This was the first time we would be spending the night together as an actual us , and I could barely wait to explore him now that he was officially my man.