28. Dallas
28
DALLAS
I’m about to wear a hole through the original Rimu flooring of the tiny farm cottage I call home.
Sadie didn’t quite fall asleep over dinner, but it was a pretty close run and as I went to scoop her into my arms to bring her home to bed, Olivia suggested I put her to sleep in the main house.
I hate leaving her over there, because I miss her in the night and hate that I’m relying on Violet and Olivia so much. But Olivia refused to even let me argue about it.
She gave me a stern look and insisted on it, then shot a knowing look towards Katie washing the dinner dishes, and winked.
She knows, and apparently it won’t be an issue for our working relationship.
So, I put Sadie to bed in the room she uses at Violet’s. When I finished, I expected to find Katie waiting for me, but she was nowhere to be found. The kitchen was spotless. Maybe she’d gone. Maybe she changed her mind.
As I stepped out onto the porch I caught my breath at the sight of her little car, still parked in its usual spot next to my ute. Seeing them side by side gave me a little twinge in my chest. It’s how they should be, all the time.
“She’s asleep?” Violet asked from her seat on the porch swing, startling me from my weird little daydream about our vehicles, parked next to each other in the driveway of another home somewhere in the future. A home that’s ours.
“Yep. Completely passed out. Thanks again for this.”
“You don’t have to thank me every time, Dallas. I enjoy it, and it helps you. Plus, the girls said they’d see you soon. Or maybe that was just about Katie?” She gave a nonchalant little shrug and settled back in her chair, picking up her book.
She also knows.
I tried not to choke on my breath, said goodnight and headed across the small paddock separating my cottage from the main house. They’re so close I don’t usually bother to even drive my ute around to the cottage.
I did a quick tidy of the house. I put mine and Sadie’s breakfast dishes in the dishwasher, made sure I hadn’t left filthy clothes lying around and that the bathroom isn’t gross. Luckily I mostly manage to keep all those things in check so there wasn’t much to do, but stepping into the bathroom I caught sight of the bath, my earlier thoughts returning to my mind.
So now, I’m pacing the floor, a bathtub full of steamy water and sweet smelling bubbles in the next room, and there’s no sign of Katie yet .
I collapse onto the couch. I must have pushed her too hard and now she’s freaking out. I let out a frustrated sound, right as there’s a knock at the front door.
I leap off the couch and swing the door wide. Katie is on my porch, chewing on her bottom lip and looking up at me with those stunning eyes.
“Hey, cowboy,” she says. Her voice is low and throaty and I want to pull her directly into my lap again.
“Heya, princess.” I lean against the doorframe, feigning casual and folding my arms across my chest to hide my shaking hands.
“Are you always cocky when you’re horny?” she asks and it startles a laugh out of me. I push off the doorframe and step aside, gesturing for her to come inside.
“More like I pretend to be when I’m nervous,” I mutter and Katie giggles, turning to face me.
“I like it, you know … sometimes. Cocky Dallas is pretty hot.” She trails a finger along the waistband of my jeans, pausing at the button. Before I have the chance to stop her—because we’re supposed to be talking, not undressing each other—she pulls her hand back. Then she steps right into my space and places her hand on my cheek. “You don’t need to be nervous. I’m here. I’m sorry I took so long. Livvie thought it would heighten tension or something. I didn’t think to tell her we have enough of that.”
She shoots me a saucy smirk, then bites her lip again, her confidence wavering.
“It’s fine,” I say. “Gave me a chance to make sure the house wasn’t in total disarray.”
“It looks good,” she says, turning away and taking in the room. “I haven’t been in here in years. This wallpaper is so much better than what was here before.”
I laugh at her expression. I love the little house. It’s probably because it’s part of the farm, belonging to the family that accepted Sadie and I as their own from the day I started working here, but it’s also simply a gorgeous house.
The original Rimu timber floors, simple colours on the walls like the colour Katie commented on, a yellow/white that brightens what could be a dark, dreary little cottage.
Sadie also loves the colour, but not as much as the wildflower patterned wallpaper in her room. Violet let Sadie help choose it when we came by for a meeting prior to moving here and by the time we arrived with our possessions, the room was completely redone, ready for my little girl.
The furniture all came with the house too, from the comfortable, well-loved couch to the battered dining room table. It’s not new or fancy, but it’s perfect for our needs.
Katie is still exploring, taking in the evidence of my life in the cottage: a picture Sadie drew stuck to the fridge, a photo of the two of us on the shelf, a pot plant that’s in desperate need of some kind of attention.
“Last time I was here,” she says, “I painted the bathroom.” She pushes the door open and freezes. “Oh, was I interrupting?”
I’d forgotten about the bath. Seeing her standing on my porch in those jeans—she was right, I really do appreciate them—had wiped my brain.
I clear my throat. “No. It’s for you.” Clearing my throat hadn’t worked and my voice still came out rough .
She blinks at me and I wait for her reaction. Was I being presumptuous? Have I overstepped?
She crosses the room in a few long strides, reaches up and presses her mouth to mine. It takes me a moment to catch up on what’s going on, then I thread my fingers through her long hair and open my mouth to kiss her back. She immediately slides her tongue against mine and makes a sound in the back of her throat.
She breaks off as quickly as she started, then presses a single chaste kiss to my cheek. “Thank you. I love baths,” she whispers in my ear.
“Good, I was hoping so.” I slide my hand from her hair and instead tangle my fingers with hers, then lead her back to the bathroom. I check the bath temperature and add a little more hot water. I press a kiss to her cheek when I’m done. “I’ll leave you to it.”
“Dallas,” she says, not releasing my fingers. “Will you stay? Please.”
“This isn’t a way for me to get your clothes off,” I say. “I just thought you’d like it.”
“And I do. We also both know you don’t need a bath as a guise to get my clothes off. I’ll take them off for you anytime, cowboy.” She gives me another one of her looks that sends blood rushing south and weakens my knees. “But aren’t we supposed to have a conversation?” She pulls a face like Sadie does when I ask her to eat kumara—her least favourite food.
“Yeah, that was supposed to be the point of tonight. But we can do that after your bath if you want.”
“No, stay. If you want. We can talk while I wallow about in there.” She steps close to me again and trails her fingers down my chest. “At least help me get ready for it.” She bites her lip and this time it’s not from nerves.
My hands find her hips, then the hem of her t-shirt and when she raises her arms I pull it up over her head. The hot pink sports bra is even better than my foggy memory from before. I reach out and run my fingers across the fabric, causing Katie to shiver when my skin brushes hers.
My fingers slip to the band of the bra and slide underneath.
“This part isn’t going to be sexy,” she mutters. “You’re going to have to wrangle it off me.”
I press a kiss to her cleavage, then commit to removing her bra.
She’s right. I do have to wrangle it but when it’s off over her head I toss it to the ground. “You’re wrong. Everything you do is sexy.” I press my mouth to the spot just below her ear and gently suck. She moans and sways. I chuckle and pull away.
I drag my fingers down her chest, between her breasts and across the smooth expanse of her belly, pausing on the button of her jeans.
A nod from her and I flick it open, then slide the zipper down. It’s all playing out in slow motion, as I begin to work the jeans over her hips.
“You were right about the jeans,” I murmur. “Spectacular.”
Katie laughs, a little breathlessly. “Liv and I call them my booty jeans.”
“I can see why.” I use the slightest pressure of my hand against her hip to turn her around, admiring her ass and the stretch of denim over it. I palm the full curve and feel her press back into my hand.
Another tug on the waistband of her jeans and they slip down, taking her underwear with them. A guttural sound escapes me.
“Like what you see, cowboy?”
“Oh, fuck yes.” I can’t help myself and bend down, nipping at her ass, then pressing a kiss to the spot, now slightly reddened by my teeth. “We need to get you in that bath before I forget how to talk, let alone what we’re supposed to be talking about.”
Katie laughs, the bright sound echoing around the tiny bathroom. Then she pushes my hands out of the way and strips her jeans off. She stands naked in front of me, the most glorious sight I’ve ever seen. “Care to join me?” She reaches out and pops two buttons on my shirt before I have a chance to respond.
I lift my injured arm. “Probably shouldn’t get this wet.”
She shrugs. “We’ll be careful. But your choice.” She turns away and steps into the bath, hissing slightly.
“Is it okay?” I ask, suddenly worried I’m going to boil her in my over hot bath.
“It’s perfect,” she says, scooping her hair into the messy pile on her hair and securing it with a hair tie from her wrist. Then she slowly sinks down into the bubbles.
When all that’s left visible of her is her head and shoulders, my brain reengages.
“Do you need anything? Something to drink?”
“Just stay, Dallas,” she says softly, reaching up to tug at my hand. I kneel beside the bath and let her weave our fingers together. “We need to talk about Sadie.”
“I know.” I close my eyes and hope my next words don’t hurt her too much. “I don’t want her to know about whatever this is yet.”
She squeezes my fingers. “I know.” She signs and leans back in the water. I crack my eyes open and take in the sight. My dick twitches, because hot damn.
“I know I’m too much of a flight risk for us to tell Sadie anything yet.” She sounds disappointed and it’s my turn to squeeze her fingers. “I don’t want to be,” she whispers, so quiet I’m not sure I’ve heard her properly. “I want this to be the place I can put down my roots and grow … I want to be here with my family.” She waves her free hand in the direction of the main house. “I want to be here with you. I want to try.” Her voice cracks on the last word and I surge forward, capturing my mouth with hers. Her free hand lands on the back of my neck and she clings to me like she’s desperate. I don’t want to let her go. She breaks off panting and presses her forehead to mine. “I understand not telling Sadie until we’ve figured out what there is between us. I’m not offended. I don’t want to hurt her … or you.”
I kiss her again. “We’ll figure it out,” I mumble against her lips.
“Cowboy,” she says, a slight growl in her tone. “Get in this bath with me. Right now.”
I pull back slightly and take in the sight of her flushed cheeks, the swell of her breasts moving with each heaving breath she pulls in and the desire flaring in her eyes.
I push up to my feet and flick open the rest of the buttons on my shirt, never taking my eyes off her face as she lets hers roam over my body.
“What ever you say, princess.”