Chapter 29
Sunlight drifted into the window as Marshall’s eyes squinted to adjust to the brightness. He didn’t recognize the soft white curtains at the window or the crisp duvet surrounding him.
Where was he exactly?
Oh yes.
His body remembered. A seeking hand drifted the short distance to the other side of the bed. How many times had he slept all night with a woman?
Never, that he could remember.
Last night would be forever imprinted on his mind. His fingers tingled as they reached their target, drifting along the surface of Colette’s hand, winding themselves into the place where they belonged. His gaze flicked to her face, a warm smile teasing her lips.
His heart stuttered in his chest as a visceral realization flowed through him.
Colette was precious to him. Though they had reached heights of pleasure he could never have dreamed of last night, there was more.
There was a new sensation squeezing his heart.
No longer the simple pumping of blood through his veins, he was gripped with an emotion completely foreign and unexpected.
Wrapping his arm around her waist, he pulled her close, inhaling the floral scent of her hair, slightly tinged with sweat.
As the heat of her body pressed against his, memories of pleasure stirred his other parts, but he ignored them.
This moment was sacred. He wanted to memorize how her curves nestled into his perfectly.
How she giggled breathily when he nuzzled her neck.
Marshall inhaled the essence of Colette as his eyes drifted closed.
He was grateful Evan had agreed to take over his morning duties, allowing him to have a late start to the morning.
It had been so long since he had had a reason to linger, a reason to savor a moment and rest. Her breath quieted under his hand, her belly lifting and falling with each sleepy inhale.
Tempted to allow his hand to drift lower on her body and see if she was filled with the same sensations coursing through his body, he sighed.
There would be time for that later.
For now, he would relish the feel of her in his arms, quieting all thought or desire. He would let the movement of her breath and the delicate flutter of her heartbeat lull him back to sleep. This would not be the last time they were together, if he had anything to do with it.
Last night was the beginning of something.
As terrifying as the sensations he was experiencing were, he wanted to walk into that unknown, not run from it.
As long as Colette was waiting for him there with an outstretched hand, he would follow wherever she went.
That much he knew after last night. Apparently, he was a cuddler too. That was new.
Evan would have a field day.
First, Marshall made all those rules to keep the other guys from making moves on Colette. Then, he brushed aside his own objections so easily and surrendered. Chuckling softly, he nestled his head deeper into the pillow. What kind of man did that make him?
Maybe he was a devil after all.
To be taking as much as he could from Colette to fill his tank, for those mornings when he wouldn’t be waking up to her. For a moment, Marshall could almost imagine what love would feel like. How one could soften under its touch and dissolve into a puddle of unmitigated happiness.
These thought patterns were concerning.
Where the fuck was all this coming from?
Marshall shook his head to clear his thoughts and rolled over to the other side of the bed.
He needed to get back to work and suppress all these lovey-dovey feelings.
Nothing good would come of them. Unrealistic expectations were the death of joy.
He was used to a simple life, a fulfilling routine, and looking forward to a successful future as a rancher.
Becoming too involved with Colette didn’t fit into the equation.
Especially developing strong feelings for her when she wouldn’t be staying.
He frowned as he lifted his jeans off the floor quietly, trying to keep his belt buckle quiet.
This felt a lot like running, but he knew he would be back.
Marshall King was afraid of love, but he wasn’t a fool.
For as long as she wanted him, he would be coming around.
Nothing could keep him away.
Stretching her hands above her head, Colette yawned beneath the sheets.
Resisting every instinct to gather her up in his arms and meld his body to hers once more, he picked up his socks from the ground and eyed his phone on the dresser.
Evan would have called if anything was amiss, so he assumed everything must have been going smoothly this morning.
“Are you leaving already?” Colette asked, resting her head in her hand and turning to watch him dress. “Seems a shame to cover up all that glory.”
Crawling over the bed to join her, he tilted her chin and pressed his lips upon her rosy-pink mouth. “Darlin’, you can see that glory anytime you like.”
Colette rolled onto her back, pulling him down and sending shivers running up his spine as her fingers twined in his hair. His hands curved around her warm skin, reluctant to let go.
This was pure madness.
He was losing his mind over this woman.
“I have to go check that Evan is doing okay,” he said, a lingering kiss the only way he could think of to punctuate his sentence.
Groaning, he retreated from the heat of the bed and picked up his shirt from where it was draped on a cross-back chair with a blue and white gingham cushion.
Donning his shirt, he buttoned it up slowly as she watched, his blood boiling under the heat of her gaze.
While saying nothing, her eyes made him want to rip his clothes off and jump back in bed, if only just to please her.
“I’ll see you tonight, maybe? I’ll just be hanging around here,” she said, with a breathy sigh.
“It’s a date. Maybe we can watch a movie or something? Is that what normal people do with their free time?” he suggested, tucking his shirt and reaching for his phone.
Why were there so many messages?
“Fuck,” Marshall said, using a finger to scroll over his messages. Things were apparently not running smoothly this morning.
“What is it?” Colette sat up in bed, using a sheet to cover her nakedness. He eyed the white fabric with contempt. How dare she hide herself from him?
“Evan sent a couple texts asking for help this morning,” he explained. “Jack didn’t show up for work.”
Brows gathering in concern, Marshall tried to remember if Jack had asked for the day off. Sometimes they took the odd day for appointments or special occasions. Wouldn’t be a big deal if he did.
“That seems unusual,” Colette mused. “Jack’s always the first one on the job in the morning, right?” Marshall searched for his keys and where the fuck was his other sock? Colette popped out of bed, reaching a hand beneath the bed and pulling out what he was searching for.
“Here,” she said, handing it to him, then reaching her hands around his neck. She tugged him down for a last kiss and he cupped her naked ass in his hands.
“Thanks.”
“I’m more than just a pretty face, you know.” She giggled as he pulled the last sock onto his foot.
“Yeah, you’re a brilliant accountant, that’s what.” He smirked. “Go back to bed, I’ll see myself out.”
His last sight of Colette was her nuzzling back into the sheets with a breathy sigh. “Keep me updated. I’m worried about Jack,” her voice called out behind him.
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” His mouth flattened; the words more hopeful than Marshall actually was. It wouldn’t be a big deal to call his house or make the quick drive and check on him. With the number of things he was missing these days, it was possible he had forgotten something Jack had told him.
As he lifted his jacket off the hook, a nagging fear clawed at his chest. Jack was as predictable as the sunrise over the prairies. The man followed his daily schedule to the letter.
Every. Damn. Day.
Sighing, Marshall opened the door, a blast of chilly morning air finishing the job of dusting off any remaining traces of sleepiness. Dialing Evan’s phone number, he walked briskly to the truck, letting himself in as the phone rang.
“Marshall, where the fuck are you?”
“Sorry, I had my phone off. What’s going on?”
Resting a fist on the steering wheel, he waited for his friend’s response and started the engine.
“Here’s what I know so far,” Evan began, his voice rushed and etched with concern.
“Jack didn’t show up this morning, so I asked around to make sure there were no major emergencies.
After that, I went to his house to check on him.
The rest of the guys are out feeding the cattle, so no need to worry about that. ”
Uttering a relieved breath, Marshall closed his eyes and rested his head on the headrest. Good. Jack was probably at home sick or away for some reason. No big deal.
“I spoke to Edith,” Evan continued. “And this is where it gets weird. Edith was trying to reach him all night, but he wasn’t answering his phone. Jack never came home.”
Marshall’s eyes flicked open, nausea rising as his stomach sank down to his knees.
Jack never came home.
Jack Ellis never went home last night. There was nothing that could be done for it here, sitting in his truck. Marshall revved the engine, parking his car at the main house before racing to the stables.
Last time he had seen Jack, he was saddling a horse to go check on some fence posts that appeared damaged when they were feeding hay to the cows yesterday afternoon.
What if he had a heart attack on the ride?
Marshall ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing.
Where would he even start looking? It was still early, and the ranch hands were beginning their morning routine.
Few people were milling about. Maybe he could rope a few guys into searching with him.
First, he needed a horse.
Then he needed to figure out what the hell happened to his friend.