Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Reese
I awaken with a start, the last moon rays spilling across my window before surrendering to the sun. The house is still, with a heavy silence that only comes in the early hours, when even the floorboards seem reluctant to creak.
Griffin and I returned to the ranch after that magnificent sunset, but I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t on my mind the entire night, dancing through my dreams with his easy smile and charm.
It figures. He’s gorgeous, kind, funny, and romantic—about a million more adjectives. He’s everything I never knew existed, and he’s completely off-limits.
He fucks women, lots of women, and they pay him lots of money for the pleasure.
While I don’t judge how people earn their keep, the thought of him in another woman’s bed makes me ill.
Shaking my head, I push thoughts of Griffin to the periphery. No sense pining for someone I can never have. Time to get to work.
The shower steams up quickly, scented faintly of cedar from the old wood in this place.
When I finish, the silence greets me again, broken only by the distant clatter of pots from the kitchen.
Chowder is nowhere to be found, no doubt curled up with Piper, his belly full of treats as he sleeps off a catnip binge.
My cat is seeing more action than I am.
Thirty minutes later, I descend the steps into my clinic, the faint smell of disinfectant and lavender soap wrapping around me. Capri gave me a pass yesterday, letting me explore the ranch and burn off five days of road dust. Today, though, there’s a pile of work waiting.
Capri is a stickler for safety, ensuring her residents get their regular screenings. But they’ve been without a nurse on staff for the past month, ever since the last one left for a family emergency. That meant every resident had to trek into town for testing—a hassle for everyone.
But with me here, it changes.
It frees up the residents’ time for what they’re here to do. And of course, my twisted imagination picks that moment to serve up a visual of Griffin doing exactly that—with someone who isn’t me.
Images of him flash through my brain—always balls-deep in some faceless woman, every one of them screaming his name as he satisfies her every fantasy. I bite back a groan, nausea twisting hard in my gut at the picture.
My brain is a sadistic asshole.
Focus, Reese. Focus.
With a final exhalation, I unlock the clinic door.
Even though we only treat minor issues here, the space surprises me—it looks more like a small rural hospital.
A narrow exam bed, crisp white linens, a gleaming supply cart fully stocked, a corner bathroom with its own shower.
And anchoring it all, the largest wooden desk I’ve ever seen.
My hospital back home looks like a broken-down hovel in comparison.
But that’s not what catches my eye.
A massive bouquet sits on the desk, the largest assortment of sunflowers and lavender I’ve ever seen, except for the field last night. The faint, sweet perfume drifts up as I brush my fingers along a stem, a laugh escaping. How in the world did he get the flowers in here without me noticing?
Knowing Griffin, he has his ways.
This gesture, like every other one since we met, clings to my heart. I know Griffin pleases women for a living, but this doesn’t feel practiced. This doesn’t feel like a page from his playbook.
Just sweet. Just him.
Which, granted, doesn’t make not falling for him any easier.
“Already getting flowers? Look at you, sis.”
I turn on my heel as Piper flops into a chair, coffee in hand and a smirk decorating her features. “Where’s my cat?”
“He’s my cat now. Chowder emancipated himself last night.”
“That’s the catnip talking.”
Piper laughs, tucking her legs underneath her. “Are you going to give me shit?”
“Because you’re a sex worker or because you stole my cat? Both are punishable offenses, you know.” I perch on the edge of the desk, sliding a stack of intake forms into a neat pile before pushing my glasses up my nose. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth about the ranch?”
“Would you have come?”
“Maybe?” At Piper’s exasperated look, I sigh. “Probably not.”
“Exactly. You like your life laid out and well-planned, but it’s time to shake the hell out of that concept.” She gestures toward the bouquet. “It appears you’re already making quite the impression.”
“Don’t change the subject. We need to discuss this.”
Piper nods, fluffing her blonde curls. “I know. That’s why I dropped by early.”
I grab a pen, tapping it against my thigh in an uneven rhythm. “So how did you wind up here? Last I heard, you were working on a farm in California. Before that, you were touring the festival circuit.”
“Those got old quickly. I passed through Tangled Vines with the festival, and I loved it here. Met an escort here at the ranch and realized I wanted a new life.”
“Hmm.” Not a judgment, exactly, just surprise. I never pictured this as a path Piper would choose.
Piper pushes up from the chair, pacing a slow line across the office. “You know my history. That whole white-picket-fence scenario? It was never in the cards for me.”
A truth that breaks my heart. And hers, if we’re being honest, although she’ll never admit that fact aloud.
She stops at the desk, her hand brushing the edge of the wood. “But working at the ranch has given me something I didn’t think I’d ever have—options. Freedom. A life without limits.”
I lean over, stealing a sip of her coffee, my nose wrinkling at the syrupy sweetness. “Gah. That tastes terrible. So, is this your long-term plan?”
She snatches her coffee back, shooting me a fake glare. “No. It’s temporary, but I’ve saved up over fifty grand already.”
My mouth drops open. “You’re serious?”
“As a heart attack.” She shrugs. “It’s not conventional, but it works for me. I’m happy and far safer than I ever was on the festival circuit.”
I reach over, catching her fingers in mine. “That’s all I want for you. A good life.”
Piper’s gaze warms, and she gives a small nod. “I know.”
Without missing a beat, my sister’s attention swings back to the bouquet. “And now, back to these gorgeous flowers sitting on your desk. Care to explain?”
I groan. “Piper?—”
“Oh no, don’t try to dodge. You can’t tell me this is nothing.” She taps the petals like she’s making her case in court. “This has Griffin written all over it.”
“They’re my favorite flowers. He showed me a field of them yesterday on the grand tour, and I assume that’s where these came from. Not sure when he had time to pick them, though.”
Piper taps her chin thoughtfully as a sly smile tugs at her lips. “Griffin. I’m surprised, and yet, it makes total sense.”
“What does?”
“You two.”
“Us two what?” I shake my head because, no matter how delicious that idea sounds, it’s not a possibility. Not even a remote one. “Nothing is going on there.”
“Yet.”
“Piper, he’s off-limits, and it’s a hard limit. No dancing around that boundary.”
“I think you’re missing out.”
Likely missing out on so many things.
“I hear we have a new resident.” A woman’s voice carries from the doorway, dark and with a dangerous edge.
Cutting my gaze to the door, my breath catches in my throat.
Jesus, is everyone stunning at Rockin’ Rodeo Ranch?
I smile and extend my hand, grateful for the interruption. “Good morning. I’m Reese, the new nurse.”
Her grip is firm, her nails digging ever so slightly into my skin. “Sabine.” Then she spies the flowers on my desk and clicks her tongue against her teeth. “Well, well, well, what do we have here?”
“Present from Griffin,” Piper interjects, a low giggle flitting past her lips.
“Really?” Sabine turns her gaze to me as she drags a maroon nail along the mason jar vase. “The man is such a hopeless flirt. Don’t read into it, Reese. It doesn’t mean anything. None of the women do.”
Sabine’s words pop my happiness like a balloon, the scraps scattering at my feet. My stomach plummets, but I force a smile as my nails bite into my palms.
I have two choices: argue her statement, which is utterly fruitless and pointless, or ignore her and stew about it later. Let’s go with option B.
Piper, however, isn’t willing to let the matter go. Planting her hands on her hips, she glares at Sabine. “I’ve never seen Griffin flirt with anyone.”
Sabine shrugs, studying her nails. “You don’t know him like I do.”
Oh boy, this conversation is taking a turn into dangerous waters, and I get the distinct impression I’ll be the one drowning soon.
“Dating him for two weeks doesn’t make you an expert.”
I bite back a groan. Of course, Sabine and Griffin dated.
Makes perfect sense.
This is Griffin’s type.
This luscious dessert that men lose their minds over. There’s no other way to describe Sabine. She is the quintessential voluptuous bombshell—big tits, big hair, wide hips, and no doubt a sexy as fuck ass if she ever turns around.
I knew he was blowing smoke up my ass with those compliments.
My gaze volleys between my sister and Sabine as the tension ramps up.
No way, universe. It’s far too early, and I’m still road-lagged from my trip.
Not today, Satan.
Pulling out two cups, I hand them to the women and nod toward the bathroom. “You know the drill. Once you’re finished, we’ll do the blood draw. Sound good?”
Just like that, I regain control of the room. As it should be. This is my territory now.
Thankfully, both women cooperate, and by the time I place a bandage on Sabine’s arm, two more residents are waiting, which means I won’t have to deal with Ms. Erotic Universe again for another few days.
Or gag on mental images of Griffin and Sabine engaged in all manner of Cirque du Soleil-level contortions.
It’s the little wins that count.