Chapter 7
STONE
Iget out of bed silently so that Remy can sleep, then grab some clothes and tiptoe downstairs to get dressed.
I heard her get up during the night to work. It kind of broke my heart.
I've gone through phases where I work a lot, but this feels like a compulsion. Like she's afraid to slow down. It doesn't seem healthy to me. I'll have to gently pry what’s going on there out of her so I know how to proceed. The last thing I want to do is upset her or overstep any boundaries.
After leaving a note on the kitchen counter I slip out to the stables for an hour of morning chores, then come back for a shower. I make coffee and get eggs and vegetables ready for bagel sandwiches, then wait until I hear her getting dressed to start cooking.
She comes downstairs with her hair in a smooth braid, wearing a dark blue t-shirt and jeans.
"My God." I clutch my heart. "It's the most beautiful farmhand in the world."
She laughs, then I indicate she should sit at the dining room table as I set down breakfast and coffee for her. I kiss the top of her hair, then grab my own plate. I notice she's looking at me guiltily. "Yeah," I say gently, "I might have heard you wake up in the night and go work for a while."
"I'm really sorry if I woke you—"
I shake my head. "That's not the point. I just don't understand how you're prioritizing work over your health."
She takes a sip of coffee, then stares into the mug for a moment. "I've set a goal. When I’ve saved up enough money to hit it, my life will feel much more stable.”
“Okay.” I nod. "But it’s not like you owe money to the mob or anything, right? If you're in financial trouble, I’ll pay any outstanding debts right now."
She looks over at me, shocked. "That's not the case, but…wow… I can't believe you would say such a thing."
My fingertips gently stroke the back of her hand. "You weren't really listening when I was making the deal with that farmer, were you?"
"No. I was bonding with Prince. Why?"
I can't hold back a chuckle. “I figured that was the only reason you didn’t act strange about me paying double what that horse is worth.”
My hand drops to her knee, my fingers tracing small circles along the inside of it until she smiles.
"Money has always come easily to me, baby.
So I feel I have it to share it. All five of us here on the ranch are the same.
We're ‘quietly allocating resources’." I chuckle. "At least, that's how Boss puts it."
Remy nods. I sense she's overthinking things and decide to change the subject.
"So tell me – what are some of the weirdest bookkeeping jobs you've done?" She brightens at that, and we chat about her work while eating. Then we make some more coffee, fill a couple of traveler mugs, and put them in the truck.
The sun is just peeking out from behind some giant fluffy clouds. "We're going to be in the truck for quite a while today." I take her hand. "Why don't we go say hi to Prince before we leave?"
Remy smiles. "Sure."
She's much shorter than I am, so I'm careful to take small steps until I get used to her gait.
I also listen to her breathing, to make sure she isn't getting winded. I’d guess someone holed up in a basement six and a half days a week doesn't get a lot of cardio.
But she seems just fine as we chat about animals, the strangest pets, and how kitten videos can always brighten the darkest days.
Her hand feels so good in mine. I honestly think there's a chance this could become a real relationship.
The idea makes my head spin. The thought of being her man…
her protector…the one who cares for her, and makes sure she always has everything she needs…
That's the detail that fills my mind with the promise of being… whole.
Remy lights up as soon as I open the stable door. Prince does as well, coming right over to the edge of his stall to nod at her.
"I think his eyes look brighter already," she says eagerly.
"Yeah, they do."
I go into the stall to scratch his withers. "I already peeked in on him when I dropped by this morning to check the feed level and do some chores."
Remy snaps her head around. "Wait. So I shouldn't get up in the middle of the night to work, but it’s fine for you get up super early to do the same thing?"
My mouth falls open. Turning to Prince, I address him. "She has a point. Am I being an asshole?"
Prince tilts his nose toward Remy, making it look like he's nodding. We both laugh when he snorts at us.
"Hey there."
As Boss approaches, Remy instantly becomes smaller, practically hiding behind the horse. I hate it. Gently taking her elbow, I bring her to the front of the stall. "Hey, Boss. I'd like you to meet Remy and Prince."
Remy looks up at me, surprised. "You actually call him Boss?" she blurts.
Boss nods. He's usually pretty serious, but he smiles at her. "The name Falcon is a bit much for these jackasses to handle.” He shakes her hand gently. "Now, I'm going to go out on a limb here, but I’m guessing that the horse is Prince, and you’re Remy?"
She giggles. "I want to say it's the other way around. But yes."
He looks at me. Then back at her.
"Remy is my guest," I say slowly, in a tone that says there will be no follow-up questions.
"Great. Welcome to Bone River Ranch." He takes a closer look at the horse, shaking his head. "This is the poor animal from out on Appletree Road?"
"Yeah." I quickly explain how Remy helped me get the guy to sell.
Boss steps back, scratching the back of his head. "Seriously? Fucking amazing." He shakes Remy's hand again. “We appreciate the help."
"We're going to pull a similar trick again this afternoon,” I tell him. “There's another horse west of here, out near the Copelands."
"The dull white one? Yeah, I got another call about him yesterday. I hope your husband-and-wife routine works again." He claps me on the shoulder. "I'll tell your brother to take care of your afternoon rounds, since you'll be on the road."
"Great. Thanks."
He waves to Remy and ambles off. She looks up at me in utter surprise. "He doesn't care that a total stranger is staying at the ranch?”
"You're my guest. He knows I wouldn't bring an asshole here. He trusts me, same as I trust you.”
We leave the stall, and as I lock it Prince dips his head to nibble at his feed.
Wrapping my arms around Remy, I rock us until she relaxes against me. "Honestly, you can stay here as long as you like. I like having you here."
"It's a beautiful space." I follow her gaze to see she's looking out the open door. "This ranch is just gorgeous."
"No, you are just gorgeous."
Dipping my head, I give her a light, soft kiss, while stroking the center of her back.
Remy steps closer, eager for my touch. She’s so responsive, leaning against me just where I want her, the quick, urgent pressure of my cock rising against her belly.
Each kiss becomes more heated and hungrier.
She clearly wants me just as much as I want her.
Wait – is it want? Or need? I think we’ve both been lonely and searching for something.
Her breathy sigh against my lips makes my shaft strain in my jeans as my palms drift up the back of her t-shirt to caress her silky skin.
One hand snakes around to the front, slipping under her bra to explore the softness of her breast. She moans as my thumb sweeps over her sensitive nipple, then again as I nudge her feet apart and lift her up so her legs wrap around my waist.
I twist, pinning her to the post at the entry of the stall. If we were naked, I’d dip my fingers inside her sweet pussy and get her wet enough to take me. Then I’d thrust up into her as she cried out, her sweet moans echoing through the stable.
Okay, maybe not for our first time.
Grinding against her is enough for now.
She kisses me with a fierce heat I can feel in my spine.
“You’re so damn hot,” I growl. “I’ve never felt like this before.
Like I need to consume you. Feel every single part of you.
” My hands cup her ass, leaning back so she falls against me as I lift her up and down, rubbing her pussy against my pulsing cock right through our jeans.
Her lovely eyes grow wide. “What if someone sees us?”
“They’d take one glance from a distance and leave immediately.” Squeezing her firm round ass once more, I set Remy back on her feet. We walk outside, and she laughs when I have to adjust myself.
“Maybe in a few days you'll join me in the dining hall and meet everyone? We do the big family lunch thing most weekdays." She twitches a little, so I quickly add, "Whenever you’re ready."
Her cheek brushes against the front of my shirt. "Thank you for getting it. I'm nervous around new people."
"No problem. When you finally meet them, they're going to like you."
I almost used the word love. Of course they're going to love Remy.
I know I already do.