CHAPTER 7
ELIZA
When I step out of Falls Market, the first person I see is Kendrick where he’s leaning against the side of his father’s truck. He’s been picking me up after every shift for the last week. When he’s not hanging out with me, he’s out at the ranch working or he’s visiting his father.
It sounds like Harold Watts is about to tie some sheets together and shimmy himself out of the hospital window. The man is stir-crazy and wants to go back to his home. While I can’t blame him, I’m worried about what it will be like for Kendrick when Harold is released and goes home.
Even though he doesn’t talk about it much, Kendrick becomes a ball of tension and quiet rage whenever he even thinks about his father. If I had to guess, there are hurts there begging to be healed. I’m not sure Kendrick or his dad will put in the work to rebuild the bridge between them.
While it’s true the bridge was burned to the ground, the footings are still solid and intact. If they can put their pride aside, I wonder what could happen between them.
But, then again, what do I know?
There’s no way to stop the smile on my face as I step closer to Kendrick. The corner of his mouth ticks up into a smirk. I should find it arrogant and annoying, but instead I find it incredibly sexy.
Over the last week we’ve gotten to know each other. While the tension between us has been off the charts, he’s only taken it as far as kissing. If I didn’t see the hunger in his eyes whenever he looked at me, I’d wonder if he still wants me.
But I know he does.
He’s holding back. I’m just not entirely sure why.
“Hey Baby,” his voice has an edge of tension to it which tells me he’s just come from seeing his dad.
When our toes are almost touching, I close the distance between us, even though it’s a stretch for me, and kiss his cheek. “Hey, Kendrick,” I murmur against him, my lips brushing his cheek with my words. “What’s happening?”
Even though we’ve kept it lowkey in public, his arm shoots out and wraps around my waist to haul me against his chest. He buries his face in my neck and takes a deep breath. His clean scent with hints of pine and pepper makes my heart race while my mind seems to calm at the same time.
“Dad is being released tomorrow,” his words are muffled against my skin, but I hear him just the same.
Ignoring the way the rumble of his voice turns me on, I wrap my arms around his waist and hold on. The last thing I’m thinking about is being out on the sidewalk in front of Falls Market for the entire town to see. Why should I care? It’s not like I’m doing anything wrong.
At least, it doesn’t feel like I am.
Being with Kendrick feels right. It feels natural and unlike anything else I’ve ever felt before.
No, it’s not something people would expect me to do, but I’m so tired of those expectations. I’m tired of their judgement and their rules.
When do I get to start making decisions about my life all on my own? If not now, then when?
Kendrick releases me slowly before looking down at me with a plea in his eyes. “I’d like to take you out to the ranch and show you around. Is that okay?”
We haven’t been back to the field where he gave me the best orgasm of my life, not since that night.
I desperately want to tell him to take me there and make me scream out his name, but I bite my lip and keep the demand inside.
Even if my body is begging for some relief.
I want more than the kisses we’ve been sharing and am not too ashamed to admit it.
Just thinking about our night under the stars is liable to turn me into a messy puddle of need.
“You want to take me out to your family’s ranch?” My voice is shaky and unsure. It’s not because of him, but because of what I know this means. He’s letting me in and opening himself up too.
“Yeah,” he smiles down at me softly, “can I show you?”
“I’d like that,” I tell him honestly.
“Then, maybe, we can go out to our place and spend some time together,” he suggests, his voice turning husky.
“Our place?”
He wiggles his eyebrows at me which has me giggling like a damn schoolgirl as he nods and his brown eyes light up with amusement. I’ve never had what he’s offering—a place that is just ours. Somewhere special. Somewhere which holds memories and the promise of more.
Sure, I was with my ex for a few years, but we never had a private place.
We spent most of our relationship under the watchful eye of the town.
When we went on dates, it was to see a movie, The Pitstop for a meal that’s always a touch too greasy, or some town event.
Everything was done in front of prying eyes and wagging tongues.
I was always worried about what people would say. How many times did I stop myself from doing what I wanted, even if it was holding my boyfriend’s hand, because I was afraid of the judgement of others?
When I’m with Kendrick, I don’t care about anyone seeing us. Let them watch. Let them talk. It feels like nothing can touch me when I’m in his arms.
Is it na?ve of me? Probably, but that doesn’t make me wrong either.
Kendrick helps me into the passenger seat of his father’s truck and closes the door with relief written all over his face. Did he think I’d turn him down?
After he slides into his seat, his hand finds my thigh like he was born to touch me, like it’s as natural as breathing. The tingle running up and down my spine makes me wish we weren’t in a moving truck, but it’s probably for the best that we are.
Just as we pull away from the curb, I swear I see Mrs. Riley step out of the market with a frown on her face and disapproval shining in her eyes. Even if she does disapprove, she doesn’t get to decide what I do or who I spend time with.
It’s not easy to remember, but I’m not a child anymore. I can make my own choices. I can make mistakes and change my mind. I can follow my heart and live just as big as I dream.
The quiet between us is comfortable as we breathe into the silence and exist in what is left unsaid. It’s not until we’re parked and he’s turned off the truck that we turn toward each other. We do it at the same time, as if our souls are tugging at each other and begging to be closer.
“Are you ready?”
Somehow, his question feels a lot bigger than him just asking if I’m ready to tour the ranch. All I can do is nod in response and watch as he jumps out of the truck and stalk his way around to my side.
Kendrick helps me out of the truck, but when I’m steady on my feet and my eyes drift toward the large farmhouse which is far too big for just Kendrick and his father, he keeps his hands on my hips. I can feel him watching me and studying my reaction.
“It’s bigger than I was expecting,” I tell him honestly and my cheeks warm because of the way he’s looking at me.
The humming sound he makes forces me to look at him. The crooked grin on his face is cute and playful. There’s something about him being here, on the land that has been in his family for generations. It brings him peace; it’s radiating off him.
Honestly, it makes me a little jealous.
What does it feel like to have that kind of connection? It’s soul deep and written on his DNA the same way his brown eyes are.
“The house was built with the idea of being able to keep more than one generation of the family comfortable. It worked, too, but then the number of Watts working this land took a nosedive. Now it’s just Dad and me.
” He looks up at the house with a look of sadness on his face.
“I’m hoping it can be filled again with laughter, good memories, and the sound of little feet on the hardwood. ”
When he looks at me, his gaze burns into me. It burrows and finds a home in my heart. He wants his hope to live in reality with me. My gut twists as his eyes tell me everything I need to know.
I want to be the one to make those dreams come true.
Even at the risk of having my heart broken.
“Come on,” he tugs me gently away from the house, “lets start with the barn, cows, and the land.”
And that’s exactly what we do.
He talks to me about everything that goes into running a cattle ranch. Even though he could, he doesn’t shy away from the tough questions or the current state of things. I wouldn’t blame him for trying to hide it, but he doesn’t.
“We’re in a rough spot,” he tells me as we lean against one of the fences not far off from the barn.
We’re looking out over the land side by side in a way that feels natural, in a way that feels right.
“Someone has been cutting the fences which means lost and injured cows. They’ve even stolen cattle.
They destroyed at least one piece of equipment which did not come cheap to replace.
” He shakes his head and admits, “Cliff didn’t want to tell me everything when I got back here, but I’m finding new reasons to be pissed every day. ”
He lets out a sigh filled with frustration as he rubs a hand over the stubble on his jaw. I bet it’s prickly and I have to squeeze my thighs together at the thought of what it would feel like between my legs.
When his hand finds mine, he pulls me away from the fence and toward the barn. I can hear someone working inside but I trust Kendrick to keep me safe. When we step inside the large door, a man stacking bales of hay turns toward the sound.
His eyes sweep over me and then land on Kendrick, the questions there easy to see.
“Cliff,” Kendrick greets the man with a chin lift. “I’d like you to meet my woman, Eliza.”
When Cliff presses his lips together, I would think it’s in anger or annoyance if it weren’t for the amusement dancing in his eyes. “Eliza,” he nods toward me, “it’s nice to see you out here on the land instead of cooped up in the market.”
I giggle and smile wide at the man. I’ve been helping Cliff for years. He used to come in with big orders, but they’ve dwindled over the years. Still, there are things he never skimped on, and fresh produce was one of them.