CHAPTER 11 #2
He rolls off the bed and stands. The way he stretches, his ass facing me and making me consider leaning forward to take a bite of it—something I’ve never thought before—is a sight to behold. My man is hot.
It’s not just his body either. It’s him. There’s something effortless about him. He doesn’t have to try to be himself and it only makes him more attractive. When he looks back at me, he winks.
“At least this time I didn’t come in my pants,” he mutters under his breath as he saunters into the bathroom, and I stare after him with my mouth hanging open.
Is he talking about when we fooled around in the bed of the truck?
I’m still staring at the door when it opens up again. He doesn’t answer the obvious questions in my eyes. He ignores them in favor of looking over my body still exposed and on display for him in his bed.
Our bed?
I’m still not used to thinking of it that way. But it’s not as foreign feeling as it should be.
While shaking my head at him in admonishment, I tug the sheet up and over my body. My man doesn’t look sorry at all.
He doesn’t really need to be.
After sitting on the edge of the bed, he turns toward me, and a serious look comes over his face. “There is something I’d like to talk to you about?”
Something about the look on his face has me sitting up. I make sure to keep ahold of the sheet though.
“I’d like you to quit working at the market,” the words tumble out of him, almost like he knows he has to get them out quickly.
“I’m sorry, what did you say? I must not have heard you correctly.” I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince myself or him.
Instead of backing down or changing course, Kendrick looks me in the eye. His voice is calm and level, “I’d like you to quit working at the market. There is a lot of work that needs to be done around here.”
I bristle and my spine straightens, which would be more effective if my hair didn’t look like I had visited heaven and only just returned. “Is that why you want to be with me? I’m a woman and would make a good addition to the team to ensure the boys are taken care of?”
The words are harsh, unnecessarily so. Kendrick’s mouth thins and I know he’s trying to stay calm. Part of me wants to stand my ground and the other just wants to run my hands over his chest and sooth him. I’m not even sure if I believe the accusation I just hurled his way.
Maybe that orgasm scrambled my brain. Anything is possible, right?
“Eliza,” he growls my name, the warning coming across loud and clear.
My mouth pops open, the peaceful fuzzy feeling from my orgasm disappearing like fog in the morning.
“There is a lot of work which needs to be done here on the ranch. I don’t have as many hands here anymore which means some things are getting missed.
” He heaves a huge sigh. “Then, there’s dad to consider.
I can’t watch him all the time and I swear to fuck, I just know I’m going to catch the man riding the fence line before he’s supposed to.
The man will work himself into the grave if there’s no one around to keep him in line. I’m only one man; I need some help.”
There’s a plea in his eyes, one which has my resolve softening as I let his words rattle around in my head. They don’t feel like lies, they feel like a call for help.
“You’re the perfect woman for the job,” he keeps putting himself out there, vulnerable and on display, “for a few reasons.” I nod slowly, curious about whether he’s going to let me in on the secret.
“You’re an incredible, smart, kind, thoughtful, loving woman.
We would be lucky to have you taking care of us.
” He scoots closer to me, the heat coming off his body almost making me forget what he’s asked of me.
“I’m going to say something to you, but I do not want you to say it back.
Not yet. That doesn’t mean what I’m going to say isn’t true.
It is.” My eyes widen and I make a wheezing sound which is not in any way attractive.
“I love you, Eliza. I knew you were mine from the moment you almost knocked me over in the market. You’re it for me. ”
My lips stretch into a huge smile, and I sass him, “I didn’t almost knock you over.”
“Depends on who you talk to,” he mutters and leans in a little closer to me. “Seems there weren’t any witnesses. All you can do is go by first-hand accounts and from where I was standing, I was almost put on my ass.”
With a giggle I shake my head before I purse my lips and study his face. His sincere, earnest face. He might not want me to say anything back yet, but I love this man.
I have for a little while now. Maybe even since the day I walked into him.
“I have the next two days off,” I remind him. “How about we see how it goes, and I’ll think about it?”
If I can’t help the man who has stolen my heart, who can I help?
“I’ll take it,” he murmurs right before he presses his lips against mine.
I already know I’m going to say yes, but he doesn’t need to know quite yet.
“I need to get going, Cliff has probably already been working for a few hours, and Dad probably needs a hand with something.”
“Guess it’s time to get the day started then.”
If I can’t keep all the disappointment out of my voice because we’re not just climbing back into bed, neither of us comment on it. Which is why I let it go when I catch the yearning glance he throws back at the bed when we’re dressed and ready to start the day.