“Just stop.” Mom limps past me to welcome Sawyer with open arms. “Please, ignore my other children. You’re the only one I like right now.” Her soft laughter seems to lighten the oppressive weight in the air.
“Smells good in here, Mrs. Martin.” Sawyer gives me an apologetic look over the top of her head. “I’m sorry about the hassle.”
“Don’t be silly. It makes me feel a little better knowing now. That way when Val decides to be a pain in the ass again, I can spank her for you.” Mom smiles up at him, then moves back towards the kitchen with a chuckle.
Sawyer nearly chokes on a laugh. “Thank you for watching out for me.”
“How’s it feel to be the favorite?” Scott sighs, leaning against the cushions.
Sawyer shrugs. “Nothing new around here.” He carries his lopsided smile into the living room, dropping onto the other end of the couch from Scott.
“Well, shit,” Scott mutters, punching him lightly in the arm. “Since you’re here, wanna go boot up the X-box?”
Sawyer glances up at me. “For a little while. I have somewhere to be later.”
“How long you got?” Scotty rises, heading towards his room.
That mischievous glint in his pale blue eyes stokes a fire deep in my belly. “An hour and five minutes.” He stands with a smirk, following Scotty towards the hall.
But he pauses next to me, resting his palm on my hip to drop his lips against my ear. “If the promise still stands?” he whispers.
“You bet your ass it does.” I give him a quick tap on the back pocket of his jeans before he disappears.
Chapter 35
Sawyer
Is it always thiseasy?
It doesn’t take us long to fall into an easy routine. I’m back in the kitchen on Fridays and Saturdays, at the ranch the rest of the week.
But nearly every night I have her wrapped up in my arms.
It’s supposed to be harder than this, right?
Maybe not all the time.
Now that the shift has been made, it’s as if it’s always beenus.
I don’t want to think of a time without her.
Every morning as I get dressed to leave, I dread it.
“Long day planned?” she asks from where she’s curled up on the recliner.
The early sun highlights the maroon tints in her dark hair.
“With all this snow, I’ll be on the tractor all day moving it.” Ducking low enough to look out the window, I steal the chance to kiss the top of her head.
But then I waffle on rushing out the door. “Have you decided on Christmas yet?”
After the tension over Thanksgiving, I’m not sure if I’m ready to throw her to the wolves of my family yet.
It might go smoother, though. They already know about her.
“I was thinking I’d get you hard and tie a ribbon around it.” She smiles, rolling her tongue over her lip. “Then it’s the gift that keeps on giving.”
Fuck. Blood rushes to my groin.
