“You did,” I say, pressing my forehead against the curve of his throat. “This helped.”
He exhales slowly, his breath warm against my hair.
“I’m glad,” he says, voice cracking just a little. “Guess I'm just not used to feeling so helpless.”
I shift closer, if that's even possible, and thread my fingers through his shirt, holding onto him like he’s the only solid thing in a world that’s shifted under my feet.
“You’re not helpless,” I whisper. “You’re the only reason I'm still standing.”
And maybe it’s selfish or reckless, but I don’t move away.
And neither does he.
10
We lie there for a while, wrapped up in the soft hush of morning, until reality intrudes. My bladder reminds me rudely that I’m human.
I groan into Liam’s chest. “I have to pee.”
He chuckles, the sound rumbling beneath my cheek. “Guess I should get up, too. See if we had any calves last night.”
But neither of us moves right away. We just stay there, reluctant to break the fragile spell we’ve wrapped ourselves in. Finally, I sigh and sit up, the cool air rushing in to replace the steady warmth of him.
I glance down at him, tousled and gorgeous, and say, “You know, for a pretend boyfriend, you’re doing a really good job. I don’t think I’ve ever had someone take care of me like this.”
Liam’s mouth curves, not into a smile, but into a small, pained frown.
Finally, he says, voice quiet but certain, “Good thing I’m here now.”
My throat tightens.
I’m still smiling as I pad to the bathroom, closing the door behind me, feeling his words echo in my chest long after the door clicks shut.
Later, after I’ve changed into jeans and a hoodie, I find Liam in the kitchen, boots already on, fiddling with a thermos of coffee.
“Get your boots on,” he says, his eyes bright with a boyish, barely contained excitement. “I want to show you something.”
There’s a light in his eyes that has me grinning without even knowing why. I know that look. It means something good happened.
I pull on my red leather boots and follow him outside, the crisp morning air nipping at my cheeks.
He helps me into the UTV, his hand lingering a second longer than necessary, and then rounds the front to climb in, firing up the engine with a grin.
We drive down the bumpy back road that winds through the property, the trees dripping with rain, the mist clinging low to the earth. I grab the ‘oh-shit’ handle instinctively as we bounce over a rut, laughing when Liam purposefully hits another bump that sends me jostling in my seat.
“I think you just like seeing my boobs bounce,” I tease, laughing breathlessly.
Without missing a beat, he smirks and says, “Honey, you’ve got me figured out.”
I shake my head, grinning like a fool as he points toward the pasture ahead.
“Look.”
I follow his gaze and my heart melts.
In the middle of the field, a sturdy black cow stands proudly, two tiny, wobbly calves pressed close to her sides.
“Twins?” I breathe, awestruck.
