Large arms wrap around me while his nose roots around in my hair. Giggling, I reach back and smack his hip playfully. “You are acting like a little piggy, behave.”
“You smell so good, and I just want to gobble you up, but I have been slacking since the wood sprites showed up with a curvy distraction. I need to get the wagon loaded the rest of the way because I have a meeting on Thursday, and Harvey needs a load of coal.”
“Let me up so I can get your breakfast before you head out, then I have some rearranging in the cabin to do. I guess I should ask you about that first. Is there anything you wish me to leave alone?”
“Not a thing. Change whatever you want but remember, they’ll be here at midday to bring the stove. I’ll be back by then in case they need help getting it in the house. That thing looked massive.”
“I’m excited and worried at the same time. That stove is so lovely, I almost hate to use it.”
“You’d better use it, I need bread, woman!”
He starts to tickle me, only to stop suddenly. “Gown up, I need to see those ribs.”
“They feel much better, and the bruising is slowly going away.”
“I still want to see.”
Wiggling out of his arms, I sit up and turn my back toward him. Grant helps me raise the back of my gown; his long, warm fingers slide slowly up and down my sides.
“They do look better, but you look like a calico kitten with all these colors on you. Remind me this evening before bed to rub some more of that salve on them. I hate that I forgot to do it last night.”
“As you said, we had a very eventful day yesterday so you’re forgiven.” I lower my gown back down and turn back once again, slightly startled at the man lying there, looking up at me. I lean down slightly, running my fingers along his strong jawline, already feeling a slight stubble on the tips of my fingers. His face and arms are darker than the rest of his skin from being out in the sun all the time, but those dark brown eyes don’t miss much.
“What are you thinking up there, Little Mouse?”
“That you’re not real. I’m really lying unconscious somewhere and I’ve made you and this entire event up in my head.”
“I am very real, Little Mouse, unless we’re both dreaming and if that’s the case, let’s just stay right here.”
“You are way too beautiful to be truly real. No man who looks this good can have a good heart too.”
“Oh, I have my fair share of flaws, but you’re easy to be kind to. As tempting as you are—and Lord knows I’d love to rip that gown off you and have my wicked way with you—life’s calling and I need bread.”
His smile has me laughing as I crawl over him, thankful that he at least has a soft pair of pants on instead of being naked when I can plainly feel the proof of his desire as I scramble over him.
“You are going to turn into a biscuit, Mr. Hayes. All those muscles and sleek lines are going to turn into fluff.”
He flexes the muscles on his chest, and I laugh. “Get up and out of here so I can get dressed. The man of the house gets fussy without bread. Or so he keeps telling me.”
Grant slings the blanket off and is lurching toward me just as I take off running. I don’t make it two steps before he has me in his arms, swinging me around and around. He’s acting like an animal, chewing on my neck when Blue crows out loudly. Both of us laugh and Grant puts me down, pushing me gently toward the bedroom. As I’m shutting the door behind me, I realize I’ve never smiled this much … ever! Dressing quickly, I’m just pulling the biscuits out when I hear him come through the back door.
“I smell bread!” he yells out, and I roll my eyes, laughing before setting his plate on the table. Grant reaches around me, holding my chair out, then settles next to me, attacking his food like he hasn’t eaten in ages. The moment he’s done, he stands back up, kisses me on the cheek, then starts out the door.
“Be back in a few hours. If you need me, take the rifle and shoot it into the air. I’ll hear it.”
“I’ll be fine, but you be careful. I need someone to cook for on this new stove.”
I swear, when he leaves the house it’s like he sucks all the air and comfort out with him, and it suddenly only becomes four walls. Looking around, it takes me a few minutes to figure out what I want to attack in the cabin next and how I could make the most out of the space.
I walk out on the porch to gather water for the dishes, only to find two full water pails and the wood restocked on the back porch. Such a little thing to some, but to me, it’s things like this that have me falling hard for him, and that’s terrifying. My life has changed so many times, so quickly, and without my input or control. If I allow myself to get too attached to him and he leaves me, or something worse … I would never survive it. But the other option is not realistic, as yesterday proved. I never once batted an eye when I saw Oren on the ground, but when I couldn’t locate Grant, my heart was in my throat. No matter how I try to fight this attraction, I fear I’m already too far gone and too attached.
Once breakfast is cleaned up and the crates are moved from where we decided the stove was going to go, I turn to face the next big obstacle. Grant’s makeshift bedroom that is right in the middle of the cabin.
It took me a little bit, but I finally figured out how to fold the screen that I now realize is supposed to be in front of the tub. Maneuvering it back into my … no, our bedroom, I stretch it out, blocking the tub from the room, but also allowing enough room behind it to change clothes privately.
Then I pull all the remaining blankets off the bed and drag out the tick mattress. Taking it outside, I remove the matted-downstraw, then fold up the now-empty bag and place it in the cellar in case we need it again.
Walking back into our bedroom, I try to decide where to put his trunks. I ended up pushing the two in here together on the back wall, which gave me enough space to bring his in and possibly include some pegs for coats and larger pieces on the other side.
