“What is it? A spider? Something else?” Justin scoured the room with his eyes, trying to pinpoint the cause of her scream.
“No…” Blythe whispered and shuffled closer to him. “Who…or what, did this to you?” She placed her hands gently on his hips and guided him to turn back around. He knew what she’d seen, and it wasn’t pretty. Somehow, he’d been able to keep his angles just right since she’d stripped him down last night, and she hadn’t seen the scars until now.
“My dad was old-fashioned. He usually used his belt, but sometimes he liked to get creative and use other things. Some were sharp, some just hit hard enough to make the mark permanent.”
She ran the palms of her hands gently over his buttocks. He looked over his shoulder and saw the emotion streaming down her face, then moved to comfort her.
“Shhh…” He brushed her tears away with his thumbs. “Don’t cry for me, baby. It’s all in the past. He hasn’t been able to hurt me in years. The trauma sneaks through sometimes when I’m unconscious, you know that. But these scars make up my story. Without them, I wouldn’t be who I am…and I kind of like who I am, don’t you?”
He was looking down at her, a soft smile on his lips. But she wasn’t smiling back.
“I would save you from it all if I could. I would do anything and everything in my power to make sure none of it ever happened to you.” She was still weeping.
Justin tilted her face back so she could see how serious he was. “I wouldn’t let you. The thing that you hate is the thing that brought me to you—and I won’t regret that. I can’t.”
Justin pulled her to his chest and held her as she continued to shed more tears for him. He wouldn’t join her, though. His life as it was, in that very moment, was everything he’d ever dreamed of and more.
Three weeks of pure, unadulterated bliss.
If he had to go through everything all over again, exactly the way it happened, Justin wouldn’t change a thing. It felt like destiny, fate, the stars aligning, whatever the hell you wanted tocall it. He had the woman of his dreams—all of her. If this was a movie, he would roll the credits and sing happily ever after.
But that’s not how life worked. Oh, well. Until the next shit storm came, which it undoubtedly would at some point, he would bask in the love and excitement of their new beginning together.
Business was going good. They had all but scrapped finishing the apartment above his shop. They didn’t need it, but maybe someday they’d finish it up and rent it out like he planned all along.
Blythe was in town with the little girls today. She thought it would be fun to go out and get their nails done. Justin was with Chris and the bunk boys, hauling hay and working the calves. Cows didn’t count the days of the week. Saturdays were just like any other on a ranch. But he didn’t have any clients for the day, so it all worked out; and it was always fun to go back to his roots.
“What are you fuckin’ grinning about over there?” Chris pulled his horse next to Justin, grinning himself. “You got something on your mind. But if it’s what I think it is, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know all the freaky shit you two do together over at your place.” He raised his hands in a surrender. “But I’m glad you’re doing it.” He knocked Justin’s shoulder with his fist.
“Who told you we were doing anything?” Justin shot back, a stupid smile still on his face.
“No one—I just know. She’s glowing every time I see her, and you’re slow walkin’ that horse like a rookie right now.” Chris chuckled and rode ahead.
Justin sped his horse up to catch the rest of them.
He couldn’t help it if he was the happiest he’d ever been in his life. He couldn’t help it if Blythe was sunshine and joy, just like the meaning of her name. She bled into every part of him. Chris wasn’t wrong. They hadn’t missed a night of rolling in the sheets since the first time they’d done it…and they’d do it againwhen he got home. He stopped his train of thought right there. He didn’t need anyone else knowing how whipped he was too.
All three girls were waiting for them in the barn when Chris and Justin walked their horses inside, guiding them to their stalls.
“How was town, munchkins?” Justin winked at Adelaide and Evolette when he said it.
“We are not, munchkins…” Addie stuck her nose in the air. She probably felt extra mature after getting her nails done and spending the day with Blythe.
“Oh, well pardon me, miss. I won’t make the same mistake next time.” Justin’s eyes twinkled and he brought her in for a hug.
“You can call me a munchkin. I like it!” Evie beamed off to his side.
“Perfect, then get over here, munchkin.” Evie kicked and giggled as Justin picked her up, squeezed her, then threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
He put his little sister down and sauntered over to the auburn angel propped against a horse stall. She gave him a sweet smile, and he placed a single kiss on her forehead, then her lips.
Blythe hugged each girl and her uncle goodbye before they climbed in Justin’s truck and headed home. He pulled her close to him and hooked his forearm around her leg.
Having her in his life was a treasure, one he would never let go of.
She was quiet on the way. He wondered why?
“Are you okay, sugar?”
