A few days later, Morgan arrived home from work just in time to catch a glimpse of TJ heading into the barn. She sat in her car for a moment, watching from afar, and trying to resist the urge to follow him. Short texts and long phone conversations while lying in bed only went so far toward satisfying her hunger for him. Frustrated by her inability to see or touch him all week, she couldn’t hold out any longer. This was her chance to steal some time with him. Reasoning that she could always make the excuse she was visiting the horses if her dad came in, she crept into the barn, looking around to make sure he was alone. Following the sound of him whistling while he worked, she quietly climbed the ladder up to the hay loft.
Once in the loft, she snuck up from behind and gave him a bear hug, molding her body against his. She melted into his warmth and sighed in bliss as she inhaled the scent that she had come to associate with him, a mix of leather, denim, and spice, with a little bit of sweat. Like a stealth predator, he flipped her around in a single motion and seared her with a kiss. Before she knew it, they were tumbling in the hay, pulling at each other’s clothing. She had intended to give him a quick kiss and leave, but once he put his mouth on hers, nothing and no one else mattered.
16
TJ
TJ just experienced the best type of interruption. The woman who invaded his thoughts all day and all night had showed up in the loft, and the next thing he knew, they were in full make-out mode. Everything around him faded into the background until there was just her and him. He came up for air from a sensual kiss, his insides vibrating with excitement. “What are you doing here, little filly?”
He nibbled at her lips with little bites as she whispered, “I had to see you. I couldn’t take it any longer.”
“You taste so damn good.”
“Hush. Keep tasting.”
He nestled on top of her, burrowing down into the hay to create a soft bed. He was so caught up in the moment, he tuned out all of the sights and sounds around him, including the footsteps entering the barn and ascending the ladder. But there was no mistaking the anger and fury in Sean’s voice as it shattered his world.
“What the hell is goin’ on! Morgan! Get on up to the house! TJ! Get the hell outta here now! You’re fired!”
What just happened?As he scrambled to get himself together and adjust his clothing, the wails of Morgan crying and arguing with her father reverberated off the walls of the barn. Before he could defend her and say it was all his fault, she scrambled down the ladder and followed Sean out, the sound of her sobs growing fainter as they moved further away from the barn.
Sitting on a hay bale, he rested his head in his hands and squeezed his eyes shut as if he could erase what had just happened from his brain. He continued to mentally berate himself. He wasn’t even going to try to follow them or plead his case. He’d been busted fair and square, guilty of the one thing his employer had asked him not to do. Actually, he’d done something worse, the one thing he’d vowed long ago that he’d never do. He had fallen in love. And now he was paying for it. And Morgan had been hurt in the process. This mess was his own damn fault. How could he have been so reckless?
After waiting a bit to see if Sean or Morgan would return, he climbed down the ladder and looked around the structure, taking in all he’d just thrown away. Everything he’d been working so hard to build was wiped out in an instant. Before leaving the barn, he walked over to the stalls and spoke to each horse, saying goodbye and wishing them well. When Callie sauntered up to him, rubbing against his legs and purring, he reached down to stroke her fur. “I’m gonna miss you, too, girl. Keep an eye on everyone for me.”
There was no point in prolonging his departure. He slowly made his way over to the cabin, half-hoping Morgan would come running out of the house to tell him everything would be okay.
It didn’t take long to pack up his personal possessions and load them into the truck. After stalling as long as he could, he removed the cabin and work keys from his ring and placed them on the cabin’s front porch where Sean could find them. He then sat in his truck for a few moments, staring toward the Sullivan house, wishing Morgan could leave with him, but deep down he knew that wasn’t going to happen.Why would she leave all of this?She had roots. A father who cared about her. He had nothing.Again.
He aimed his truck onto Highway 78 with no plan, no destination in mind. To add insult to injury, Dierks Bentley was singing “What Was I Thinkin’” on the truck radio. He switched it off with more force than necessary. As he stewed in silence, his cell rang. Could it be Morgan? He stole a glance at the caller ID with hope in his heart. Just as quickly, disappointment soured his stomach. It wasn’t Morgan; it was Nana. He didn’t have anything against the old lady, in fact, she’d been nicer to him than just about anyone he’d ever encountered. Morgan had said Nana was the town’s grandmother. She had treated him like family. And he sure could use someone on his side right now.
He punched the answer and speaker buttons in quick succession, answering in a tone devoid of emotion. “Hey, Nana.”
“Morgan called and told me what happened out at the farm. I’ve got a room for you, hun. And a listening ear.”
His first instinct was to run, since that’s what he always did when people let him down. “Thanks, Nana, but I need to move on. I’m headin’ out of town now.”
She responded in her signature southern tone, soothing his soul and calming his nerves. “Now, now, child. Why don’t you sleep on it? I learned a long time ago that knee-jerk reactions don’t do anyone a bit of good. Come here for the night, get a good night’s sleep, and look at things with a fresh perspective in the morning.”
He reacted with a heavy sigh, the negative thoughts weighing him down like an anchor around his neck. “I don’t know, Nana. I think it’s best for everyone if I leave now.”
“There’s no charge for the room or the listen.”
She was a persistent old lady. Maybe he should take a pause to figure some things out. Besides, what did he have to lose? Running hadn’t worked for him so well up to this point. And even though Morgan hadn’t calledhim, she obviously had called Nana. That was something. “Okay, Nana. I’ll see you soon.”
When he entered the motel office, he found her waiting for him with a tall glass of sweet tea, the southern cure-all. She walked over to the loveseat and patted the spot beside her, motioning for him to sit down.
“Tell me what happened, hun.”
He sucked in a deep breath and exhaled slowly before responding. “When Sean hired me, he said he had only one rule. His daughter was off limits. When I met Morgan, I had no idea who she was. I swear. Sean is such a nice man and gave me a great opportunity. I didn’t mean to betray his trust. Morgan is special. I really care about her. Just when I thought I’d finally found a place I could call home, it went all FUBAR on me.”
He was instantly contrite about his crude language. “Sorry, Nana. That just slipped out.”
Nana patted his arm in sympathy. “No need to apologize. I do know what it means, and I’ve heard it all, including some language that would probably make you blush. Anyway, this is not your fault. I’ve known that family a long time. Seanisa good man. But he’s had a hard life. He raised Morgan all by himself after her mama walked out and left them.”
TJ’s heart ached all over again for Morgan. Just like him, she’d also been let down by someone who should have taken care of her. “Yes, ma’am. She told me all about that. It’s no wonder Sean is so protective of her. I get that.”
“I suppose. But that doesn’t make it right. She’s an adult now. He can’t shelter her forever. He’s got to let her live her life. Just like he had to figure out on his own that not all women are like the one he was married to. Now, let’s talk about you. I’ve mothered a bunch of honorary children and grandchildren over the years, and I’m rarely wrong about people. I can tell you have a good heart. And I know you’re hurting. I think this town is the right place for you to settle down, but you’ve got to give it a chance.”
