Stepping out onto the back patio, a deep inhale fills my lungs.
Spring has always been my favorite season. The scent of rain is the reset I feel I so often need. It’s suspiciously absent today, but this time of year in Cole County, that can change at the drop of a hat.
Venturing out into the grass, turning around the side of the house, I catch a view of a barn and stables in the distance to the right. I have no idea if that’s where Gray is, but many of us grew up out here in farm country. Chores don’t refer to taking out the trash or washing the dishes like our parents ordered us to as children.
A soft breeze blows as I make my way to the barn. The walk seems further than it appeared from his massive house. A house that seems way too large for a bachelor. No doubt, it’s also fairly new. The modern farmhouses that look like these always are.
“Gray!”
He doesn’t answer, but heavy footfalls still come my way. Those massive dogs of his charge out of the barn, panting loudly. The bigger of the two immediately jumps up, his paws finding my shoulders, while that massive tongue licks up my cheek.
“Okay. Hi,” I giggle, scratching behind his ears.
“Bronc! Get down! Now!” Gray bellows, running from around the opposite edge of the barn. “River, I’m so sorry. He’s—”
His gaze darts down to where I now squat, rubbing behind the ears of both dogs. “It’s fine. What’s the other one’s name?”
“Bull.”
“You and Tate.” Gray is silent as I stand to face him. His jaw works, those eyes darkening, but he says nothing. “Right, well. Can I help?”
He throws me a wry look. A dark brow rises high while he tucks his gloves in the back pocket of his jeans. “You want to help?”
“Yeah, why not?” Stepping closer to him, my arms twitch, wanting to pull him to me, but I hold back. I’m not the heavy PDA type. And despite Gray being such a nice guy this morning, I’m not expecting this to be more than a one-time thing.
“Don’t you have to work or something?”
Taking a step back, my hands sink into the front pocket of his hoodie. I should have just bolted instead of trying to stick around.
“Yeah, later. Sorry, I can go.” My thumb points behind me, my shoulder already turning so I can sprint the hell out of here. The season sure to be awkward as fuck now that we’ve slept together, and it was the best sex I’ve ever had.
An arm snakes around my waist, pulling me back into his front. “What if I don’t want you to go?”
My heart hammers in my chest. I’m not this woman. I don’t get worked up over men. Most of the time, I’m too busy reminding them I am just as good as they are.
Gray spins me in his hold, my palms finding his chest as our eyes lock. “Look. We had fun.”Cliche.
The awkwardness seems to churn in my stomach, and I’m rather attached to what little dignity I can preserve. It’s time to bolt.
“Yes, we did.”
“And I didn’t mean to interrupt your work.”
“Or steal my clothes.” A crooked grin quirks at the corner of his mouth.
“Borrow.” My finger rises. “You wrote chores in your note, so I figured I would see if you needed help.”
“You really want to help me?”
“I offered, didn’t I?”
His face lowers to mine, mouth hovering so close that all we’d have to do is pucker our lips to touch. So I do, my hand snaking into the curls at the nape of his neck. His mouth slants over mine, tongue sweeping across the seam of my lips, demanding entrance. Entrance, I’m happy to give him.
The kiss is brief but enough to soak my panties—well, borrowed boxers.
“I’m going to stop kissing you now,” he breathes. “Not because I want to, but if I don’t stop, I’m going to take you right here in this field.”
My core throbs. My insides heating in anticipation of him doing just that.
