“Yeah, sure. Why don’t we let her sleep a little longer first?” Sam says.
“Dude, you look like shit.”
“I feel okay. But my ribs are definitely cracked. Hey, why don’t you go downstairs, and I’ll grab a shirt and join you? I think there’s a game on.”
“What game?” Duke replies, his voice growing more faint.
“Go check ESPN. Can’t remember who’s playing. I’m gonna grab a shirt.”
“Do you have anything to eat?” Duke’s voice finally fades away, replaced by his retreating steps down the stairs.
“Check the fridge!” Sam says, right outside his door now.
My heart pitter-patters with excitement when he finally opens the door again and quickly shuts it behind him before twisting the lock. He lets out an exhale before rushing over to me.
“I’m sorry. Are you okay? I tried to get rid of him as fast as I could.” He starts messing with the knot again. “I swear this will come off. It just got tighter with all your movement.”
“Well, that was your fault.”
He grins, looking down at me for a brief second as he brushes a kiss against my lips. “I know, and I’m not done with you yet.”
“It’s my turn,” I say, feeling the ropes loosen and my core tightening again.
“Your turn has to wait.” He finally loosens it enough for me to pull one of my hands out.
“That’s not fair.” I reach for his belt loop.
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Your brother will skin me alive and dance on my grave if he catches us.”
“He’ll get over it.”
“No. Absolutely not. Not while this asshole is still out there and everyone’s worried about you.”
His voice is firm, which only turns me on more, especially because his words indicate a possibility of this continuing into the future.
What am I thinking? No. He’s been a dick. This is just for fun … for experience.
No matter how much I try to tell myself that, I can’t stop the little bloom of hope starting to flourish in my chest.
25
SAM
Duke doesn’t leave until well after dark. He helps me check on my cattle, and we make sure the ranch foreman doesn’t need anything.
He updated us on the lawsuit. Apparently, the lawyer thinks the cheapest option would be to try and settle with the woman who brought the suit against Redford Ranch. Holden is refusing, so they will be going to court.
I also told him about seeing Ben at the fight, but he shrugged it off, not seeming to think it was important. I guess it really is just my possessive jealousy over Dolly that makes me suspicious of the guy.
I mentioned what Matthews had said:“She’s gonna look even better than you do under me.”
For all I know, the guy is deranged. Star City isn’t far, so he could have just as easily been talking about my ex, Keely. Actually, the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that it must have been about her. Dolly and I don’t have any history—at all. I can’t tell Duke it could have something to do with what’s happening between Dolly and me, so his first thought was that it was in reference to Keely. Either way, he agreed to check out Matthews.
By the time he pulls his truck out of the driveway, Dolly is asleep on the couch. She spent all day baking for her Sun Butter Bakery stand at the farmers market. The whole house smells like cinnamon and honey, just like she does when I lean down to brush a hand over her hair.
I carry her up to her bed, fighting the urge to lay her down in mine. Now that I’ve gotten a taste of her, resisting is off the table.
I want more.
