“We heading out at seven?” Zane asked, his eyes bouncing from me to Grace and back again.
“Eight,” I adjusted, feeling Grace stiffen in my arms.
“Eight?”
“Yep,” I replied, not wanting to elaborate.
“Right then. See you in the morning. Night, guys.” Zane waved before disappearing down the hall, leaving me standing there with Grace who obviously had questions.
“And before you even ask, yes, we’re starting late because you’re joining us, but no, it’s not for the reason you think,” I began only for Grace to wriggle from my grasp and put some distance between us.
“Okay then. Why did you move the start time? I can do this, you know.”
Grace was stubborn and determined and it was sexy as hell. “Grace,” I began, my voice low, “I have no doubt in my mind that you can. But you’re going to need the extra sleep,” I told her.
“Why?” she pressed as her tongue darted out and wet her lips.
Woman was a minx, and she knew it.
“Because right now, I’m going to take you to bed and I’m going to show you how much I’m looking forward to spending the day doing farmer things with you.”
“Cole.” My name sounded like a plea as it fell from her lips.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“You don’t have to pick me up. I’m more than happy to come willingly.”
“Oh, you will be. But, Grace, I want you in my arms and we’re going to need the extra hour. Trust me,” I promised, my dick already standing at attention.
Chapter thirteen
Grace
Oh my god, I was going to die.
Everything hurt and not in a good way. My back ached. I was covered in mud. I stunk. Sweat trailed down my spine and into my underwear. And to top it off, I was hangry. I’d passed hungry a few hours back and despite the PB&J sandwich Cole and I shared, I was ready to eat a horse.
But I kept my complaints to myself. I’d assured Cole time and time again that I could do this, and I wasn’t about to back out.
“Can you grab the hammer from the truck?” Cole called out.
He was kneeling beside one of the troughs, caked in mud and God knows what else. Overhead birds squawked, and all I couldsmell was cow shit. Doing farmer things was certainly not for the light-hearted and not for me.
I handed him the hammer and stepped back. Barely sixty feet away was a herd of cattle who seemed completely unfazed by us being there, but I wasn’t. Every time one moved toward us, I felt my spine stiffen. Cole assured me they were huge but harmless but the horns on their heads didn’t scream friendly giant.
“Ah fuck!” Cole swore and I spun back to look at him.
He stood up nursing his hand with bright red blood coating his fingers.
“What happened?”
“The wrench slipped, and I sliced my finger.”
“Give me a look,” I instructed, making it sound like I knew what I was doing.
He pulled his hand away and I almost vomited. He’d cut it and it was pretty deep. Blood was everywhere, but it was the dirt and other grime I was more worried about.
“It’s not that bad,” Cole dismissed, but his jaw was pulled tight.
