I didn't know what to do with that. A soft knock on the door made me jump, my hand flying to my chest before I could stop the instinctive reaction.
"Aster?" Nolan's voice came through the wood, gentle and questioning, muffled but warm. I could picture him on the other side—standing back from the door, giving me space, careful not to crowd or startle. "You awake? I brought coffee."
I took a breath, forced my racing heart to slow.
"Yeah." My voice came out rough with sleep, cracking on the single syllable. I cleared my throat, swallowed against the dryness, and tried again. "Yeah, I'm up. You can—come in."
The door opened slowly, and Nolan appeared in the gap, a steaming mug in each hand. He was already dressed for work—worn jeans that hugged his lean frame, a soft flannel shirt in muted green that made his eyes look like forest pools, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows to reveal freckled forearms. His sandy hair was still damp from a shower and curling slightly at his temples, catching the morning light like spun gold. His green eyes swept over me quickly—checking, assessing, that veterinarian's habit of cataloging wellbeing—before warming with a smile that crinkled the corners and softened his whole face.
"Thought you might need this." He crossed to the bed with unhurried steps, his movements deliberate and careful, giving me time to adjust to his presence in my space. He held out one of the mugs, steam curling up between us, and his scent drifted toward me with the motion—eucalyptus and honey, warm and grounding, mixing with the rich smell of coffee into something that made my shoulders drop from around my ears. "Reid makes it strong enough to strip paint, but I added cream. Figured you might appreciate the buffer."
"Thanks." I wrapped my hands around the warm ceramic, letting the heat seep into my palms, anchoring myself to thesensation. I took a careful sip, and the coffee was perfect—strong but not bitter, the cream softening the edges just enough to make it smooth. "That's... really good, actually."
"Don't tell Reid I doctored it." Nolan's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, his green eyes dancing with quiet mischief, a dimple appearing in his left cheek that I'd never noticed before. He settled onto the edge of the bed, leaving a careful two feet of distance between us, his weight barely denting the mattress. He cradled his own mug in his freckled hands, long fingers wrapped around the ceramic, steam curling up toward his face. "He takes his coffee very seriously. It's one of his few character flaws."
I felt my lips twitch despite myself, something loosening in my chest at his easy humor.
"I'll keep your secret." My voice was still rough, but warmer now, the coffee and his gentle presence chasing away the last cobwebs of sleep. I tucked my legs up under the covers, making myself smaller without meaning to, an old habit of taking up less space. "What time is it?"
"Just after seven." Nolan glanced toward the window, where the morning light was growing stronger, painting the room in shades of gold and amber. His profile was gentle in the soft light, all clean lines and quiet strength—the straight slope of his nose, the soft curve of his jaw, the way his sandy hair fell across his forehead like wheat in a summer field. "Reid and Sawyer already headed out to check the north fence. Kol's doing... something in the kitchen that may or may not result in edible breakfast."
"Should we be worried?" I asked, raising an eyebrow over the rim of my mug, surprising myself with the teasing tone.
"Probably." Nolan's smile widened, showing a flash of straight white teeth, his green eyes crinkling with genuine amusement that transformed his whole face—made him look younger, lighter, the careful reserve melting away intosomething open and warm. A soft laugh escaped him, barely more than a breath. "But he hasn't burned anything down yet, so I'm choosing optimism."
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, drinking our coffee, the morning settling around us like a blanket. I could hear birds singing outside the window, the distant sound of horses nickering in the paddock, the muffled clatter of Kol doing something enthusiastic in the kitchen that involved what sounded like every pot they owned.
It felt domestic. Normal. Like something I could get used to, if I let myself.
"So." Nolan set his mug on the nightstand with a soft clink, turning to face me more fully, his knee drawing up onto the mattress. His green eyes were warm but slightly hesitant, vulnerability flickering in their depths. He ran a hand through his damp hair, a nervous gesture that left the sandy strands sticking up in soft spikes, and I watched his throat work as he swallowed. "I have to do my rounds this morning. Check on some of the animals, make sure everyone's healthy. And I was wondering..." He paused, his tongue darting out to wet his lips, a faint flush climbing his freckled cheeks and spreading down toward the collar of his flannel. "Would you want to come with me?"
The question hung in the air between us, careful and hopeful, weighted with more than its simple words.
"Like... help you?" My voice came out uncertain, my hands tightening on my mug until my knuckles went pale. The warmth of the coffee seeped into my palms, grounding me against the flutter of nerves in my stomach. "I don't know anything about veterinary stuff."
"You don't have to." Nolan's voice was gentle, patient, that same soothing tone I'd heard him use with spooked horses—low and steady and infinitely calm. His green eyes held mine, softand reassuring, no pressure in his gaze, just an open door he was holding wide. "I just thought... you might like to see more of the ranch. Meet some of the animals. I'd like the company." His flush deepened, spreading down his neck in a warm pink wave, visible even beneath the freckles scattered across his skin. "Your company, specifically. If you want."
Something fluttered in my chest—something warm and uncertain and terrifying in the best way.
"Okay." The word came out before I could overthink it, small and slightly breathless, surprising us both. I ducked my head, hiding behind my coffee mug, feeling heat climb my own cheeks in answer to his. "Yeah. I'd like that."
Nolan's smile was like sunrise breaking over the hills—slow and warm and impossible not to stare at. His green eyes lit up from within, crinkling at the corners, his whole body relaxing with obvious relief that made me realize he'd been bracing for rejection. The tension bled out of his shoulders
"Great." His voice was soft, pleased, carrying a warmth that wrapped around me like his scent—eucalyptus and honey, stronger now with his happiness. He stood, collecting his mug, his movements easy and unhurried, all long limbs and quiet grace. "Take your time getting ready. I'll be in the clinic when you're done—it's the building just past the main barn, white door. Come find me whenever you're ready."
He paused at the door, his hand on the frame, and turned back to look at me. Something soft and hopeful bloomed in his expression, making him look almost boyish despite the lines of experience around his eyes.
"And Aster?" His voice was gentle, his green eyes holding mine across the room, sincere and steady as a heartbeat. His fingers curled around the doorframe, like he was anchoring himself in place. "Thank you. For saying yes."
Then he was gone, the door clicking softly shut behind him, and I was left sitting in a pool of sunlight with a warm mug in my hands and something blooming in my chest that I was too afraid to name.
The clinic was smaller than I expected—a converted outbuilding with whitewashed walls and a green tin roof, tucked between the main barn and a cluster of weathered storage sheds. The white door Nolan had mentioned was propped open with a brick, letting in the morning breeze, and I could hear him moving around inside before I even reached the threshold—the soft clink of glass, the rustle of supplies being organized.
I knocked on the doorframe, suddenly nervous, my heart beating too fast against my ribs.
"Come in." Nolan's voice drifted out, warm and welcoming, carrying that gentle steadiness that seemed to be his default state.
I stepped inside.
