“Honey.”
God I loved it when she called me that. Had never been the kind of guy who liked nicknames or cutesy couple-y stuff. With her, though, I wanted all of it. Even matching fucking sweaters at Christmas.
“And I checked your tires.”
Laughing she gave me another quick kiss and then sighed. “I should get going. My brother is making his famous chili.”
“Why’s it famous?” I brushed her hair from her eyes, letting my fingers linger on the apple of her cheeks. Staring into her eyes, in awe of the tinyflecks of amber within the moss green.
“Because one it blows your head off and two it’s made of chicken.”
“Chicken chilli? You live on a cattle ranch, you do know we could give you some prime beef for him to use.”
“I know, but he insists it’s the best food ever created. Liam and I only eat it to stop him making his famous lemon pie.”
“And what’s wrong with that?” I asked, laughing.
Tally grimaced and shuddered. “It’s horrible.”
“Okay, you go, and I’ll see you in a couple of days.” I didn’t want her to, but I was being ridiculous. It was two whole days. Nothing more.
Closing the truck door as she got in, I leaned into the cab and gave her a lingering kiss. “Be safe, Brownie.”
She nodded and swallowed, like she couldn’t find the words, or maybe they were stuck in her throat. I knew mine were.
As she drove away, waving her hand out of the open window, my chest went tight and my throat dry. There was so much more to us than friends with benefits and it was getting more each day.
Everyone had been given the day off for Thanksgiving, so there was a lot to do on the ranch before the next day. Being busy was supposed to help keep my mind occupied but it had been twenty miles away in Sweet Maple Falls. Tally had called me when she got there but she couldn’t stay on for long because her parents were video calling her brother. It helped for about ten minutes but then my heart went back to missing her.
Gunner had asked me to help move the new furniture into the kid’s bunkhouse at the camp. I hoped shifting cupboards, beds and tables would help to work out some of the despondency I was feeling.
Rounding the corner to the site my chest swelled with pride for my brother and Cassidy. It was going to be a great success. We could all feel it. Their set up was incredible. A huge bunkhouse, which had two large bedrooms, a kitchen/living area and a chill out zone for any kids who needed it. The bathrooms were pretty swanky with baths and showers that were easily accessible for kids of all abilities. Attached to the bunkhouse was the schoolroom that Lily and Cassidy would eventually work full-time from, ifthings went to plan. The best bit about the whole thing, in my opinion, was the mini theatre where the kids could put on a performance or watch movies on a huge screen that dropped from the ceiling.
“Roped you in, too, hey?”
I turned to see Glenn jogging up behind me, wearing a damn stupid hat that looked like he’d just taken it from the box it came in. It was too damn high on the crown, and it was fucking white.
“Yeah, he wants to get everything set up today.” I was aware that my voice was tight, but I struggled to be any other way with him. There was something about him. Probably the fact that he seemed to have a thing for my woman. Taking a deep breath, I inhaled the fresh mountain air, letting it fill my lungs with positivity. Or tried to at least.
As Glenn jogged alongside me I ignored him and continued toward the noise of work and the smell of new wood.
“Where’s Tally got to?”
Glenn really needed to shut the fuck up about her. “Gone home for Thanksgiving.”
“Ah, okay. I saw her leaving this morning. She have far to go?”
“Far enough.” Heat spiraled through my bloodstream, racing around my body because it was too damn far. Don’t know why she couldn’t go in the morning, have dinner with her brothers and then come home.
“I guess it must be strange without her.”
Pulling up short, I fisted my hands at my hips and heaved out an aggravated sigh. “What’s with the twenty questions?”
He held his hands up in surrender, like I’d just thrown a punch at him—pussy. “Just asking to be polite.”
“Well, you don’t need to worry about her. She’ll be gone for a couple of days, but I’ll be sure to pass on your regards when we talk later.”
“Wild, I need you.”
