“Awesome, thanks.”
Her eyes widen in shock as Aiden climbs into the car, unwraps a burger, and bites in happily.
“Holy shit,” she murmurs.
“What’s wrong?”
“He hasn’t thanked me for anything in ...” She swallows hard. “In a long time. I guess he must have had a good day.”
“Yeah, we had a good day.” I want to hug her more than I want to breathe, but I’m filthy, so I reach out and tuck her hair behind her ear. She’s so damn soft. “How wasyourday, Trouble?”
“It was good. I started on a new audiobook for an author that I’ve worked with before, and I enjoy her books. This one is a football romance.” She blows out a breath and shoves her hands in her pockets. “I should be able to have it done by Tuesday, if I work through the weekend.”
“No days off for you?”
She shakes her head. “I have back-to-back projects, and I’m still catching up from last month. Not to mention, driving back and forth takes a chunk of time out of my workday.”
I wish she’d stay out here. I hate that she has a long-ass drive ahead of her. They should be here, on the ranch. She should be withme. This week has taken a toll on her. I can see that she’s exhausted.
“He didn’t give you any trouble today?”
“Not at all. He did well.”
Her shoulders drop in relief. “I’m so glad. Well, I’d better get him home, but we’ll see you on Monday.”
She watched all my games and cried when I set the record.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks.
“Like what, Wills?”
“Like ... I don’t even know, but it’s different.”
I think I’m finally seeing what I’ve been missing all along. She’s not just my best friend. But I don’t know for sure if she feels what I do, and I have to tread carefully so I don’t fuck up three lives.
“I just think you’re pretty great.”
She smiles softly and then frames her face and rolls her eyes. “I’m glad somebody notices.” She smirks and walks to the driver’s side. “Have a good weekend, Ry.”
“You too.”
Both of them wave, and then they’re off, leaving me here alone, and I wish they’d stay. I want to talk about hockey with Willow and pick her brain. Listen as her sexy-as-hell lips rattle off stats to me. I never considered that to be hot before, but just the mere thought of it has my cock stirring.
With a shake of my head, I walk into the house and head straight for the shower.
Chapter Seven
Willow
“I bet I’ll get to help with the cattle today,” Aiden says. He’s sitting in the passenger seat, and we just left the house, on our way out to the ranch after he had the weekend off. It’s so freaking early in the morning, and I don’t remember the last time I was this exhausted, but I’ve seen such a huge difference in my boy in the past week that he’s been working out there, it’s totally worth it.
He even smiled at me this morning. I’d do just about anything for that handsome grin to be pointed at me. Not to mention, I didn’t have to coax him out of bed this morning. He spent most of the weekend sleeping, which I expected. He worked his butt off last week. But this morning, he jumped right up and was ready to go before I was.
Hewas waiting forme.
That never happens during the school year.
“Are they branding the cows?” I ask.
