Hey, baby, I hope you had fun with Farrah tonight, but I have to warn you, Walker texted me asking if you were with me because your car was missing, and I told him that you went to dinner with Farrah. He low-key freaked the fuck out. I don’t know what the story is there, but I just wanted to give you a heads-up.
Yeah, Ialready got the message. He can be such an ass sometimes. Anyway, I’ll catch you up on that another time. How was your night?
Dean:
I had an emergency farm call, a horse got stuck in a fence, but all is good now. The horse is fine, just scratched up. I’m home now, but I wish you were in my bed.
I know, me too, but I just got home and am lying in bed already. :(
Dean didn’t respond. About twenty minutes passed, and still nothing. I figured he probably just fell asleep and went back to watching my show when I heard a knock at my door. I glanced at the clock to see that it was ten thirty p.m. and figured maybe it was Walker deciding to apologize and stop being a dick.
I opened the door, and standing in front of me in a fitted white T-shirt, gray joggers, and a backwards hat was my sexy-as-fuck boyfriend with his dog sitting obediently by his side.
I smiled up at him. “Can you not sleep without me now, Adler?” I smirked.
He took my face in his hands and crashed his mouth into mine, backing me up against the door after he kicked it closedwith his foot. He angled my head and dipped his tongue inside. I slid my hands up his defined stomach underneath his T-shirt, feeling every inch of him as we took the kiss deeper. Then he pulled away and looked at me. “Not a chance.”
Christmas and New Year’s came and went in a flash. Dean spent both holidays with my family at their property along with Ava, Walker, and Weston. Weston was able to come out for a few days for Christmas but was unfortunately called out on a mission for New Year’s.
Dean just fit so well into my family. It was like he was already one of us. My brothers loved him, and they all gave each other shit like they’d been friends forever. Noah never got along with my brothers and never really made an effort to.
We FaceTimed Archer and Harper, who spent the holidays together. They had gotten pretty serious, and I loved how happy my best friend was. We also chatted with Dean’s parents, which resulted in Dean being shocked to learn that his mother and I texted weekly. They were planning their next visit for the spring and would come out to see my family’s winery and vineyard. Everything was just easy with Dean. Everything felt right. I didn’t remember a time in my life when I was this content, and it honestly scared the shit out of me. I had this little voice in the back of my head that reminded me to be careful, not to wrap my life around a guy. It could all fall apart again, and then I would be left with nothing if I made him my world.
Luckily, Mountain Laurel Farm kept me busy between my clients’ horses, my lesson program, my young horse training program, and my own horses. The first big horse show in Texas that I wanted to take my horses and some clients to for our debut as a new competitive barn was right around the corner. I had a great set of clients with talented horses, and I was really excited about what the future held for us. I just needed to get out of my head and stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. I had had enough heartbreak and disappointment in my life. This was my time now.
Noah:
I hope you had a good Christmas and New Year’s. But seriously, Addison, why won’t you just text me back?? I don’t think I’m asking for much here.
Chapter 18
Dean
Itwasabusyday, packed full of patients, and it was only ten a.m. I finally had about a thirty-minute break, so I grabbed my third coffee of the day and sat down in my office chair. I pulled my phone out to read the text from my brother that I’d missed this morning.
Archer:
Hey, brother, how was the visit with Mom and Dad? Mom wouldn’t stop gushing over Addison when she called me the other day.
I was about to respond when Rebecca knocked on my door and then popped her head inside my office. “Hey, Dr. Adler, we have Mrs. Forester here with her golden, Ally. She thinks she’s in labor.”
I nodded and slipped my phone back into my pocket. Archer would have to wait. “All right, put her in exam room four and grab Lottie. I’ll need her help.” I stood up and followed Rebecca out the door to deliver some puppies.
After about five hours, all eight golden retriever puppieswere safely delivered, and Mrs. Forester was both relieved and elated. I peeled the gloves off my hands and ran them under the sink. I was exhausted, but still had another two or so hours of patients to see. As exhausting as this job could be, delivering those puppies was just a reminder of how much I loved my job. Before I walked into the next exam room, I grabbed my phone to send a quick response to Archer.
Yeah, Mom and Addison hit it off. Thank God. You in Boston with Harper?
I switched over to a text that Addison had sent during the puppy delivery, and looked at the picture she’d sent of her and Cash. She was smiling with her long hair blowing in the wind, the sunlight threading gold through her chestnut waves. Cash had his big nose pushed against her cheek. I couldn’t help but smile. I was so far gone for this girl. I liked the photo and then typed a response.
I’ve got plans for us tonight.
She instantly responded.
Addison:
Oh, do you? Do tell.
I’m taking you on a date to celebrate MLF. Plus, after the long day I’ve had, I need to see you and I need you naked in my bed.
