“Darren, wake up.” She brushed her fingers across his forehead, his hair so close and calling to her so strongly. He’d called late last night, but she’d already been in bed. She wanted to tell him about the therapy session with her parents, which she’d thought had gone pretty great. He’d told her to call.
She’d been disappointed until she’d learned about Rae’s accident. Then his behavior made sense. “Come on now,” she whispered, leaning down. “You’ve gotta wake up. Corey’s gonna—” She squealed as his arms snaked around her and pulled her onto the bed with him
“I’m tired,” he moaned. “What time is it?”
“Almost eight, sleepyhead.”
His eyes blinked open. “My mouth feels like I’ve swallowed a dead animal.”
“And here I was gonna kiss you.” She grinned as she pushed herself off the bed, away from him.
He stayed stock still, watching her. “I wouldn’t do it,” he said, though his eyes screamed at her that he wanted to kiss her badly. He pushed up on his elbows. “Will you come out to Steeple Ridge for dinner tonight? I’ll cook.”
Panic bolted through her like lightning. But she couldn’t put him off forever. That was something Dr. Kenna had told her.You have to make concessions too.
Relationships are two way streets.
He needs something from you too, or he wouldn’t still be with you.
And at the group therapy session last night, she’d confessed to everyone that she didn’t like Steeple Ridge Farm, because that was where she’d learned the truth about who she was, and everyone in the room had disagreed with her.
Dr. Kenna said she learned the truth about who she was each day.
Her father had said she’d learned the truth about who she was when she rode a horse.
Her mother had said she’d learned the truth about who she was when she left LA and came home.
Farrah wasn’t sure who was right. What she did know was that it meant a great deal to Darren that she go to Steeple Ridge.
“Yeah, sure,” she said, trying for carefree and only halfway achieving it.
“Really?”
“Tell me what to bring.”
He got to his feet and ran his hand through his hair. She wanted to do the same. “Just yourself, sweetheart. I’ll even grill.”
“Do you know how to use a grill? That’s fire, you know.” She folded her arms and grinned at him. So much in her life had improved over the past few weeks. Some because of him. Some because of what he’d challenged her to do. Some because of what he’d suggested she do.
She was talking to her parents again, and the therapy sessions helped more than she’d thought they would. Seeing him every day also brought a measure of peace and happiness to her life she’d been missing since May.
So overcome with gratitude and love for him, she stepped into his arms and hugged him tight. “How’s Rae?”
“I don’t know. Haven’t heard anything this morning.” He yawned and dipped his mouth to her throat. “I should get over to the hospital and then out to work. I’ll call you later?” He tried to step away from her, but she held him in place.
He looked down at her with questions in his eyes.
“Tonight,” she said, her gaze wandering to his mouth. She hadn’t kissed him in months, had forgotten what he tasted like. But her cells knew what a strong mouth he had, how much tenderness he possessed in his lips, how safe and adored she felt when he kissed her.
“Tonight what?” he asked, his hands landing on her hips.
“Tonight, at the farm, after dinner….” She let her sentence hang there, sure by the way she was staring at his mouth that he’d be able to complete the sentence.
“You want ice cream?”
She giggled and looked up to see the teasing glint in his eyes. “No,” she said. “I want you to kiss me.”
He growled and pulled her closer. “Do we have to wait until tonight?”
