A knock on the door pulls me from my sketching, and I open it to find the woman I can’t stop thinking about. She has a bag on each shoulder, her hair slightly damp, like she also just showered.
I stare for so long that I get to watch the slow tip of her lips into an amused smile. “Are you going to let me in, sunshine?”
“Oh, yes, sorry. Come in. I cleared out the two top drawers on the left side for you, and there’s space in the closet if you need it.”
“You didn’t have to do that. I could have lived out my bags.”
“I didn’t want you to. I wanted you to feel comfortable.”
Her bags fall to the floor, and she shuts the front door, wrapping her arms around my waist. Her nose brushes mine, and I’m surrounded by the scent of soap and a hint of mint from whatever she washed her hair with.
“I’m most comfortable between your thighs, but I appreciate your thoughtfulness.” She places a kiss on my nose, then my cheek, before her lips tease mine enough to have me chasing her when she pulls away.
Addison takes her bags to the bedroom and puts her things into the drawers while I sit on the bed.
I grab the paper and a pen from where I set them on the nightstand and wiggle them in her direction. “Oh! I didn’t get to this earlier, but Daddy filled out the bill of sale for you. You just need to sign it, and Athena is all yours.”
She shuts the drawers slowly, then makes her way to bed. It dips as she sits next to me, and she takes the paper, reading it thoroughly. Her throat works bobs on a swallow, and I swear I see a glimmer of tears in her eyes.
“This feels like a dream,” shewhispers, her eyes flicking up to mine. “I was shocked when your dad said he wanted to give Athena to me. It still doesn't feel real, even though it’s spelled out.”
My heart gives a sad little thump. “He’s proud of you, you know. Even though you may think of him as your boss, Daddy thinks of everyone who works on the ranch as family. He’ll be the loudest one in the stands when he watches you race. He’s so excited to see you two in action.”
She nods, scanning the page again before she pens her signature in swirling letters. “Do you need a copy of this?”
“I can scan it on my phone and email it to myself.” I do that before handing it back to her. “Congratulations, you are now the proud owner of?—”
The breath is knocked out of my lungs as she wraps me in a tight hug, toppling us over on the bed. Her arms are like a vice around my midsection, and my face is squished against her chest, listening to the rapidthump, thumpof her heart.
It’s perfect.
She lifts her head, our faces mere inches apart. A single tear falls from her eyes, and when I reach up to wipe it away, something passes between us. All the things we want to say but know we shouldn’t are blaring in the thick silence. We’re both frozen, incapable—or maybe unwilling—to speak for the fear of saying something wrong.
At least, I’m afraid of saying something that I shouldn’t.
“We should get some sleep,” Addison says, her voice thick with emotion. “Extra long day tomorrow with the new guests arriving.”
I don’t want to go to sleep, but she has a point.
“Right. Yeah. Good thinking.”
We brush our teeth and crawl into bed, and Addison flips on her side to face me, pulling me in so I’m flush against her front.
That night, I dream about what it would be like to ask her to stay, and what it would feel like if she said yes.
Chapter 24
I wakeup in a cocoon of floral scent and hair tickling my nose—a common occurrence these past two weeks.
I love it. I love waking up surrounded by Juniper’s warm body.
There have been a few times she’s jolted in her sleep, whimpering like she’s had a bad dream, and I hate knowing she’s been suffering through nightmares alone.
Who will comfort her in the middle of the night when I’m gone?
I shouldn’t be worrying about it. Juniper’s an adult, and she was clearly handling it before she met me. But I can’t help myself. I never want her to be in any pain.
Then don’t leave.
