With three sets of hands, the process is much quicker. Jameson stays with the calves, Tyler stays with the cows, and I ferry the calves from the stalls to the tack room.
It takes another hour and a half to warm and clear the generator’s fuel line and get it going again. Sheriff Walker calls to let us know someone hit a power pole and that the power would be out until midday at best. Once the sun comes up, none of this will be as dire. In the meantime, we’re making bottles for the calves to tide them over til we can get them back in the stalls with their mamas.
“I appreciate you showing up,” I tell Tyler quietly when Jameson leaves with a set of bottles. “I’m sure this is gonna put a damper on your day off, but I’ll make sure Bailey knows to add something extra to your check.”
He’s quiet for a second, twisting the nipple onto a bottle and shaking it up. I almost wonder if he even heard me, but then he speaks. “I need you to do me a favor, Maddox. I need you to start thinking of me as a member of this family, because I’m here to stay, even if things don’t end up working out with me and Tate.”
“What the hell? I do.” I’m confused as shit. How had me thanking him fucked with his ego?
“Does Jameson get days off? Is his check gonna get padded for this?”
“Jameson doesn’t get paid at all, kid. If you want me to stop paying you, I can do that.”
He pauses. Sighs. “Okay, well, don’t stop paying me entirely because your sister’s house isn’t built yet.”
I chuckle at that and grip his shoulder, looking him in theeyes so he knows I’m hearing him. He doesn’t want to be thanked for doing his duty. I feel the same way.
“I get what you’re saying. Bailey’s still going to add to your check because family takes care of family—and like you said yourself, my sister’s house isn’t built yet.” He grins, shoving at me, but I don’t let loose. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t see you as one of the most important parts of this ranch and this family, alright?”
His smile gets smaller but more genuine. “Thanks, man.”
“If you guys are done, there are hungry calves out here!”
THIRTY
AUSTIN
I wakeup to ticklish kisses being trailed up my spine, humming and squirming as Maddox pushes my shirt up inch by inch. He huffs out a laugh against my skin. I yawn and crack one eye open. The sun’s shining through his bedroom window, basking the bed in warmth. Guess that explains why the blankets aren’t on the bed anymore. Must’ve kicked them off in my sleep.
“I’m so goddamn happy to see you still in my bed,” His voice is light, playful, and his mustache tickles me again as he presses another kiss to my ribs this time.
“Quit it. Your mustache is prickly,” I squirm away from his kisses, rolling onto my back and looking up at him.
He’s a mess. His hands are clean, like he washed them before he touched me, but he’s got a streak of grease across his forehead and he looks sweaty even though it’s cool outside. The room smells faintly of diesel now.
“I know, I know. I’m getting in the shower. You were just too pretty to ignore,” he says, reaching behind himself to pull his shirt off over his head.
His hairy chest comes into view and I’d love to blame it on ovulation, the way I feel the sudden need to jump him, but thatpart of my cycle doesn’t really affect me as much since I had my surgery.
Still, he just looks so fuckingmanlyright now and I need him. Biblically.
“Really?”
I pull my eyes away from his chest to see him smirking. “What?”
“Thisis what’s doing it for you? Me, all gross and sweaty and smelly? I’ve taken you out on dates and watched your reality TV shows with you, don’t complain when you steal the entire blanket at night but still find a way to press your ice-cold feet against me. None of that phased you a bit, but this is what’s doing it?”
I’d narrow my eyes at him, but he’s not wrong. “Okay, and? Planning on taking advantage of it, or do I need to go home and blow the dust off one of my vibrators?”
He perks up like a goddamn dog and knees up on the bed to pull out the nightstand drawer, like he’d just remembered something. I sit up on my elbows curiously. Maddox pulls out an exact replica of the vibrator he always chooses when he logs in for my cam shows, shoving the corner of the packaging between his teeth to get the outer plastic off.
“Give it here.” I snatch it from him and dig my nails into the plastic to tear it. With my luck, Maddox would find a way to break his fucking tooth trying to open it with his mouth and then we’d have to tell his family why there was a dental bill on the ranch’s ledger all of a sudden.
“I’m gonna have to break your heart, Rancher,” I tell him as I slide the box open and pull out the vibrator, tossing the charging cord on the bed beside me. I hold the toy up so he can see and press the ‘on’ button. When it doesn’t immediately start buzzing, his smile falls. “Most toys don’t come pre-charged and this one takes two hours before it’s ready to go.”
He gapes at that. “Twohours?”
I nod sympathetically, reaching over to rifle through his nightstand again while he grumbles about unfairness and plugs in the new toy. There’s a slew of condoms that I shove to the side to pull out a pair of padded cuffs, also still boxed. I roll from my side onto my back to read the back of the package.
