His smile fades. “If you think that’s all you need, you don’t know her very well. I will say this, the last man who put hands on her against her wishes didn’t leave this ranch alive.”
Now that’s a story I’d like to hear.
“Noted.” I wouldn’t expect anything less.
Hell, I’d do the same to anyone who dared touch her.
“Does she know this?” His fingers scratch on the stubble of his jaw as he watches me.
“Nope. Just manifesting.” Giving him my best grin, I turn back towards the stakes marking the corners of the driveway. “I suppose you’ll be stuck with me for a while either way.” Gesturing towards the expansive layout, it’s going to take me a couple of weeks just to bare the ground enough to start setting the foundation.
“Plenty of time to get her to not hate you.” His smile returns. “I can’t wait for Sawyer to be back. It’s funny, as a father you look forward to them growing up, but then miss them when they’re gone.”
“I imagine it takes a lot of work to run a place this size. I’m glad he decided to stay.” I’m pretty sure Mason owns as far as I can see in every direction.
And the last few weeks of going over house plans and layouts, Sawyer has proven to be a soft-spoken yet level headed guy who goes with the flow easily.
Almost the complete opposite of his sister.
Mason grunts. “Me too. I need to have a little talk with him tomorrow. Sophia said she’d help, but she has been acting like she might not live here forever.” He tilts his head and side-eyes me. “Is that because of you?”
“I can hope.” I shrug, playing it off with another grin.
He shakes his head. “You got balls, I’ll give you that,” he says as he walks away.
The last thing I need is Mason telling her before I do.
Maybe I need to give her a push.
TheBigO: Tell me what book to read to unlock the final key.
RacingQueen: What key?
TheBigO: The one that opens the lock on your heart.
Movement makes me lift my focus from my phone to catch a glimpse of her smiling as she leaves the barn.
RacingQueen: I think I’m almost ready. I just wanted to shake the last of this bug.
TheBigO: I’ll take care of you, healthy or sick.
RacingQueen: I just didn’t want to cough in your face the first time we actually meet.
TheBigO: Baby, if there was a zombie apocalypse and you were infected, I’d let you bite me so you wouldn’t have to suffer alone.
Her laughter carries on the warm spring breeze over to me as I pick up the last of my tools.
RacingQueen: And they say romance is dead.
This time, it’s my turn to snicker.
She’s so fucking close I want to just shout out the truth to her.
TheBigO: When do I get to hold you and fall asleep together?
RacingQueen: Soon, I promise. I miss you.
I stare at those last three words. They’re so close to the ones I want to hear from her.
