He rolled his eyes and walked toward the stairs, giving Simone and Roger finger guns as he passed them. Rosebud Ranch had become his fortress of solitude, and having this many people in his space was challenging. Rosie would descend on them tomorrow, her own tornado of excitement blowing through. The good thing was, his sister would provide a distraction for his mother, who was constantly worrying about her daughter settling down and finding her place in the world.
If Rosie was one thing, it was flighty. She was a woman with itchy feet, always looking for the next animal to save or charity to support. The amount of endeavors his sister took on made his head spin. The entire family was relieved when she found a job at a veterinary clinic in the city and stayed for more than six months.
The click of Hank’s nails on the stairs behind him reassured him that this was only temporary, and the ranch house would return to being a bachelor pad soon enough. Just Marshall, Hank, and Pablo.
And maybe Colette.
Did he still classify as a bachelor if he was seeing Colette? Maybe not. Even if it was temporary, whatever was going on between them certainly didn’t have a one-and-done feeling to it. Everything was fresh and new, and surely the excitement would wear off, hopefully in time for her to say goodbye at the end of her contract in a few months. Though pain gripped his chest when he thought of it, it was the only way he would survive her leaving.
Since she had arrived, a new energy bubbled inside his chest, akin to the sensation of seeing the first crocus in spring or the tiny buds on the trees, ushering in the transformation of their landscape for the new season. No woman had ever made him come to life like she did, as though their hearts held secrets that their minds weren’t yet aware of. Even the simple action of running his hand through her silky curls filled him with a sweet, unfamiliar sensation he both feared and craved.
Welcoming the silence of the upper floor hallway, he trudged to his bedroom with Hank on his heels. Marshall wondered where Pablo had gone off to, since the cat always hid the moment unfamiliar people entered the home. The cat was very selective about who he spent his time with, and Marshall was one of the lucky few who were graced with his attention. He entered his bedroom and turned on the light, peeking under the bed to see two bright green eyes staring back at him. Pablo was not impressed by this new development.
“It’s only until after the funeral,” Marshall offered, to which the cat turned his head, snubbing him. With a shake of his head, Marshall removed his clothing and took a quick shower. He needed to think. To process.
Glancing at himself in the mirror, he could see why his mom thought he looked like shit. There were bags under his eyes from his long night with Colette, and his body was worn out from cleaning up and making the horses comfortable after thepolice investigation. Luckily, all hands had been on deck, and everybody on staff worked late making sure the animals were safe, fed, and calm. His family arrived late, as his workday was ending. Since finding Jack yesterday morning, Marshall barely had time to breathe. All he wanted to do was bury his face in Colette’s neck and inhale.
Escape was not an option at this time.
Jack’s death had basically pressed pause on whatever was going on with Colette. There was a funeral to plan, his usual work around the ranch, with the load of Jack’s jobs piled on top of his, and getting to the bottom of what had happened to his friend.
Marshall made a mental note to check on Edith again, see how he could help her now. Without Jack to take care of her, she was alone and dealing with her cancer treatments on top of that. He shook his head, wiping his hands on the nearby hand towel. Life wasn’t fair. As soon as a ray of sunshine appeared in his life, a cloud came to block it.
The old Marshall would have shrugged and moved on. There would be no lingering ache to be with her, no hunger for warmth or need to kiss that smile or taste that joy again. A heavy sigh shuddered through his chest as he lifted the covers and slid between the icy cold sheets. Even with the familiar sounds coming from his loudly sleeping dog, Marshall wondered how he would sleep the same without being able to pull her close.
Closing his eyes, he imagined himself turning over and reaching for Colette. Burying his face in the nape of her neck and inhaling the fruity smell of her shampoo. He was haunted by the soft, lilting laugh he was missing and the calm acceptance with which she surrounded him.
Marshall shivered from the chill.
It made no sense to need someone after only one night.
This must be his body reacting to the events of the day. Part of the mourning process, nothing more. His body longing for comfort. Reaching a hand to touch the other side of the bed, he looked forward to this coming week being over so he could pick up where he left off with Colette, if he could wait that long.
He wasn’t sure he could wait that long.
CHAPTER 34
Colette lifted her legs upon the chair, hugging them to her chest as she analyzed the computer screen. Something was missing. The numbers weren’t adding up. Money was being sent to this mysterious Lorimer Fertilizers account, but there were no records or receipts to justify that any services or supplies had been delivered.
Why was Marshall sending these payments? Was Marshall sending them? She added this to her list of questions she would have for him once the funeral was over, and she had a chance to meet with him. They could be automatic payments he didn’t know about.
Since Jack passed away, she had hidden in the guest house, giving the family privacy to deal with the loss. Though she messaged Marshall every day to see how he was doing, not much was coming back. It would be a while before she was ready to go to the stables, and since she had access to the server, she didn’t need to use the office there. So what if that meant she didn’t get to run into Marshall?
He was doing okay, according to his messages.
The ranch was keeping him busy. She could see him out there, early in the morning until late, keeping things runningsmoothly. He clung to his routine, like an anchor in a storm. It steadied him, as it had when he first moved to the ranch. She could see how Rosebud Ranch was stamped on his very soul.
He messaged her about the funeral happening today and the wake to be held at the King house afterward.
Colette closed her eyes, images of the night they spent together delivering brief respite from the stress. Everything about it had been so perfect.
Too perfect.
Her typical hookups were one and done, and there were never any lingering feelings. No thoughts of the man racing through her mind and making her wander to the window just to look at his place. Hoping desperately to catch a glimpse of him. Her night with Marshall gave her a taste of what a relationship could be like with someone who treated her like she had value. Though she had always imagined she would one day get married and have kids, she had never yearned for that kind of life so desperately. Until now.
She was drawn to Marshall in an unfamiliar way. He stirred a hunger within her that was downright terrifying. Comforting herself by saying a relationship with a man like Marshall might be something she could aspire to once she moved back to the city, she gave a breathy sigh. Absently chewing on her thumbnail, she made her way to look out the living room window. Once again, Marshall had shown her what it was like to be with a real man, someone who valued her and held her like she was the most precious treasure. Made love to her like she was worth something to him.
It highlighted how much her hookups with guys like micropeen had left her wanting. And feeling…worthless. She wanted to be with someone who truly cared for her.
