“Just making sure you remember how much you loved my charming side last night.” I press slow kisses along the swells of her breasts, my eyes locked on her. “Is it working?”
She tilts her head, letting out a throaty moan. “You’re incorrigible.”
“It’s not my fault you’re so irresistible,” I murmur, moving back up to capture her mouth in another kiss.
She leans back, her gaze searching mine. “Is this usually how the morning after goes? You know… after sex…” She trails off.
I wince, not wanting the reminder that for her, this might have been just another lesson—when for me it was a religious experience, and I’d declare my love for her on my knees if I thought she’d have me.
“This”—I motion between us—“is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and if we didn’t have to work today, I’d bury my face between your thighs again and make you come until you couldn’t think straight.”
Birdie groans. “Now you’re just being a tease.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty more time forthatlater.”Every damn night for the rest of our lives if I can manage it.“For now, I’m going to cook you breakfast and then get you to work on time.”
It’s the closest I’ll get to seeing her all day with my shift at the sheriff’s office—unless, of course, someone reports suspicious behavior at the feed store, like haphazardly stacked hay balesthat could be a danger to pedestrians or a bag of chicken feed mysteriously left in the middle of the aisle.
Birdie sits up, eyes bright. “Does this breakfast of yours include an oat milk latte? Preferably two.”
“Sure does.” I grin.
I’d stocked up on all the supplies to make her coffee order, including an espresso machine the day she agreed to our arrangement.
I give her one last kiss before I climb out of bed, heading straight for the kitchen. I measure and tamp down the espresso grounds, place a mug under the nozzle, and pull the shot to start Birdie’s coffee.
“You’re working at the sheriff’s office today, right?” she asks from her spot on the bed.
“Yeah. I’m working a double and I have a mountain of paperwork to catch up on.” I pull the oat milk from the fridge and set it on the counter. “Not the most exciting part of the job, but it’s unavoidable.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask—do you like splitting your time between there and the ranch? Or do you find it challenging to balance the two?”
Makes sense she’d ask, since I rarely discuss it with anyone—not even my family. Heath and my parents had questions when I first took the deputy role, but I never gave them a chance to press for more details. Over time, they stopped asking and eventually adjusted to the change in my schedule—mainly Heath.
I’m momentarily distracted as I watch Birdie slip out of bed, her creamy skin on full display. She casually picks up my T-shirt from the floor and slips it over her head. The shirt hangs from her frame, the hem hitting mid-thigh, and my cock stirs, growing hard from just the sight of her in my clothes. Each sway of herhips as she saunters toward me is a battle to keep my hands to myself and resist the urge to claim her again.
“You going to answer my question?” She hops up onto the counter next to the espresso machine, shooting me a smirk. “Or are you too busy staring?”
I settle between her thighs, bracing my hands on either side of her. “You’re mighty distracting this morning.” I lean closer, our lips barely an inch apart. “But I did promise I’d behave myself.” She lets out a huff of disappointment when I step back and move to the machine. The espresso shot is finished, steam rising from the cup. “To answer your question, it’s a challenge juggling being a deputy and helping Heath run the ranch, especially on days like yesterday when an emergency had me pulling double duty.”
Birdie leans back on her hands. “I can imagine. Dad has mentioned he wishes he could have you around full-time.”
To distract myself from the way my shirt rides up her thighs, I pour oat milk into the frothing pitcher and heat it, the liquid swirling until it’s hot and foamy.
“If the sheriff were ever serious, he’d have to take that up with Heath,” I reply with a dry chuckle. “Though, he’s already convinced I’m not invested in the ranch’s success as much as I should be, so I’m not sure he’d even be surprised if I wanted to step back more than I already have.”
I’ve never given it much thought. Sure, the sheriff has mentioned it in passing, but it’s never been a serious offer.
“Think you’d ever consider it?”
“Truthfully? I have no idea.” I pause to pour the steamed milk over the espresso shot, then add the foam on top. “Heath might doubt my commitment, but I could never leave him high and dry after all he’s done to turn the ranch into a success. I’m really lucky to be a part of it, it’s just that it’s not…”
“Your dream?” Birdie finishes for me.
“Right.” I sigh, glancing at the ground then back at her. “There’s nothing I love more than riding out on the pastures and tending to the cattle. Still, I sometimes struggle with the idea of spending my entire life solely devoted to ranch work. It’s a solitary existence, and I thrive on the energy of social interactions and being part of a community. Being a deputy has given me a balance that eases that pressure, and I’m grateful for it.”
I’m a people person through and through. The best days on the ranch are when the entire crew is together, rounding up the cattle or mending fences, trading stories and joking around. But most days aren’t like that—everyone sticks to their own tasks, the energy more subdued and the sense of isolation suffocating at times.
Birdie studies me carefully, her voice barely at a whisper when she speaks. “Have you ever told Heath how you feel?”
