Lawson looks at me again. A little reluctant. A whole lot flustered. And something underneath all of that twists in my chest.
“Yeah,” he finally says, clearing his throat. “I’ll take you.”
My stomach does an embarrassing little flip.
Jasper swings onto Destiny’s back, Lincoln’s truck rumbles to life, and Beau returns to the horse with a reassuring pat to its neck.
Lawson jerks his head toward the black F-150. “Come on, Abigail.”
I laugh under my breath at his exasperation over the idea of spending a day shopping and fall into step behind him.
Chapter fourteen
Lawson
Abigailbucklesherselfintothe passenger seat of my truck, and the smell of her—honey and sage—fills the space. It’s fucking ridiculous how my chest tightens over something as simple as a smell.
Honey.
Yeah. The nickname fits too damn well.
I adjust the rearview mirror even though it doesn’t need adjusting and pull down the long dirt road toward the gate.
She sits quietly beside me, the morning light making her hair glow like she’s carrying her own personal sunrise.
Do I want to spend more time with her?
Yes. No. Maybe? Hell I don’t fucking know.
Do I have time to spend the entire day taking a woman shopping.
Absolutely not.
Would I do it for her?
Yes. That much I already know.
“So…” she says softly, looking out the window. “Umm… thank you for driving me. I promise once I have a job, I’ll get a car.I just—I don’t want to blow through the money Joe set me up with. At least not until I’m stable.”
Something sharp twists low in my gut. She shouldn’t have to think like that—about rationing kindness, rationing safety, rationing help. Not anymore. I grip the wheel a little tighter. I shouldn’t say what I’m about to say. I know it even before the words push up my throat, but hell, I can’t help myself. “We have an extra car.”
She turns, brows lifting. “You do?”
“Yeah.” I keep my face neutral, my voice even. I’m not telling her the whole truth, not yet. “You can use it as long as you need. No rush.”
She shakes her head. “Lawson, no, I—”
“We can help,” I cut in softly. “Let us. You need wheels. We’ve got them. Simple as that.”
Her lips part like she wants to argue but she doesn’t. She just gives me this small grateful smile that makes me regret my next words a little less. “And if you’re lookin’ for work, there’s more than enough to do around the ranch. You seem to like bein’ with the horses. We can teach you to ride too if you want.”
Her eyes widen and her entire face lights up. “I—that would be—I would love that. Thank you.”
A nod is my only response.
Well then, that’s settled.
I never thought I’d spend a work day helping a woman try on hats and boots, but here I am, leaning against a rack in BootBarn while Abigail stands in front of a mirror, tilting her head side to side in a brown felt Stetson.
