I nodded. “Yeah, I think I’m just going to close my eyes for a little bit. Don’t you dare let me fall asleep.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Carter said.
Then we both drifted off.
CHAPTER 20
CARTER
When I woke up, it was still full dark outside the window. A tap on my phone screen told me it was five a.m. Shelby was curled up on her side of the bed, still stubbornly independent even in sleep.
I took a moment to just watch her. Shelby was larger than life all the time, but like this, she looked small and vulnerable. I felt the caveman urge to protect her. She didn’t need my protection, and she would run me over with her van at the very idea, but that didn’t change how I felt.
I didn’t want to examine those feelings too closely. Putting a name to them felt dangerous. All I was willing to admit to myself was that I liked her and I liked spending time with her. Also, one night together would never be enough for me. I had gotten a taste of her and now I wanted all of her.
The night before, she had been so quick to dismiss the idea of us being serious. It had disappointed me more than I had expected. Rationally, I understood we had no chance at any kind of future. The clock was counting down on my Kentucky trip, and that would be the end of whatever was happening with Shelby and me.
Making the most of our time together was all I could do.
With that thought in mind, I considered waking her up with a kiss like Sleeping Beauty and seeing what happened next. Oddly, I had a different idea, something way dirtier than starting my day off with a bang.
I should let Shelby sleep in while I go to the farm and make sure her birds are fed and taken care of. I’ll end up dirty as hell but it’ll show her how much I care.
I slipped out of bed, trying not to jostle the mattress, and got dressed in the bathroom to dampen any noise. Then I headed out and downstairs, figuring I could jog to the high school, grab the truck, and head out to the farm.
In the dark downstairs hallway, a figure materialized in the gloom. “Someone’s up early,” Mrs. Presley said, smiling.
I nearly jumped out of my skin. “You can’t sneak up on people like that, Mrs. Presley. I almost had a heart attack.”
She took a step closer. “Speaking of your heart, I noticed Shelby’s van is parked in my lot. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you, Carter?”
I felt like a busted teenager, which was ridiculous. There was nothing to be embarrassed about. “She spent the night with me. I hope that’s okay.”
Mrs. Presley shrugged. “That depends on why you’re sneaking out of here so early. If you’re running out on her, I have plenty of choice words for you.”
I grinned and shook my head. “That’s fair enough, but I was thinking of surprising her by heading out to the farm and getting a start on her day for her.”
“Oh,” she said, clasping her hands between her breasts. “What a thoughtful gesture. Although I have to say, it’s a surprise for me as well. I thought I’d seen everything in this long life, but an Allory getting his hands dirty on a chicken farm?NowI’ve seen everything.”
I chuckled at her. “I’m as shocked as you are, but it feels right. My father made bad decisions and he hurt Ferris, but I’m trying to be better than he ever was. Putting in some work has taught me more about the farming life than any business proposal or summary ever could.”
“You picked a good teacher. Shelby is scrappy.”
I nodded and smiled, glancing at the ceiling like I might see through it to her in bed, her mind at rest. “She’s something special. That’s for sure. Listen, Mrs. Presley, could you make her some coffee when she wakes up?”
“Of course,” she said like it was nothing.
“And can you also not be weird about it with her?” I asked, giving her a look.
Mrs. Presley shook her head. “Nope. I’m going to have fun with this.”
I chuckled. “Well, at least you’re honest. Thank you.”
The high school wasn’t too far away, which was good, because the frosty early morning air still had a bite to it. Tyler’s truck was still where I’d left it. No one would steal that piece of shit, and the tow truck driver, Shane, was still living it up down south, so it hadn’t been hauled off anywhere for being abandoned.
I drove out to the farm without any problems. The place looked in order, aside from Shelby’s van being gone. I had considered driving it over here but I didn’t want to strand her at the B&B. I parked in front of her house and got to work.
First thing was feeding the ladies, as Shelby called them. I grabbed a sack of feed from the barn, slung it over my shoulder, and took it to the chicken house. One by one, I filled the feeders. All told, it took a few bags to get them all fed, but watching them all eat happily made it all worthwhile. I’d had my share of wild nights, but I had never satisfied so many ladies at once.
