His arms tightened around me. “You don’t have to thank me, Dante. I wanted to do this. Wanted to be here with you.”
“Still,” I insisted. “It means something. You mean something.”
He was quiet for a moment, and I wondered if I’d said too much again. But then he pressed a kiss to the top of my head.
“You mean something too,” he said softly. “More than I know how to say yet. But I’m working on it.”
That was good enough for me. I let myself sink into sleep, safe and warm in his arms, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I was exactly where I belonged.
Chapter 22
Nick
“Well,” I said as I pulled my horse up next to Angelo’s. “I see the place didn’t burn down while we were gone.”
Angelo just laughed. “I think I can handle a single night running this place by myself.” He gave me a knowing smirk. “Have a good time?”
“Actually, yeah,” I replied. Ever since the dinner with my family, there was a newfound camaraderie between Angelo and I. While I was still the boss, it felt like we were getting closer to being actual friends. “I didn’t realize how bad I needed a break until we got out of here. Out there I felt free, but being back on the ranch…” I shook my head. “It’s like I can feel the past pressing in from all sides.”
“I know what you mean,” Angelo nodded. “Back home I was supposed to be a certain kinda guy. But out here I can be whoever I want.”
This man, as dumb as he acted sometimes, was actually insightful. Then again, we’d both had our words turned upside down, so maybe we just had more in common than I thought.
“Where’s the boss?” Angelo asked. “He comin’ out today or is he still too…sore?”
I couldn’t help but grin at the implication in his words. “He’s cleaning up some paperwork back at the house. I’m sure he’ll be out before dinner though.”
“Thanks for making him happy,” Angelo added, his gaze fixed on the hills in the distance. “He deserves that.”
I tried to formulate an appropriate response, but the sound of approaching hooves pulled my attention back toward the house. I looked up and there was Heather, riding atop her solid black gelding, galloping in my direction. Angelo saw her too and he straightened up in the saddle, puffing his chest out. I might’ve been imagining it, but it looked like he was flexing a bit too.
“There you are,” Heather said, slightly breathless as she came to a stop a few feet in front of me. “I saw the truck, but you weren’t at the house.”
“Is everyone alright?” I asked, my heart rate picking up immediately.
“Everyone’s fine,” she said, pushing her hair back from her face. “I… I just wanted to see how your trip went.”
My brows furrowed as I stared at her. Last thing I knew, Heather hated my fucking guts for yelling at her about Dante. We hadn’t spoken since that night. But now she was here asking how my trip with him had gone as if everything was just fine.
“H-Hey Heather,” Angelo said, waving shyly from his saddle. “You l-look beautiful today.”
Heather immediately rolled her eyes. “Fuck off, Angelo. I want to talk to Nick in peace.”
“Of c-course,” he nodded, turning his horse around. “Will I see you later?”
“We live in the same house,” she grumbled, clearly irritated by that fact. “So probably.”
“Okay,” he nodded. He waved again as he cantered back toward the house. “Bye Heather.”
I just sat there, completely confused by their exchange. “What the hell?”
“Ugh…” Heather groaned, rolling her eyes again. “Don’t get me started on that idiot. He’s been following me around like some big, stupid, lost puppy for weeks.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me. “Angelo? Following you around?”
“It’s not funny, Nick,” she snapped, but I caught the faintest hint of pink in her cheeks. “He’s always there. Offering to help with chores I’ve been doing myself for years. Asking if I need anything. Yesterday he tried to teach me how to rope a calf. Me! Like I haven’t been doing it since I was eight.”
I bit back another grin. “And this bothers you because...?”
