She looks up. “Sure?”
“We need to pick up Hope’s car from the garage. But I thought I’d show them the waterfall first.”
Luna opens her mouth, then thinks again about whatever she was going to say. Maybe she wanted to take them to Lover’s Canyon herself.
But I hope she understands from how I’ve phrased it, that I have my own reasons for wanting it to be an outing just for the three of us.
“Of course,” she says softly, her eyes drifting to Bellamy with lingering affection. “I will happily take some time in the middle of the day to paint.The star calendar says tomorrow is a good day to create something new, you know.”
Like art.
Or a family.
That night, Hope finds me in the library. She curls up in my lap at the desk, and I kiss her thoroughly, but then I tell her I’m going to send her upstairs alone.
“As much as I liked sleeping with you on the couch, you need to sleep in a proper bed.” I gently press my hand to her belly. “And I want you to be well rested for tomorrow.”
“What are we doing?”
“Going on a little hike.”
Her eyes light up. “The dragonfly mating canyon?”
I chuckle. “Yes.”
“That’s fun.”
“It really is.”
“I can’t wait. Good night, Cowboy.” She kisses my forehead after she slides off my lap. “Sweet dreams.”
The. Fucking. Sweetest.
I have a shower before bed, and I take myself in hand, my cock heavy, my balls aching.Good night, Cowboy.
Fuuuck.
I close my eyes and chase that feeling.
In the morning, I text Cash to get visual proof that Derek is on the island, far from Dragonfly Creek.
Then we get the essential chores taken care of as quickly as possible. Luna insists she doesn’t need any help with the kale, but she does take the girls with her to collect the eggs while I feed the horses.
Hope shows up a few minutes later.
She’s wearing jean shorts today, rolled up high on her long thighs, and the shorts and rubber boots combination is distracting in the best way.
“You’re staring, Cowboy,” she murmurs as she brushes past me.
No point lying about it. “I told you, looking at you is a pleasure in itself.”
She twirls around. “I thought I’d help. And say good morning to Shadow.”
“My barn is your barn. My horse…” I gesture to Shadow’s stall. “Your horse.”
When we finish there, Luna and Bellamy are still with the chickens, so I hold out my hand.
“What?” Hope takes it anyway.
