“Yes. We’ll bring a wheelchair in case you get tired, and to elevate your leg. If you’re extremely good over the next two days, we’ll stop by a BBQ place on the way home.”
“Ohhh, I love barbecue. Brisket is my favorite. What’s yours?” she asked as he opened her door and helped her out.
He picked her up and carried her toward the barn.
“Wait, you forgot my crutches,” she said, panicked.
“I didn’t forget. We don’t need you back at the hospital because you made a bad choice,” Garrett said as he went inside and set her on a bale of hay.
Riley breathed in the scent of the hay and the smell of the barn. “It’s the best smell ever. I love smoking brisket.”
“You’re my kind of woman,” Garrett said, smiling as he went into the stall. He brought out a grey and white horse and saddled it.
“Ohhh, he’s pretty. He’s not what I expected you to ride,” she said as he brought Gus closer. “What’s his name?”
“Meet Gus. He’s mine, but only because I saved him from getting picked on by two asshat cowboys,” Garret said as he walked toward her.
Riley swallowed as her gaze drifted from those chocolate-brown eyes, the dark beard, which made her shiver, and the almost-too-tight shirt outlining his abs. Her eyes drifted lower to see the bulge in his jeans, making her belly flutter and warmth grow between her legs. She didn’t understand what she felt, but knew Garrett Johnson was the cause.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Garrett moved closer to Riley, noticing her flushed cheeks and how her eyes raked down his body. His hand wanted to adjust his jeans, but he didn’t want to give her a bad impression of him. He felt like a freaking teenager with his first raging hard-on when she stared at his dick like she wanted to devour it.
Reminding himself, she drank a bit too much sangria, he held out his hand to help her up. As if mesmerized by him, Riley gave him her hand without grumbling about him picking her up or how she could do it herself. He lifted her onto Gus and led them out of the barn, shutting it behind him.
He fixed her dress over her legs and draped a blanket over her arms and down her body, paying attention to her sore leg. It wasn’t perfect, but it did the job for the short time he planned to take her out. He mounted Gus and took the reins, turning him toward the fields.
Riley seemed to come to life as she saw the cattle grazing. The cowboys rustled the horses into the barn as dusksettled around them. The sun appeared in the west, painting the sky with colors of orange, red, and golden hues.
“Oh, wow. I can’t remember the last time I felt like this. If I owned this land, I’d have goats right over there,” she pointed, close to the cabin. “Then I’d have a barn where I can store all the butter and milk in a walk-in fridge. I saw one on TV once, and it always seemed like something grand.”
Garrett didn’t say anything as he envisioned her suggestion. He pictured Riley and Tara milking the animals and greeting him when he returned home from work. The image appeared so vividly in his mind, he wished it would come true.
“Over there,” she pointed. “I’d plant the biggest garden and can fresh vegetables as they came into season. There’s a spot behind the cabin where you could grow a few apple, peach, and pear trees. Maybe a few pomegranates and figs. Near your porch, you could add a few lemon and lime trees. Don’t put them too close or they’ll take over your deck area,” she advised him. “Near the garden, you can plant blackberries, maybe raspberries, in a planter, and blueberries might do well here. There’s nothing like Mom’s triple berry jam for breakfast. The sheep would love the eastern area. It’s grassy, and the knoll gives them shelter from the wind. If you added a second mid-sized barn, you’d have enough to give you a good amount of wool.”
“You sound like you miss ranching,” he murmured close to her ear. Garrett saw the goosebumps form on her arm, and she trembled slightly at his words, making his pants grow tighter. If he didn’t stop thinking about her staring at his cock, she’d soon feel it pressed up against her.
“I love it. My mom used to say, ‘Behind every successful rancher is a wife who works in town.’”
“Did she work?”
Riley laughed. “She made the cheese, butters, and soaps. We sold them at the roadside every weekend. It’s one of my favorite memories of her.”
“Don’t answer if you feel I’m getting too personal. How did she die?” he asked quietly, not wanting to break the spell between them.
“The hands returned with a load of corn to put in the grain bin. Tara always stood at the top and watched it fill up. When we filled them all, we threw a party to celebrate the harvest. My sister always reported how full each bin got with every shipment. One day, one of the hands cut himself on some wire, and Mom left Tara’s side to grab the first aid kit. My sister leaned too far over the side and fell in. When my mom heard her scream, she bolted up the stairs and dove inside, while one of the hands turned off the auger. They raced to save them, but my mom went under, holding Tara above her. By the time they got them out, my mom…suffocated. Tara never meant to fall inside, but my dad railed at her, calling her careless. He never looked at her the same ever again. Every time he sees Tara, it feels like he relives the day all over again,” she confided softly, sniffing at the memory.
“I’m sorry, Riley. I didn’t mean to upset you. Your sister must know it’s not her fault,” he said, disbelieving any man would place the weight of his wife’s death on a young, curious child.
Riley turned slightly to see his face. “My mom emphasized the importance of family, yet it’s the first thing we lost after her death. It’s hard enough to accept she’s gone, but to know she took all the love with her makes it hurt all over again.”
He brushed back the hair from her face, holding it inplace, keeping the wind from covering her bright blue eyes. “She didn’t take it with her. Your mom passed it to you and Tara. She loves you like you’re her mom.”
“I don’t want to replace her. Dad forced me into this role, and I intend to see it through. Sometimes, it feels… lonely,” she confessed as her gaze met his.
His eyes drifted to her plump pink lips as Riley’s tongue swiped along the edge. Garrett’s hand moved to the side of her head, cradling it as he kissed her gently.
Her body relaxed against him as her mouth opened and her tongue explored his mouth. The kiss felt sweet, and he backed off, not wanting to scare her. Garrett didn’t want Riley to think he planned to take advantage of her because she stayed at the cabin.
