Chapter 28
Maggie
The event at Leduc wasn’t the same without Hadley. Brady and Spencer were good to keep me company, but the two days felt long and empty. Laying in my bunk in Betsy, I had to take care of a need I’ve not had to deal with in a while simply from inhaling my pillows where his scent still lingers.
By the time I turn onto the road leading to the ranch, the sun is almost set and I’m desperate to have a certain cowboy wrapped around me. This week we are doing the roundup to bring the cows and calves home. Well, closer to the homestead, at least.
And I’m excited to help.
With nighttime to work on my photos and get the article in each week, I decided I can fit in a little ranch work to help out. Besides, after all this man has done for me, I want him to have the help he needs.
I will do my best.
Kayley is taking Wednesday off to ride with us. So it should all go to plan. Let’s hope. I haven’t ridden before, but how hard can it be?
Maybe I could take a test run first?
When I drive past the homestead, Nia is sitting on the front porch. I wave and beep the horn on Betsy and she jumps up, waving. Gemma flies out the front door and tackles her sister. Now they’re arguing over something. I chuckle and return my eyes to the driveway that leads to Hadley’s house. The sun splinters through the trees surrounding his home, enveloping it in a golden hue.
Even Mother Nature is coaxing me back.
I shake my head at my ridiculous conspiratorial thoughts.
Pulling up in front of the house, I find Hadley leaning against one of the porch posts, arms folded, smile stretching his handsome face, and no crutch in sight...
I skid Betsy to a halt and am out the door as fast as my legs can carry me. The weight that’s been holding my chest down all weekend lifts at the sight of him hobbling down the stairs, dark eyes homed in on me.
My feet leave the ground a beat later, and I wrap myself around the only man in my entire life who’s managed to turn me into a sappy, desperate mess for him.
He groans into my hair, and I know it’s been a long few days for him, too. I lean back and start dusting kisses over his face, first his forehead, down his nose, over his cheeks, and last along his jawline.
The deep rumbling chuckle that rattles through him steals my breath.
“I missed you too, Sunshine. God, so fucking much.”
He releases me, and my feet meet the ground. His hands cup my face, his mouth claiming mine. When his tongue thrusts inside, I don’t think we can wait for later.
Breathless, I manage, “Shower, Hads. It’s been a long drive.”
He growls, nipping my neck. “Yes, ma’am.”
I’m swept up in his arms before the next heartbeat, and we’re tracking toward the front door. He kicks it open, and a hearty laugh bursts from my throat, my head falling back.
“Just for that, I’m taking this torturously slow.” His eyes narrow as he holds my gaze, padding down the hallway.
“Your knee feels better?” My hands ghost over his jaw.
“Yeah, almost good as new.”
“I thought it was supposed to take a few weeks?”
“Nah, must be Superman.” The shit-eating grin stretching his gorgeous face sends my heart flinging against the bones of its too-small cage.
“Promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”
His grasp on me tightens. “Define stupid, baby.”
“Hadley,” I warn.
