I kept waiting for my hunger for her to ebb, even a bit.If anything, it grew more explosive with every day.
I certainly wasn’t complaining, and so far, neither was she.
If anything, after the show, I couldn’t say which one of us was more eager to tear each other’s clothes off.
Her head rose, her cheeks flushed as she adorably attempted to blink away sleep.
“I slept through the private jet experience,” she complained once she got her bearings.
“Don’t worry, darlin’.It won’t be your last,” I assured her with a smile.
She leaned over, snuggling into my shoulder.“That was so fun to watch you on stage, honey.”It wasn’t the first time she’d shared those sentiments.
Looking over mid-song to find her watching from the side stage, her expression so full of love and joy for me, had made the experience all the more meaningful.
When I’d dedicated the song we’d written together to her, I’d fought the urge to bring her on stage and kiss her senseless.But there would be time for that.
“You’re in trouble.Now that you’ve come with me, I can’t really see performing without you, unless I have to.”
“We’ll work it out,” she assured me with a sweet smile.“Are we going to stop on the way home and pick up Ranger?”
“Griff’s dropping him off later.”My brother wanting to stop by didn’t necessarily mean anything, but with Griffin, he didn’t typically elect to catch up unless he had something to say.
“Okay.”She yawned.“I’m going to go check in with Daphne and Jo after we get settled.”
“Does she know that?”I raised a knowing brow.
She snorted.“Hey, if she wants to keep dodging me, showing up on her doorstep is the least she should expect.”
“You’re a good cousin.”I kissed her temple.“And I know Ri’s been keeping tabs too.”
“I bet.”She chortled.“Once I stalk my cousin, I’ll head to the grocery store and come home.I’m ready for a night in.”
“Sounds perfect,” I agreed as we taxied down the runway, the sprawling mountains, spotlit by the familiar Denver skyline, a welcome sight.
By the time Griffin arrived, Lucy had already bundled up against the chill and taken off to go see Daphne.Fall had officially set in—the leaves turning, the air crisp with the promise of snow.
I was fucking out of my head with anticipation, knowing Christmas would come early for Lucy this year.
I balanced Scout in one hand while Jem tried to climb my pant leg.Ranger raced ahead of Griffin, tongue lolling in greeting as I leaned down to ruffle his fur.
“Clearly you tortured him,” I stated dryly.
“Christ, you have a small animal farm already.”Griffin chuckled as he stepped into the entryway, dressed in his uniform and clearly on his way to work.He plucked Jem off my leg and held the tiny kitten with surprising ease.
“Later shift today?”I gestured to his uniform.He typically started his day early, and it was already nearly lunch.
“Deb’s out sick,” he said, referring to one of his long-time deputies.“Wanted to brief with you before I headed in.”
“I figured.”I led the way to the kitchen, the kittens attacking a bewildered Ranger with familial glee.The three of them took off down the hall, and Griffin watched them with a bemused smile.
At the end of the day, despite his gruff exterior, my oldest brother was a big softie.
“Sounds like the show went well?”He leaned against the counter, studying me.
“It was good.Aside from Lucy’s parents showing up, it was a smooth trip.And even that maybe wasn’t a bad thing.”I’d already shared the high-level details of the trip with both my brothers when I’d checked in, as I frequently did when traveling.
In a way, Lucy had known the other shoe would drop, and she’d shared that part of her was relieved to have it out of the way.Now, she just needed to decide what she wanted to do about it.
