She dusts her lips against mine, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, electrified, my groin aching. “I’d only ever stay because I love you, not for any other reason.” She kisses me, and while we don’t discuss her staying just yet, I know now it can’t wait.
The tension in my neck when this conversation started has melted away. “Sleep with me tonight. In my bed.”
She smiles. “Of course.”
“You’re not angry that I didn’t tell you this? That you found out this way? I feel like an asshole. I was just… ashamed. Embarrassed.”
Quinn strokes her palms along the sides of my biceps and looks into my eyes. “I wish you would have told me, but I understand how hard it is to talk about these things. And… it’s okay. I’m not angry. I’m just glad to know now.” We get to our feet, and my eyes burn when she steps onto my boots the way she always does, then rocks up, kissing my lips. It’s everything my soul needs.
“Wanna go out there? Join the fun?” She peers out the window, then back to me. “I’ll come up to your room, around eight, after Sadie’s in bed.”
I shake my head. “Just go up with me after dinner. It’s okay.” I don’t want to talk about my plans to discuss this all with Sadie at a later date, not right now.
She nods. “Okay.” And I lean in, press my lips to her throat, and leave a gentle kiss on one of my favorite places.
She may’ve read things that weren’t for her, and she had every right to be hurt, but we worked it out. And now we’re closer.
I can’t ignore how good that makes me feel.
CHAPTER 28
I’LL THROW A PUNCH FOR THEM
As the rodeo nears,I realize I’m gonna miss watching Landry train. Not just because the man’s ass devours his jeans or because his thighs make me want to experience tapping out, but because of the beauty of it.
I love San Francisco. All the wonderful eateries, the cool breeze, people on foot everywhere, the history, Haight-Ashbury—all of it. I love knowing I can make a copy, get a money order, or buy a pastry at any time of the day. I love knowing we have adult film companies down the street from the best little antique shops. I love that there is something for everyone.
But the beauty of Sable Sky, of ranch life and slow, small-town living is a different kind of thing. I’m not just slowed down, but I find myself reaching for a glass of iced tea andconversation with Love instead of reaching for my phone to open social apps and mindlessly scroll. There’s something about having to tether to my phone for the internet, because it’s just so crappy out here and it’s no one’s priority to boot up online at the start of each day.
Maybe that makes me an old soul, I don’t know. I certainly love old music and vintage band tees, I love vinyls and old cameras, too. I watch all the nineties TV shows with my mom, even. It shouldn’t surprise me that I find the slower, more peaceful way of life to be right up my alley. As much as I adored it, I strangely don’t find myself itching to get back to anything in the city.
“Deep in thought?” Landry walks up on me as I adjust my camera in the tripod, preparing to record one of his final rides here at the ranch. The last few rides coming up are qualifier rides, and they matter. If he doesn’t do well in those, he won’t even be in the running for the money.Heshould be in deep thought, piled under oodles of stress. I would be if I were him. But still, he finds me in thought and drops a kiss to my cheek while pinching his hat, because he’s thinking of me.
I can’t help but smile and lean in for another kiss, even though I know Sadie is around somewhere. Landry flashes me a grin after I kiss him. “You know Tate can see us.”
I wiggle my fingers. “We are married after all.”
We just smile at each other while sweat coats my back and flies buzz around our ankles.
“What was on your mind?” he finally asks, breaking the spell between us to get dressed. He pulls his vest on, and I help him adjust his long-sleeved flannel beneath it until he’s comfortable.
“Just thinking about how much I like this way of life.”
His hands freeze on the neck roll collar, and he peers at me, blue eyes inquisitive as ever.
“Is that right?” he asks, moving on to his chaps, shucking one thick leg through. Dust goes everywhere, and he swats it away from my face. That’s ranch romance, right there.
I nod. “Yeah, I was thinking?—”
The aggressive slam of the porch screen door grabs our focus, and we both turn away from the makeshift arena to see the Montgomerys, Marnie gripping the wooden porch banister like she’s facing the eye of a storm. Charles, at her side, peers out, a hand visoring his eyes. He spots us, and my eyes go straight to the envelope under his arm.
“Fuck.” Landry’s voice is raw, thin, and completely bare. I reach for his hand and waffle our fingers together. I do it because I want to show him I’m here, that I support him, but I realize under the terms and conditions of our relationship I’m also doing my job.
I hate that I’m doing my job. I want to be doing it for him, for us.
“It’s okay. We’ll get through whatever this visit brings,” I assure him as we tread toward them, Landry outfitted for his training.
Charles outstretches his hand, but retracts it once Marnie casts him a glare. Landry takes off his hat and scrubs a hand over his head, nodding. “Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery. Hello again.”
