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CHAPTER 16
ERIN
The sound of mooing cows wakes me. Opening my eyes, I look around the clean, sparse bedroom. A gray light fills the room, and a light breeze drifts through the open window, making the sheer curtains dance.
Rolling over in bed, I reach for Josh, but he’s not there. His side of the bed is empty.
Frowning, I sit up. There’s silence from the bathroom next to the bedroom, and he couldn’t have ghosted me. We’re at his house.
His house on a ranch.
Of course.
I’ve woken at dawn, which means I’ve slept in by ranch standards.
Getting out of bed, I put on last night’s dress and help myself to some of the mouthwash in the bathroom. Even though Josh isn’t anywhere near me physically, I can still feel his hands all over me. It’s like his palms have left permanent imprints on my body.
Last night was amazing. Beyond amazing. I haven’t felt that alive in… well, ever.
Being with Josh is like a revelation. The second we touch each other, it’s like learning to breathe, seeing colors, being surprised at the glorious smell of flowers.
I make my way downstairs, feeling a smile spread over my face. This is what I wanted, right? As much of Josh as he could give me.
I didn’t expect for that to mean ending up in his bed, but I’m not complaining. I’m too over the moon for any such thing.
The kitchen is empty, but there’s a covered plate on the table with a sticky note. Getting closer, I see that my name is written on the note with a little heart underneath it.
Laughing, I take a seat and open the lid. Inside is a breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon with a slice of buttered toast. After eating quickly and gulping down some coffee from the fresh pot on the counter, I go out into the fresh morning.
The ranch is already in full swing for the day. Cattle move across the pasture, kicking up dust in their wake. Men move about, tending to horses or cattle, and a border collie bounces around with excitement, its tongue hanging out.
This is Josh’s home. His livelihood. His world.
It’s strange. This ranch feels like a foreign land to me, and yet to him it’s his everything — even if it’s not exactly what he wants.
Using my hand to shield my eyes, I survey the area for Josh.
There, over by the fence.
Dark lines of sweat line his back, and he’s adjusting a wire pole. There’s a roping dummy next to him — well, it has a sheet over it — and a long coil of rope lies on the grass. He doesn’t even see me as he goes about his work with meticulous concentration.
My stomach does a flip. I want to wrap my arms around him and kiss his musky neck.
But does he want that?
Last night was amazing, but we haven’t had a chance to talk about it yet. How does Josh feel about us going forward? Is there any possibility of us at all in his mind, or was last night just simple fun and big talk?
My stomach in knots, I make my way over to him. As if sensing me coming, he whirls around.
At the sight of me, his face breaks into a grin. A thrill fills me, and the next thing I know, I’m in his arms and we’re kissing deeply.
A man hoots, and there are a few laughs, but Josh keeps kissing me while giving the ranch hands the finger. The kiss ends way too soon, but the plus is that I get to look at him.
“How did you sleep?” He holds me close at the waist.
“Great.” I smile sheepishly.
There wasn’t much time for sleeping last night, but once I did pass out, I crashed hard.
