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NORA
“There you are, Nora. I was wondering if you would let Cooper come with me for a sleepover?” Julie walked into the kitchen and sat on one of the bar stools I’d added to the kitchen island. It seemed like all hours of the day people dropped in or stopped to talk, so if they could sit and I could work, I wouldn’t get behind. “With branding over, I’m not looking forward to being alone again.” She’d come over to help with clean-up from last night, and I couldn’t have imagined getting it all done without her. She knew how to get this place back in tip-top condition. Her eyes were locked on me, and I wasn’t sure she was the only one trying to make it happen. Just then, Kipp and Cooper walked in the door, laughing.
“Which one put you up to this?” I looked at the men standing in the kitchen. They looked at one another and pointed at each other. Shaking my head, I couldn’t help but laugh. Cooper had wanted to go on a sleepover for ages, but it wasn’t possible to return the favor, so I’d always avoided it. I had my suspicions about why Kipp wanted a child free house for a night. Looking at Cooper, I asked, “How long will you be gone for?”
“One night,” Cooper replied hesitantly, looking at Julie.
“Two,” Kipp corrected, grinning at me, completely oblivious his mother was in the room, putting his big hand on Cooper’s shoulder, warming my heart more than I ever dreamed possible.
“Well, maybe three?” Julie added, smirking and arching her brow at me.
“Nobody planned this really well, did they? Go get your things. I’ll come help you in a second.” Cooper high fived Kipp and he was running down the hallway. “Thank you,” I said as I looked at both of them before turning to go help pack.
“Mom, will you be okay if I go?” Cooper asked when I entered his room. He looked at me, his eyes wide and a smile on his face.
“I’m sure I will be fine.” I nodded as he ran to me and wrapped his arms around my neck.
“Well, you won’t really be alone. Kipp will be here,” he confirmed as he grabbed a few toys and tossed them in his bag.
“That’s very true.”
“I’m ready to go, Mrs. Julie!” he yelled, pulling his bag behind him. He ran to the kitchen and Julie hopped off the stool.
“Well, let’s get going, cowboy. Give your mom a hug.” She gave me a soft smile. Cooper let me go and then hugged Kipp. “Have a good few days, you two. I will call before I bring him back.” Her grin made me cringe inside. I didn’t want her to know anything about this. Kipp placed his hand on my lower back and we walked out to the porch. I watched them go, waving until I couldn’t see Julie’s truck anymore. Kipp wrapped his arms around my waist and held me tightly against him.
“I’ve waited for this moment all week,” he whispered in my ear before kissing the side of my neck. Tingles rocketed through me, straight to my core. Leaning back, I rested my head against his chest. The fact that he had been arranging this all week made it even more special.
“What about the guys, won’t they be back later?” I asked as my stomach wound itself into knots, thinking about people being in the house for our first time together.
“Nope, they go blow off some steam for a few days after branding, so we are alone.”
“Did you want to go with them?”
“Yes. It’s going to be an absolute hardship staying home with you.” His words sounded sad, but he kissed my shoulder and I could feel his growing arousal pressing against my rear end. “I don’t know how I’m ever going to survive,” he whispered before spinning me around so I was facing him. “What do you say we go for a ride and enjoy some alone time? I feel like I haven’t seen you in a month.” He wiggled his eyebrows and the silly grin across his face would have been enough for me to lie right here on the porch and let him do all the things to me.
“Let me go change into some jeans, and I will make a picnic.” I made no attempt to leave his arms, but he spun me to the door, and my dress twirled around my legs.
“Don’t be long. I’ll go saddle the horses.” He swatted my ass as I walked to the door. Pressing my hand to the spot, I shook my head. When I looked over my shoulder, I caught his wink before he turned to go to the barn. I’d never been one to fall head over heels for a man because I was afraid he couldn’t live up to my expectations, but Kipp was different. He accepted me for me, made it feel like Cooper was his and we were already a family. Only a good man could do that.
Pulling off my dress, I grabbed my jeans and tank top. Looking at myself in the mirror, I knew this outfit was playing with fire, but that was the point, right? The jeans hugged my ass like I’d been born in them. My shirt was low cut and probably wasn’t all that smart for riding in. Taking one last look at myself, I inhaled deeply and left my room.
Opening the fridge, I grabbed a few things and tossed them on the counter. Sandwiches would travel the best, so I made a few, grabbed a few drinks, and waited. Every moment that ticked by on the clock, my nerves became more raw. It was like each second they were being stripped back to nothing. Footsteps on the porch made me jump. He was back. The slap of the screen door sent the butterflies in my stomach into a full-blown panic. “Ready?” His low husky voice sounded like it was muffled underwater, and all I could do was nod. Please tell me I wasn’t about to faint at the thought of being alone with Kipp. That would be a total downer. Taking slow, deep breaths, the world stopped spinning as I followed him out of the house. He reached his hand out and I slid mine into it. Instantly, my fears were gone. The world stopped spiraling and it was just me and him. “I’ll put this stuff in my saddle bags,” he said, pointing at the other horse. “That one’s yours. I’ll help you in a second.” I looked at him and frowned. Did he think I needed help to mount up? Surely he’d realized I’m not a novice at riding. Walking to the horse, I ran my hand along its thick neck. It was the blue roan he’d been riding all week. She was beautiful. An older horse, but if he trusted her enough to rope off of, she must be sound. Slipping my foot into the stirrup, I pushed off the ground with my other leg and swung it over the horse. Settling into the saddle, I looked down at Kipp, arched my brow, and beamed as I saw the question in his eyes. “Right. Summers on a ranch.” The look he gave me was palpable, but he didn’t ask any questions.
“What’s her name?”
“Pepper.” Kipp tapped the horse he was on and I followed.
“It fits,” I decided, riding up beside him. The saddle under was the perfect fit, and I couldn’t believe how comfortable I felt on the back of a horse. Before coming to the ranch, I hadn’t ridden since I got pregnant with Cooper, and I was sure I would be nervous, but it felt like home and was easier every time I rode.
“Her original owner named her. I acquired her when I bought her ranch. She’s yours now.” Kipp said it so flippantly, I pulled up on Pepper’s reins and stopped.
“What do you mean, she’s mine?” I asked, as he was riding ahead of me. He did a double take before looking back at me. Without so much as a shift in the saddle, he spun his horse and came back to me, stopping, so our legs touched.
“What part don’t you get?” he challenged, leaning on the saddle horn, staring at me, his dark eyes boring into my soul. “I want you to have her. There are so many horses here, and I can’t ride them all, so if she’s yours, then you can go whenever you want.” He smiled and shrugged. Leaning over, I reached for his shirt and pulled him to me. His lips were millimeters from mine and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. With my other hand, I grabbed his neck and pulled him to me. I wanted him to drag me off this horse, set me in his lap and kiss me until I couldn’t breathe. Letting go, he sat back in his saddle and gazed off into the distance. “Your thank you’s are getting better.” He smirked when he turned back at me and winked. We both nudged the horses forward and trotted together.
I wanted Pepper to run. I wanted to see what she could do, so I kicked my legs and she was off like a shot. I leaned over slightly and let her do her thing. She cut through the air like a hot knife through butter. My hair flew behind me, tangling and whipping in the wind. My shirt untucked from my jeans, flapping at my back, and I was free. Closing my eyes, I trusted the horse. The wildflowers blooming wafted pollen into the air as Pepper’s hooves landed in the grass. I could hear the hoof beats of Kipp’s horse coming up fast. Taking one last breath, I opened my eyes and saw the blue sky and the green grass whizzing around me. Gently pulling up on the reins, the horse slowed and I was panting.
“Mind telling me what that was all about?” Kipp asked as he pulled to a walk beside me.
