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“You know I just like bugging her, right? She’s so uptight, and I’m aware of why but please Kipp, loosen the girl up.”
“I’m trying, Ms Lena. Oh boy, am I trying.”
“Stop talking about me!” Nora yelled from the living room. Sneaking a carrot off the cutting board, I went and sat with Nora.
“Are you happy you came here?” I shifted, so I was facing her.
“Very happy, thank you for all of this. I love you.” She leaned in and quickly brushed her lips over mine. “I’m going to help mom with lunch.” Reaching up, I took the straw out of her hair and smiled. She shook her head as she walked away. I got up and followed her to the kitchen.
Nora had put her arm around her mother’s waist and I heard her whisper, “Thanks, Mamma.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but if I did you’d be welcome.” They giggled and I headed out to find Ray and Cooper.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
NORA
Saying goodbye to my parents hurt more than I’d ever imagined, but they promised to come up soon and they would come for Christmas. The season had changed while we were gone, and the trees were dropping their leaves preparing for winter. The Flying Diamond 5 Ranch was busy with activity, making sure everything was done before the snow came. The guys had been watching the top of the mountain and the snow had been collecting quickly. I felt like I hadn’t seen Kipp for weeks.
Nash was getting his house ready to move into. He’d bought his father’s home and moved it to the ranch but it needed some work after being neglected for the last few years.
Sitting at the table, I waited for the guys to come back in. Cooper had been in bed for an hour already. He’d started kindergarten and wasn’t happy he was missing his time with Kipp. He lived for the days he wasn’t in school and the weekends.
Heavy footsteps on the porch was the sound I lived for, the door squeaked as it was opened and the commotion from outside was now in the house. There was a lot of shushing and loud whispers, since they all knew Cooper would be asleep.
“Dad?” A small voice called from his room and I watched my tired cowboy practically run to his son’s room.
“Sorry we’re late, Nora,” Nash said as he walked into the kitchen.
“No need to apologize, just fill your plates.” I smiled at the four men who were now like my brothers, uncles to our son, and the four men I trusted just as much as Kipp. There was cutlery scraping on plates, chewing, and a spattering of chatter, but when days were this late, there wasn’t much left in the tanks of these cowboys. Food and bed were their primary focus.
A quick peck on my cheek by a big, whiskered man made me smile as he finally came to eat. “He go back to sleep?” I asked as Kipp sat at the table. He nodded and stared at his empty plate, his shoulders hunched over and his eyes struggled to stay open.
“Thanks, Nora,” Ryder said as he brought his plate to the counter before he left the room. Nash, Linc, and Griff followed suit and it was just the two of us alone.
Sitting down next to Kipp, I gently put my hand on his. “You need to go to bed.” I was worried about all of them, they needed more help but were too stubborn to find people. Between the ranch here, and Dad’s in Texas, they were burning the candles on every side possible.
“Only if you’re coming with me.” His smile brightened his face but I knew how this would play out. By the time I got to bed he’d be sound asleep.
“I’ll be in shortly,” I promised, knowing it wouldn’t matter what time I got to bed. He pushed his chair back from the table and stood. Leaning over, he lifted my chin and his thumb caressed my neck. He pressed his mouth to mine. No words were needed, it was thank you, good night, and I love you all in one untamed kiss. Capturing his face between my hands, I held him to me for just a moment longer. He let his hand drop to my collarbone and gently ran his hand up my neck.
“Don’t be long,” he mumbled against me before standing back up and heading for our room. Grabbing his plate off the table, I finished cleaning up the kitchen and a sudden burst of energy coursed through my veins.
Turning the lights out in the kitchen was my favorite part of the day. Peeking into the room, Kipp had left the light on beside my pillow but he was already snoring. Quietly, I took my book off the nightstand, pulled a blanket up around him, and kissed his cheek. Moving stealthily, I went back to the living room and curled up in his chair. Running my hand over the cover of my book, I couldn’t help but smile, remembering what Kipp had said when I was so excited this series had arrived. You literally live these books, Nora. Why do you need to buy them? I will never understand why you need a fictional cowboy when you’ve got one right here. He’d swooped me up into his arms and carried me to bed. Do your book boyfriends do that? Laughing, we made love and he showed me that he’d been reading my books when I was done with them. We’d never had a boring sex life but that man was a quick study. Opening the book, I pulled a blanket over me and got lost in the world of love and cowboys.
Suddenly, I felt like I was falling, and my eyes flew open. A bare chested Kipp was carrying me to bed. “What are you doing? I was comfortable,” I grumbled.
“I was uncomfortable and alone.” He frowned. “You said you were coming to bed.”
“I came out here to read, I wasn’t tired.”
“That’s why you fell asleep in the chair?” He placed me on my side of the bed. “I don’t like waking up to your cold pillow.” He crawled over me and pulled his pillow next to mine.
“Oh, is the big cowboy pouting?” I was making fun of him, and I couldn’t stifle the laugh that escaped my pursed lips. A sharp sting landed on my left butt cheek. “Hey, I didn’t say a bad word.”
“No, but you were making fun of me, so it’s the same.” His words were a little garbled and I knew he was well on his way back to sleep.
Rolling over so I faced him, he opened his eyes slightly. “One of these days, I’m going to get you back for these spankings.”
