In the back of my mind, I knew there’d need to be conversations with Dad about what happened with Ellis. After all, I’d not only broken up with him, I’d fired him too. It probably wasn’t the best decision with everything going on.
As for Lincoln, well, neither of us knew what tomorrow would look like, or if the haze clouding our minds would clear come sunrise. But some part of me recognized that if I didn’t let go of his hand… I’d never need to face life alone.
“What’s going through that head of yours?” he whispered.
“You,” I admitted, groaning as I felt the swollen skin around his knuckles. “I really would feel much better if we wrapped that hand up.”
“I can do it when I get to the bunkhouse,” he said, brows furrowed. “I’m sure one of the guys is up. They can help.”
“Or I could do it,” I said, bringing my gaze to meet his. “There’s a first aid kit in the barn.”
His throat bobbed as he nodded. “Well, I do think I’d like your hands on me much better.”
josie
. . .
I movedto open the door, but Lincoln was around the truck in a matter of seconds. He held out his good hand for me to take, closing the door quietly in case Dad was still up.
The barn was a short walk from the house, separated in the middle by a tall windmill. Lincoln’s hand found mine on instinct, and I eagerly intertwined our fingers. It felt familiar.Comfortable. Like we’d been doing it for years and this was nothing more than a natural part of our day.
We opened the barn door, greeted by the dim night lights lining the pathway toward the offices. Most of the horses paid us no mind as we went, though Sundance and Silver stuck their nosy little heads out for pats as we walked by.
Dad’s office was at the far end of the barn. He’d designed it that way so he could always hear the stomping of boots or the jingle of spurs coming. I switched on the light as we walked in and pointed toward the desk. “Take a seat over there.”
Lincoln laughed. “Are you always this bossy?” I didn’t answer, turning with my hands on my hips and waited until he did as I said. “Yes, ma’am,” he said, holding his hands up in surrender.
“Stubborn ass,” I muttered as I pulled pain relievers and a wrap from the drawer. We always kept this thing stocked since accidents occurred on a semi-regular basis. It was always one of two things that caused trouble: Cowboys getting complacent or showing off. Both were recipes for disaster.
Dad always said that was why he kept the kit in his office. He wanted to make sure no one got away with that shit without a verbal warning and he got a good laugh.
“Give me your hand,” I said, holding my own out. I stepped between Lincoln’s legs, feeling them close in on either side of my thighs as I worked.
I was all too aware of how similar the positioning was from the first night he kissed me, only this time, I felt in control of the situation. Lincoln’s body was warm and inviting, and the scent of rich leather clung to his skin.
“You’re good at this,” he said. I tightened the wrap, and he winced. “Sort of.”
“You’re not the only one with a proclivity for fighting.”
His eyes darkened, turning to near glistening black coals. “Who else have you been wrapping up then?” he bit out.
My lips twitched. It would be so fun to torture him, even if only for a second. “Well, there’s Bishop. He’s got a big temper. Though, he usually punches things that don’t move. That angry fool has had to patch the wall in his office so many times, I’ve lost count. And then, surprisingly enough, there’s Lennox.”
His brows shot up at that. “Lennox?”
“Mmhm,” I said, securing the wrap. “She’s always been a little scrappy. Her teachers had mom and dad on speed dial growing up. They got plenty of calls that she’d kicked some kid’s ass on the playground.” I shrugged. “They almost always deserved it. And she didn’t discriminate either. Whether it was a group of mean girls picking on someone or a boy who wouldn’t learn to take nofor an answer…” My voice faltered at the end, but I pushed through. “She always did what was right.”
Lincoln laughed, tipping his head up to the ceiling. It bared his throat, and I couldn’t help the thoughts I had about running my tongue along his day-old stubble. “It makes so much sense now,” he said.
“What does?”
“When she and I were dancing earlier, she threatened to kill me if I broke your heart. Said there were a million places to hide a body out here.” He shook his head. “Guess I might have to take her threats seriously then.”
I smiled at that. Knowing Lennox’s ferocity, she’d do it too. I could only imagine what Cleo and Bishop were dealing with back at the bar. “Better heed that warning then, cowboy. I’d hate to cover up such a pretty crime.”
“Aw, you think I’m pretty, huh?”
I rolled my eyes and stepped out from between his legs when I finished. Lincoln flexed his fingers. “How’s it feel?” I asked.
