There was something different about her tonight, something I couldn't quite place. She'd been moping around the ranch since Lincoln had been gone, but now that he was back, there was a lightness that hadn't been there earlier.
I couldn't stay mad at her if I tried.
Josie raised her hands. "All I'm saying is that if you and Cleo hadn't, my life wouldn't be nearly as amazing as it is now. So, maybe one day you'll be thanking me for the beer."
bishop
. . .
I lookedover the lip of my coffee mug, smiling as Lennox stepped out of my shitty little box shower. Beads of water dripped down her body as she hastily grabbed the towel I’d left out for her and ran it over her skin. My gold necklace glinted in the shitty lighting, and I watched as she ghosted her fingertips across the chain. She’d been obsessed with the thing, always eyeing it and me when I had it on. If it made her that happy, I’d give it to her. Looked better on her than me anyway.
She’d spent the night tangled in my sheets and my arms, and now she was in my space getting ready for the day. Neither one of us had grabbed much sleep, instead falling into our new normal routine of lazy fucking and long talks. The lack of rest was starting to catch up with me, but that’s why I had coffee. I could sleep when I was dead; I wanted to spend every waking moment with her.
Lennox hummed as she wiped away the condensation on my mirror, running her fingers along the underside of her eyes. “I think you’re trying to kill me,” she called.
“Is that right?” I asked.
“Mmhm.” Lennox stepped away from the sink and leaned inthe bathroom doorway. “Look at these dark circles under my eyes. There’s no amount of concealer to cover this up.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I can’t tell from here. You better move closer.”
Her bare feet padded against the hardwood floor, a smile slowly spreading across her lips. “Eyesight not what it used to be? Should we get you some glasses?”
I patted my thigh, and that was the only invite she needed. Lennox crawled into my lap, resting her head on my shoulder as I wrapped my arms around her. “I already have some.”
“What?” she asked, looking around. “How come I’ve never seen them?”
I shrugged. “I don’t wear them much. They get in the way at work.”
“Why don’t you use contacts then?”
“Never much liked the idea of putting something in my eye,” I admitted. “It kinda freaks me out.”
She pulled back, scrunching her face. “You’re a cowboy.”
I waited for her to elaborate, but she didn’t. “And?”
“So you can stick your hand up a cow’s vagina to check their cervix while they’re calving, but you can’t put a contact in your own eye?”
“Yeah, it’s my job, and can save lives. What’s a contact gonna do? My eyesight isn’t that bad. I just need the glasses when I’m reading.”
I realized my mistake too late. Way too goddamn late if Lennox’s bright eyes were any indication.
“Wait, wait, wait... Did you say read?” she asked, laughing. “What? Do you have a secret smut addiction or something?”
I shifted in my seat. “No, I read reports and shit.”
“And shit,” she deadpanned.
“Yeah. What’s wrong with that?”
Lennox stared at me for a minute before hopping to her feetand shuffling toward my nightstand. “What’re you doing?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even.
“Condoms, lube, batteries,” she murmured, rifling through my stuff. “But no glasses.” She shut the drawer, turning and looking around. Her eyes settled on my dresser, and I knew she’d figured it out.
We both moved at the same time. For a man of my size, I should’ve made it there first, but Lennox was surprisingly fast. Her fingers curled around the knob and pulled the top drawer open.
At first glance, it looked like your average underwear and sock drawer. I hoped it was enough to keep her away, but I knew better. She began rifling around, messing up any semblance of order I had. My stomach dropped when she let out a triumphant little shriek, holding up a little black glasses case.
