After a few moments, she leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. I gently returned her kiss, slow and following her lead.
She let out a nervous sigh. “Oh umm...Well, I'm going to, umm...Thank you for breakfast” She scrambled off the bed and left the room.
I stayed frozen where she left me, the warmth of her lips still lingering on mine. For half a second, my body screamed to follow her—catch her wrist, gently pull her back to me, and show her she had nothing to be embarrassed about. But I forced myself to stay. She did not need me crowding her. Not when she was still piecing herself back together.
I leaned back against the headboard, running a hand over my beard as I let out a breath. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth despite the way she'd bolted. "Here I thought breakfast with her would be the best part of my morning," I muttered to the empty room.
My chest tightened. Not from doubt but from certainty. She'd kissed me. She wanted me. She just might not be ready to believe I wanted her just as much—hell, maybe more.
I stretched out on the bed, staring at the ceiling, letting the smile win. "Take your time, Sunshine." I whispered. “I’m not going anywhere."
Chapter 28
Rae
Caleb was outside cleaningthe barn. I was supposed to help him, but after running away was too embarrassed to go outside. I had changed clothes and then paced back and forth in the spare room for thirty minutes until the guilt of him working out there alone won over.
I walked into the living room and headed toward the kitchen window to see if I could spot Caleb. I watched as he walked out of the barn and then back in, carrying bags of what I assumed was chicken feed. Now I felt worse because that was part of what I had asked to help with.
I walked onto the porch and right away felt the temperature difference from the cool house. It was really warm for a spring day. I noticed the humidity in the air and some small puddles on the ground. It must have rained last night. I needed to change shoes before I went out on the property, so I walked back inside and found some of Caleb’s extra rain boots by the front door.
There was a small note on the toe of one of the boots. I picked it up and it felt as if my heart was melting the second I started reading.
I noticed it rained overnight. I would hate for your shoes to get muddy, so I left these for you to wear if you want. Sorry, I don’t have any that fit you, but your new ones will be here tomorrow night.
Yours,
Ranger
I reread the note again and tears prickled the backs of my eyes. The constant kindness he had shown me since I got here—I didn’t deserve it. And the words“yours, Ranger”made my heart race. I quickly walked to my room to put the note on the nightstand before walking back to the front door. I was definitely keeping it.
Since it was hot outside, I grabbed a couple of cold water bottles from the refrigerator and put on the rain boots he had left me. They were way too big for me, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to be out there with him.
When I stepped out on the porch again, I saw him walk into the barn, Duke following close behind. Caleb’s muscles were flexing under his shirt, and it sent heat through my body.
I was still beating myself up for kissing him, and even worse, running away. How stupid was I to kiss him? He was just being nice since I told him about my ex the other night. There was no way he would ever fall for someone as broken as me. Right?
