“Go, go,” I tell Willa when I see her man standing all alone with a smile on his face the minute he sees her.
“But I?—”
She’s always worrying about everyone else’s feelings, even now. “Girl, go. I’m not going anywhere. Go smooch!”
She rolls her eyes and does as I say.
The ranch is about to be empty again. No more children running around or busy schedules. It will be time to reset, and I’m so excited at the potential of helping do so this time around.
“Hey, Firefly,” Dom’s raspy voice says from behind me, eliciting goosebumps down my back and bringing a warmth I’ve come to associate with him.
Falling in love with this man so fast has been the scariest thing I’ve been through in my life, but in the best way. I’m still terrified, but at least I’m terrified with him.
“Hey, cowboy.” I turn as he takes my hand and pulls me to his chest. No kids around means we can be public about our feelings, and this man’s feelings are really loud.
I love it.
He grunts. “Not a cowboy.”
“Same, same.” A giggle escapes me as I link my fingers behind his neck, the same way the unwavering, all-encompassing feeling of being comfortable in his arms wraps around my heart.
I love him.
There’s no denying that.
These past two months exploring our relationship out in the open, not in the shadows, has taken away the forbidden allurement, but it has opened up the door to a love I never thought possible, let alone at my age, in my home.
“I didn’t know if you were going to make it. You’ve been so busy doing cowboy things.”
His narrow eyes threaten me, but just with a good time, nothing else. Hell, I’ll take a good time with this man any time. “Iwas busy, but work will always be there. You wanted to come to this, and I wanted to be here for you.”
I take his cheek in my hand. “Awww, look at you, softening up. I’m starting to believe you’re a ‘looks like he could kill, but is a cinnamon roll’ kind of guy.”
“Riley, what?”
“Ugh, nothing. You wouldn’t know, given your old age and such.”
He smacks my ass, pulling a yelp from me, then flinches when he realizes what he just did, in front of everyone.
“Get a room!” someone shouts.
“Nah, we have two of those. This is just fine!” I reply before closing the space between our lips. The way he kisses me is like ahelloand ayou belong hereall in one. It’s my favorite treat after a long day and before starting a new one.
He groans on my lips when my hands tug at his hair, breaking the kiss in one motion, dropping his lips to the shell of my ear. “Not now, not if you don’t want to give them a show.”
His voice is filled with desire, and if I didn’t truly want to enjoy this last night with these people before the quiet settles again, I would take the challenge.
“Fine. Let’s go enjoy our friends like regular people, I guess.”
“I brought you something too.” I notice for the first time the bag he’s holding.
“Oh yeah? I love presents. Gimme, gimme.”
Dom shakes his head but hands me the bag, nonetheless. Inside, there’s a wooden box with a clear front and lettering that reads ‘Paper Messages’, splattered with paint. It’s beautiful.
Wait.
“Is this what you painted in my last class?” Dom has been taking my late Friday night classes and then helping me clean up while simultaneously making a mess of me.
