I don’t want him to leave; I have missed this so much. Just being with him. Being us. “Or, you could stay and we can watch a movie and argue about baby names?” I taunt.
I half expect him to make up an excuse for why he needs to leave, but he doesn’t. He kicks off his boots before walking over to the other side of the bed. The smile that stretches across my face literally hurts in the best way possible.
My full-size bed doesn’t leave a lot of extra room, but I don’t think that it would matter. Rhett sits close enough for our shoulders to touch. “I’m here as long as you want me. But let me get my phone out to start running ideas past you.”
“You’ve been writing down baby names?” I ask, slightly shocked.
“I’ve got more on my ‘absolutely not’ list, but yes. What movie do you want to watch?” he asks as he opens the notes app on his phone.
“You pick. You brought the food,” I offer.
“Wow, hell must be freezing over if you’re letting me pick a movie,” he jests, looking down at me with that twinkle of amusement in his eye.
“You better pick well or it’ll be your last time. No pressure.”
He shocks the hell out of me when he turns on ‘She’s the Man’, I whip my head around to him, having a smirk stretched across his face. “I’ll save the Westerns for next time.”
I groan. My dad made me watch so many Westerns. If I ever see a movie with John Wayne in it again, it’ll be too soon.
He starts reading through his no list, and we quickly fall back into our normal routine. His free hand begins to get comfortable and before you know it, it’s resting on my bare thigh. I try tofocus on his words, so in tune with his touch. His touch has always been like a soothing balm on an invisible ache. Before long, I feel my eyes getting heavy and I know I’m about to break one of my cardinal rules. At this point, the rules are futile; my heart’s his. Always has been.
Chapter 19
Rhett
My eyes blink open and I try to remember the last time I felt this rested. Or good. When my wits come about me, I realize why.
Aspen's bare thigh is draped across my body. Her head nestled into my chest and my arms wrapped around her. Fuck, even in my sleep I can’t keep away from her. My mind, body, and soul gravitate to her. She’s the center of my universe even when I don’t want to admit it.
I don't want to give in to that part of myself. Not until I get the results. Not until I know I could be a good partner for her. My hand drags absent-minded circles on her lower back.
I need to get to work. Weston’s probably wondering where the hell I am, but I can’t convince myself to move. Because right now, I have all I ever wanted. The girl I adore in my arms, my baby in her belly. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted and it’s sodamn close, but I’m terrified. When the results come in, I have to face that fear. All of them.
Before my phone starts blowing up, I need to get out of this bed. Aspen is finally sleeping, and I’d like to keep her that way. As gently as I can, I untangle from her and slip out of bed, grabbing my boots and putting them on in the living room so I don’t wake her up. I slip out the door, leaving my heart in Aspen’s bed.
Mav, Weston, and I drive out to the south pasture to check on the herd. Shockingly, I wasn’t the only one running late, so I managed to slip under the radar. We have a lot to do today, though. Last year was a really successful breeding season, and this year's sales should be the best yet. But that means herd checks can take a hell of a lot longer. I look over at Weston, who is now running the whole operation, and feel nothing but pride. He wasn’t sure he had it in him to run this, but I knew he could. He was born into it, and I somehow was lucky enough to befriend him in elementary school.
It’s easy for me to get stuck in my head about all the things that have shaken out. Especially in times like these, I feel like I've been waiting on those results for a lifetime. It’s within reach now, but God, having that answer terrifies the fuck out of me. Even though my straw was the short one, I was one lucky bastard to end up here. With a second family like this. A job I truly love. A roof over my head. A life many beg and pray for.
“Guessing this one isn’t getting much sleep at home with that new baby?” Weston jokes as he nods his head to Maverick passed out in the back seat. “I wish we had a Sharpie right now.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Let the poor guy rest. We know he operates just fine on two or three hours so he must’ve slept five minutes last night.”
“If he is this tired by himself, I wonder how the hell my sister is going to do it.” He shakes his head as worry takes over his expression, brows knitting together.
“She won’t be alone,” I say confidently and without thinking.
West looks over to me with a crooked brow. “Last time I checked, she still hasn’t whispered the name of the fucking loser that’s left her high and dry.”
“Just because she hasn’t told you doesn’t mean that he’s left her,” I argue and Weston grunts so I go on, “You don’t think that just maybe she is protecting the sorry sucker from your wrath?”
I know, without a doubt, that the majority of the reason she hasn’t wanted to tell him is me. She’s worried about what I already have on my plate and doesn’t want to stack more on it. I wonder if she ever takes herself into consideration. She’s always worried about other people and how her actions will make them feel. I know part of it is her worrying about their relationship but I know Weston, he will forgive her instantly. Me on the other hand? That’s up for debate.
“I guess I didn’t think about that. I’m not sure why she would be worried.”
“She’s probably fucking terrified, West. She’s having a baby, her whole life is about to change. I can assume she doesn’t want to let her big brother down. You may not see it, but she looks up to you, you know.”
“I guess you’re right. But in my mind, the dude is on my shit list. He doesn’t have the balls to come and meet her family and show us he’s going to step up?”
