Page 19 of Tack’s Bounty

“Let’s go use the tractor, and Stinger, keep this place quiet. I don’t want one of the guys accidentally saying something in front of people we don’t know,” Tack ordered.

Tack waited while Sophia locked the door. Tilting her chin up, he tasted her one more time before reluctantly leaving. She was still standing in front of the door when he turned back to check on her. He motioned for her to head back toward the house, then chuckled when she stuck her tongue out before striding toward the activity by the house.

He walked with Stinger to the tractor.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Stinger offered.

“No, you’re not, but we have a lot to get done,” Tack replied.

Chapter Eleven

Tack had showered in the clinic’s bathroom. He’d been dusty with dirt everywhere after he and Stinger had moved the panels with the tractor, setting up a clear place to park. They’d had some panels left over, so Sophia had directed them to set up a secondary corral connected to the barn. It allowed her to have some of the bigger animals available for petting, but the animals weren’t running loose.

With all the people staying at the farm, they were using all the bedrooms and bathrooms. His mom had fed them outside since the kitchen hadn’t been big enough for everyone staying, and she’d mentioned their filth wasn’t invading the food prep space.

He’d organized a couple of the Prospects to keep an eye out tonight. They’d take turns patrolling the grounds, varying their routines and routes. Cuffs was going to stay up tonight monitoring all the video feeds, then catch a quick three-hour nap when everyone got up at six a.m., before the event started at nine. Sophia wanted to be prepared, and his woman was quite the organizer.

Tack had been irritated when his mom had told him about Jolene watching Sophia from her windows with binoculars, but he’d been livid when he’d witnessed it himself. He’d walked out front to the street and turned back toward the house to check the line of sight. He’d love to know what Jolene thought of the modifications to her view.

Tack had called a friend who was in charge of big displays for events at venues. He’d come out and set up a thirty-foot-tall sign that was thirty feet wide. He erected it against the fence and between the fence and the sidewalk. His friend had even added letters and information about Sophia’s adoption event with times. It looked as if it was there for the adoption event, but it was really Tack’s way of blocking Jolene from seeing the house, inside the house, or anything in the front yard.

The faint smell of cooking was in the air. His mom had made cookies for tomorrow. She’d smacked Shield’s hand when he’d tried to snitch a handful. She was taking care of breakfast, with Pit’s KC Barbecue providing lunch and supper tomorrow. His mom wanted to help out, but he also knew it was her way of showing him she liked Sophia and wanted to get to know her better. Sophia had offered his mom one of the farmhouse’s six bedrooms to stay in.

Although Tack would love nothing better than to lie by Sophia tonight, he wasn’t going to ask. And fuck yeah, he’d love to sink between Sophia’s curvy thighs tonight, worshiping each and every inch of her luscious, curvy body, but even if they were ready for that, his woman needed sleep. She’d worked hard today, and tomorrow would be even more strenuous. In the interest of not wanting to listen to Lake or Freedom talk about his chest or his “defined” abs, he was wearing a T-shirt with his shorts to sleep in.

He grabbed a bottle of water before heading into the front room. He’d had one of the Prospects bring over the club’s sleeping bags. He was planning on just sacking out on the floor of the front room if the couch was already taken. After being in the military, he could sleep anywhere.

“Tack,” Sophia called softly.

He turned to see Sophia standing on the bottom stair, a short, silky robe belted at the waist. Her hair was drying around her shoulders, and her face was free of makeup. She looked gorgeous.

“Yeah, babe?”

She didn’t say anything, and this was one time he wished she was speaking her thoughts, so he’d know what she needed. He waited, but she was still quiet. He walked toward her, pausing at the staircase. The stair had her taller, and he could see the indecision in her eyes.

Cupping her face, he leaned close. “What do you need, babe?”

She swallowed, placing a hand on his chest to lean closer. “Will you sleep beside me and hold me? I…”

He kissed her nose, leaning his forehead against hers. “I’d be honored to hold you while you sleep. We have a big day tomorrow,” he agreed, winking, leading her up the stairs to her room.

He waited until she picked the side she was comfortable with, which just happened to be the one farthest from the door, which made his job easier. He could protect her, and she’d still be on the side she liked to sleep on.

He pulled the covers back and lay down, holding his arm out. She turned and snuggled close to him—her head on his shoulder, her hair trailing down his chest. He needed to work on forgetting how perfect her breast felt pressed against his side.

“Can I…” she paused. Her legs were ramrod straight down his side. She was so stinkin’ cute, being embarrassed about asking him, but they’d be working on that. Nothing she needed was embarrassing or off-limits. She’d learn, but for tonight, he’d take care of her without her asking.

He reached down to her knee, pulling her thigh across his. She snuggled closer, getting comfortable. This might be torture lying here with her, but it was a start.

“Perfect,” she whispered.

He thought with how big tomorrow was, she might have trouble falling asleep, but between one deep breath and the next, her body relaxed, her breathing deepening.

Tack closed his eyes, knowing Cuffs was watching out for them, and tomorrow he’d get to watch his woman find people to adopt and foster. He loved her big heart for animals and how she’d just accepted all the people invading her house to help. She rolled with the punches, always ready to pivot if needed.

He held in a chuckle because he didn’t want to wake her, but he couldn’t wait to see who all Pudding took out tomorrow. He wondered what donkeys liked to eat, and maybe he could make friends with the little guy and bribe him. Tack needed his nuts intact because someday, down the road, he was putting a baby in Sophia and watching her grow round with his child.

But before that could be a reality, they needed to figure out who had it out for her. There was something off about her ex-mother-in-law, but it didn’t necessarily mean that she was the one leaving dead squirrels on the porch. There’s no way that old biddy could run that fast.