Page 80 of Broken Boundaries

“What about back in Florida?”

“No. I had acquaintances and things, but no one I really confided in or would have sleepovers with or anything. And no one I still talk to.” It feels like a freaking sob story, but honestly, I wouldn’t change it. I didn’t want to be friends with most of the people at my high school because they were all too judgmental.

“So you’re saying I ruined your first friend sleepover?”

I smirk in his direction. “Yeah, but I’m sure whatever Jazz and I were going to do wouldn’t have been as fun as what we did.”

He chuckles. “Good.”

“So what are your plans today?” I ask, trying to get the conversation off of me.

“I’ve gotta go do a little work in the stables with Beck, but tonight I want you here with me.”

I try to hold back my smile, but I’m excited that he wants me to come back again tonight. I was worried we would wake up this morning and he would’ve changed his mind.

“I think I can be available.”

“Oh, you think?” He puts two fingers under my chin and turns my face toward his before he leans in for a soft kiss.

“Yeah, I can be available if there’s more of that.”

“There will definitely be more of that and some other stuff too.”

“Ok. Then I’ll come over again tonight.”

“Good.”

He gives me another kiss before we finish eating. I watch him change into those damn jeans I love so much, and he kisses me goodbye before he heads out for work.

CHAPTER 29

Brooks

I ride up to the stables, ready to get to work with Beck. He’s just getting back from a ride on one of the horses, so I wait for him to get her back in her stall before we start fixing the fence on the round pen. It’s a pretty simple fix and shouldn’t take all day. We’ve got to tear down a section of the fence that has seen better days and replace it with new, sturdier wood.

I used to spend so much time out here when I was younger. Before I took over the ranch, the stables were my second home. I’ve ridden around this ring so many times and taught hundreds of kids to ride here, too. Even Zach.

He was so excited the first time his mom agreed that I could teach him to ride. It’s one of my favorite memories with him. He was a natural. Wasn’t even scared of how big the horse was or anything. He just wanted to ride.

After that, we rode together a lot until he decided he wanted nothing to do with the ranch. It still kills me that he pulled away from me so much, but I’ve tried my hardest to accept his decision.

I’m afraid he’s only going to pull away more when he learns about Aspen and me. I know I fucked up, and I know he’s going to be pissed, but there’s something between us that I can’t deny anymore.

It’s more than a physical attraction. It feels so right being with her. And last night… fuck. It was amazing. Better than I ever thought it could be. And when I woke up and saw her lying next to me, her hand gently resting on the pillow by my head like she just wanted to be close to me, I felt like everything was perfect. In that moment, in our little bubble, nothing else mattered.

I want her to feel important. I want her to know that I want her. As much as I wish I could’ve stayed away for the sake of my relationship with my son, she makes me happier than I’ve been in a long time.

Which becomes embarrassingly obvious when Beck calls me out on it after we’ve been working for a few hours.

“You seem to be in a good mood today,” he says as he hammers a nail into the two-by-four.

“Why do you say that?”

“Uh, you’re whistling, man.”

Oh, shit. Was I? I hadn’t even noticed. “Oh. Guess I just slept good last night.”

He laughs. “Whatever you say, man.”