Page 82 of Broken Boundaries

“I’d like that.”

He goes on to tell me how Jade is doing in pre-school and what she’s interested in. He smiles the entire time he talks about her. It’s great to see one of my friends so happy. I’m glad his shot at fatherhood is going so much better than mine did.

We finish our lunch and then get back to work on the fence. After a few more hours of hammering and tightening and making sure everything is lined up, we’re done with the section we were replacing.

We clean up our work area, and then I head back home. Aspen’s car is gone, so I head inside to take a shower and straighten up a bit. Her scent still lingers in my bedroom, and I realize I miss her. It’s been less than ten hours and I miss her. I have it so bad for her. There’s no denying that. Now I’ve got to figure out a way to tell Zach without losing my son forever.

A little while later, I look out the front window and see Aspen’s car. I waste no time walking over there and knocking on her door.

“Hey, what’s up?” she says when she answers the door. Her curls are down today, and her cheeks are pink even though I can tell she has very little makeup on. She’s fucking gorgeous, and now she’s all mine.

“What are you doing?” I ask, leaning against the door frame.

“Oh, I was just hanging out a little bit.”

“Why aren’t you hanging out at my place?”

She shrugs her shoulders. “I thought you might want some time by yourself. I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”

“Not possible. And I don’t want alone time. I want to spend all my time with you.”

She tries to hold back her smile, but it doesn’t work. Good. I want her to be happy about spending time with me.

“Now, let’s go.” I bend down and pick her up, putting her over my shoulder fireman-style. I give her ass a nice little smack.

“Brooks!”

“Everything ok back there?” I ask from over my shoulder.

“I can walk, you know,” she calls back.

“Yeah, but this is more fun.”

She laughs, but I don’t set her down until we’re back inside my house.

CHAPTER 30

Aspen

Fingertips tickle the side of my face. I inhale deeply and know exactly who it is. I spent all night wrapped up in Brooks’s arms. It was blissful, and I’m scared I’m going to get used to it too quickly. He feels like a drug that I can’t get enough of.

“Good mornin’, darlin’.” He runs his nose down mine before giving me a quick kiss on the lips.

I stretch out my legs and slowly crack my eyes open. It’s still dark in the bedroom.

“What time is it?” I ask him.

“Early. But I was kinda hopin’ you’d be up for a morning ride to watch the sunrise.”

This man loves to ride, and I’m starting to enjoy it just as much. If not for the beautiful views, then for the time I get to spend with him. “That sounds amazing.”

“Good. Let’s get going then.”

Brooks jumps out of bed, while it takes me a minute to slowly roll out on my side. We brush our teeth side by side in his bathroom before getting dressed. He lets me borrow one of his shirts, and I tuck it into my jeans from yesterday before I slide into my boots. Boots are slowly becoming part of my daily wardrobe. I have two pairs now. One for riding, one for daily use.

The ranch is quiet at this time of the morning. There’s no one out. Not even Beck is at the stables yet.

“Will we get in trouble for taking the horses out?” I ask as Brooks gets the saddle situated on my horse. Sparkles is quiet but clearly excited to go out.