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“Yeah. Call me spoiled, but I want to give you time to get back on your feet and then maybe we could see where things lead.”
“Okay,” she answered without hesitation.
“I don’t want to pressure you. Please don’t feel the need to do or say anything you don’t want to.”
She smiled. “Okay.”
“All right.” I chuckled, feeling a bit silly. “Is there anything else you wanted to look for?”
“No. I’m ready to check out and go if you are.”
“I am.”
We headed to the register. As the cashier rang up the purchases, I could see Miranda bouncing on the balls of her feet. I was happy to be able to treat her to something nice. She deserved that after all she had been through.
Chapter 6
It was a few days after our shopping trip and Miranda and I had gotten into a pleasant schedule for our days. I awoke at 4:00 a.m. as always. I’d quietly get dressed and start my morning chores. After spending a few hours in the fields, I’d come inside, shower, and be by her side when she woke up at around 8:30. I was happy that she was sleeping in. She needed it. Once dressed, we’d go downstairs, Champ at our heels, eat breakfast, and then she’d come with me to help with chores in the stable. In all honesty, she was spending time with Romeo, Juliet, and Champ while I did most of the work, but I was more than okay with that. Being with the horses was therapeutic for her, or at least I thought so. Except for the first day, when she and Romeo had a rough introduction, they were growing to be best of friends now.
After this, we’d go back to the main house and eat lunch. Turned out, Miranda was an excellent cook. She had a knack for making a decent meal out of any ingredients at her disposal. Not being a chef myself, I turned the responsibility of food preparation over to her capable hands.
Despite her protests, she would grow tired at this point during the day, and I’d put her down for a nap in my office while I worked on paperwork to keep the ranch running. I ended up moving Champ’s bed in here because she would not leave my guest’s side while she was asleep. I figured if they were going to nap together, they might as well both be comfortable.
Once Miranda woke up, she’d go off to the library to read as I finished up whatever work I was doing, and sometimes I’d go out to the bunkhouse where the ranch hands resided. My grandfather had built it years ago, wanting his men to have a comfortable place to live. Since all the hands were currently bachelors, the house had turned into a large man cave. I had spent a fair amount of time living there myself after I graduated from high school. However, after my parents died, I moved back into the main house, simply because I felt closer to them in spirit there.
I’d be greeted by my employees and see how they had progressed for the day, while also sharing a beer and a few funny tales. I also wanted to see if anyone had heard or seen Declan. Thankfully, no one had so far, and I prayed it meant he had left to search another town, or better yet, gotten it through his thick skull that Miranda didn’t want him, and he’d packed up and gone home. My hopes increased at Travis’ report about Miranda’s car.
While we were out shopping, I had him examine her vehicle from top to bottom to make sure it hadn’t been tampered with. Fixing up cars was a hobby of his. I wanted someone I trusted explicitly to look over Miranda’s. When we got back, he had reported it hadn’t been as far as he could tell. Kyle was texting me every day about his search through the police networks but had no new intel.
After an hour at most, I’d head home to eat. Occasionally, Luke would join Miranda and I for dinner as well. For the most part, I enjoyed his company, except when he had Miranda shooting chocolate milk out of her nose from laughing so hard at stories he told. She needed her nourishment, not to have it shoot out one of her nostrils.
Like old spinsters, we were in bed by 8:30 and asleep no later than 9:00. As per our agreement, I tucked her into bed each night with Champ lying at her feet. There had been no funny business, not that I was complaining. I wanted her to come to me when she was ready to possibly take our relationship to the next level if she ever was.
We hadn’t even discussed her thoughts on an age-play relationship yet. Until we did, I didn’t foresee us having a romantic relationship. There was no use starting something if she wasn’t interested in a fundamental need of mine.
“Austin?”
“Yes, Miranda?” I asked, glancing up from my computer screen to the beautiful woman who was bundled up in a blanket on my office couch. Her hazel eyes were still a bit foggy from sleep, and her silky light-brown hair was askew.
“What were you thinking about? You looked like you were a million miles away from here,” she said, as her small fists rubbed her eyes. It was a habit of hers I found immensely cute.
I smiled at her. “I was thinking about us and how the pattern of our days have fallen.”
“Do you like them?” She softly bit her lower lip.
My cock stirred as I imagined how her lips would feel the first time I kissed them. How her juices would taste as I lapped them up after making her come.
“Austin?”
I shook my head, focusing back on the question she had asked. “Of course, I do. I love spending time with you.” I stood, walked over to the couch, and took a seat on the edge.
Champ was passed out cold on her bed and didn’t budge from her spot.
“Right back at ya.”
“Is that all you enjoy here?” I asked, curious as to what else she’d say.
She smiled and shook her head. “There are too many things to count. I love this ranch. I have never felt so at peace in my entire life. Having access to your gigantic library, being around animals, getting to look out into the open pastures on a clear day. Whoever thought my crazy life would lead me to stay in a place like this?”
