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When we arrived, the three cows were in much worse shape than I hoped. We worked as quickly as we could to save them, but still lost one. The poor girl had already lost too much blood by the time we arrived. I had to perform surgery on another, and they both needed more stitches than I could count.

We hop out of the truck. Joseph comes to my side of the truck and helps me unload the medical supplies.

“Hey.” He nods his head in the direction behind me. When I turn around, Jessica is standing in the doorway of the barn next to Naomi.

A grin spreads across my face. The sight of her alone is enough to revive me and chase away the exhaustion from my morning.

Joseph chuckles and says, “Looks like you got the girl to me, bro.”

“Oh, shut it.” I elbow him as he walks by. All he does is snort and keep walking.

“Hey, Jessie Cat,” he says as we near the barn. “I’d hug you but as you can see …” He holds his arms out to his side so she and Naomi could see the full effect of the morning we had.

“Oh, my God.” Jessica gasps and covers her mouth. “What in the hell happened to you two?”

Her eyes dart between us, widening more with each pass she takes. We’re both covered in blood and probably look like something that just stepped out of a horror movie. When her gaze finally holds on mine, I answer her. “Wolf attack on some cows. It was bad, and involved surgery and lots of stitches.”

We stare at each other in silence for what feels like an eternity. I hear Joseph clear his throat next to me before he speaks. “Well, I’m gonna head home and shower. It’s good to have you back Jess.” He turns to me and smiles. “See you at Sunday dinner.”

I nod but don’t take my eyes off Jessica.

“I’m heading out, too.” Naomi says as she points toward her car. “The rest of your afternoon is clear.”

Within seconds, both of them are pulling out of the driveway, leaving me alone with Jessica.

“You came back.” I step toward her, stopping when I’m only inches away from her.

Her breath hitches and her throat bobs as she swallows. “I told you I would.”

“I know, but you’ve been so … I don’t know, vague about your return date. You had me worried.”

Her shoulders sag. “I didn’t mean to worry you. I wanted to surprise you.” She looks around us and holds her hands up out to her side and smiles. “Surprise!”

Her action causes me to smile and shake my head. “God, I want to kiss you right now. But I need a shower.”

“That you do.” She cups my cheek, leans up, and kisses me, careful not to touch my blood covered clothes. When she pulls away, her eyes are filled with desire. “I’ve been driving for hours and could use a shower myself. What do you say we head inside and take care of that?”

My jeans tighten at her suggestion, and my smile grows. “I can get down with that.” I look behind me at the truck in my spot. “Is that yours?”

“Yeah. Naomi helped me unload my horse. We put her in the empty stall in the back.”

I turn back to her and frown. “You drove here with your horse? Alone?”

“Well, yeah.” She chuckles. “I’m moving here and couldn’t very well leave her behind.”

“You should’ve told me. I would’ve flown out and drove back with you. That had to be hard by yourself.”

She pops her hip out and puts her hands on her hips. “I’m more than capable of pulling a trailer from Seattle to here. I’m not helpless.”

I growl at her sass. “Jesus woman, I’ve missed you.” I thread my fingers into her hair and tug her lips to mine. I take her mouth hard and fast. When I pull away, I smile at the pinkness in her lips and the way her eyes flutter open. “I know you’re capable. Hell, you can do any damn thing you put your mind to.That’s not the point. The point is you should’ve let me help you.”

“A little late for that now,” she says, breathless.

I release her and study the drunken expression in her eyes. It’s a look I’ll never tire of seeing on her. The look that says I’m all she needs and wants and desires. “Come on, let’s go see about that shower.”

I adjustthe temperature of the shower until it's hot enough to soothe my aching muscles. I pull my shirt over my head and turn to toss it in the laundry basket by the door. Jessica is leaning on the door frame watching me with a heated gaze. I undo my jeans and shimmy out of them, leaving me in nothing but my boxers.

“Come here.” I wave her toward me, and she obeys. When she stops in front of me, I slip my hands beneath her shirt and lift it over her head. My eyes rake down her body and my cock responds instantly. “So beautiful.”