Page 7 of A Very Grumpy Ranger (Wolf Valley: Grumps #9)

SEVEN

Blake

“Oh, my god! What time is it?” I ask, bolting upright in bed.

“What?” Luca grumbles next to me.

I look at him as he sits up, smiling when I see his hair sticking out in every direction and his adorable, sleepy expression.

“What?” he repeats.

“The time! What time is it?”

“Uh…” He turns his head to look at the alarm clock next to him. “Almost five in the morning.”

“Oh, thank god,” I groan, sinking back onto the mattress.

“Why are we freaking out about the time?” he asks, lying down next to me and tugging me against him.

“Because I have to be up for work in an hour.”

“This is terrible. You do this every day?” he complains.

I nod. “Unfortunately.”

We’re silent for a moment, and I think he’s fallen asleep again. Then I feel it—his fingertips trailing up my thigh, moving higher.

“So we have an hour until you have to be at work?” he asks suggestively.

“Uh-huh.”

My body heats as his fingers trail higher. Last night was incredible, and even though I’m a little sore, I’m more than ready for another round.

Luca kisses me as he knees my legs apart and settles over me.

“Morning,” he mumbles against my lips.

I grin. “Morning.”

His dick nudges my opening, and I look up at him, taking in his handsome features, his dark brown hair, full lips, and the heated look in his blue eyes.

“Luca,” I whisper, our eyes locked as he sinks inside me.

My pussy clenches around his cock, making his jaw pop.

“You feel so good,” I moan.

He curses under his breath and starts to move. His pace is languid and lazy, as if he’s savoring me and this moment between us. His mouth moves over mine, his hands molding my curves as we rock together.

Soon, that delicious pressure builds inside me, and I know I’m close to coming. I rock my hips against him harder and faster as we strain to reach our peaks.

“Luca!” I gasp, my nails digging into his arms as I fall over the edge.

“Fuck,” he chokes a second later as he reaches his peak.

I tug him down to me and kiss him, sighing when we pull away, and he collapses next to me on the bed.

“I need to get ready,” I murmur.

“I should head home and finish unpacking.”

Luca kisses me one more time, and we both climb out of bed. He pulls on his clothes, and I walk him to the door.

“Dinner tonight?” he asks. “I can grab food or pick you up.”

“Why don’t you grab a pizza or something?” I suggest.

He smiles. “You got it.”

He kisses me goodbye, and I wave before I close the door and head to the bathroom for a shower. I throw on clothes and start the coffeemaker. When I sit at my desk, I’m still not awake, and every part of me wishes I was back in bed with Luca.

I mean, I’ve never been great at mornings, but today feels like a cruel joke.

With a resigned sigh, I start my computer and see what’s waiting for me. I blink at my laptop screen, rereading the email for the fifth time as if that will somehow change the words.

Due to company restructuring and cost reduction efforts, your position will be eliminated effective immediately.

My stomach drops. My heart races. My throat tightens.

I reread it. Still there. Still true. Still happening.

I’ve been laid off.

Numbness settles over me as I slump in my chair. My job. The one stable thing I’ve had since aging out of foster care is gone. Just like that.

My hands shake as I close the email and push my chair back. I stand and pace my tiny apartment, trying to breathe, trying not to cry, trying to figure out what to do.

I feel like the floor has dropped out from under me.

Rent. Groceries. Bills. What am I going to do now?

My phone buzzes on the kitchen counter. I see Luca’s name on the screen, but I can’t bring myself to pick it up.

It’s too soon. I need a plan. I need to fix this.

I open my laptop again, my hands moving on autopilot as I type up a new resume. It’s old. Outdated. Doesn’t reflect my current skill set. I work on it until my vision blurs, until tears fall silently onto the keyboard.

It takes everything I have to pull myself together.

Eventually, I search for jobs in Wolf Valley. There aren’t many. A handful of part-time positions. A few listings at the local schools. Some retail jobs.

My fingers hover over the mouse as I debate if I should apply for work at the art store. I’ve been helping Luca with the setup, and I love the space. I love the idea of helping kids to create, of making something with my hands instead of typing instructions all day.

But I’d barely make minimum wage. It won’t be enough.

Still, I save the listing.

I’m debating whether to send my resume to the community center for their afterschool program when I hear a knock at the door.

I freeze.

Another knock, followed by Luca’s deep voice.

“Blake? It’s me. Got dinner.”

I wipe my eyes on my sleeve and inhale a shaky breath before opening the door.

Luca stands there with a brown paper bag in his arms and a worried crease pinching his brow.

“Hey,” he says softly, stepping inside as I move aside. “You okay?”

I try to smile. It falters.

And just like that, I fall apart in front of him.