Page 18 of Bouquets and Buckles

Fuck off.

Merry Christmas.

There we go.

Not so hard, was it?

Doesn’t answer my question. Why are you texting me at this time of the morning?

Jesus.I’ll warn Sky you’re in particularly good spirits for Christmas Day.

In case it’s escaped your notice, ranch life has ruined mornings for both me and Flinn.

Even when it’s a day off, we can’t enjoy sleeping in anymore.

More dots bounceon the screen.

Please,can you at least not be all ‘grumpy asshole’ today.

Treat my best friend nicely… you know, be good to her when she gets up.

Oh.I’ve got plans to treat her extremely well, but my son doesn’t need to know any of that.

I readjust my hat with my free hand, staring at my phone glowing in the dark, contemplating what to write in reply. God, I feel like no matter what I say, it’ll sound suspiciously like I know exactly how Skylar Addams feels when she grips my cock so hard I nearly lose my goddamn mind. If I try to say anything, it’ll reveal that I know the exact way her eyes roll back and how her little moans sound as she falls apart.

I figure saying less is always going to be the best option.

Of course.

Love you,Dad.

Give the horses a big hug for me.

I’m aboutto tuck my phone away when I see more dots bouncing.

Keep an eye on Sky,would you?

She might say she’s doing ok, but she found out her piece of shit boyfriend was cheating on her last night.

My hand scrubsover my jaw as I see my son’s next messages arrive. Ones that leave me with a hundred conflicting emotions about who my son thinks I am as a good father, and who I am underneath as the man who wants to savor every second I have left in secret with this girl.

Not to mention the extreme need I’m battling… the urge to go beat the hell out of whoever this asshole is. The mere sight of those words on screen has me seeing red.

Except, Brad’s next message arrives and reminds me that I don’t need to go over there and acquaint my fist with the fucker’s jaw. Because I have her.

I have her.

Even if it’s just temporarily.

Thanks for beingthere when I couldn’t be.

I’m just glad she’s safe with you.

Chapter 15

My body runs white hot, with a cascade of liquid pleasure flowing through my heavy limbs.

There’s a weight draped over my body, pinning me hard to the mattress, and as I stir, the scents ofLucas Rhodesand the soft cocoon of his sheets gradually come into sharper focus.