Page 14 of Grey (Little River Stallions #2)

Saturday morning, Tatum was escorted to the library by Zara and Crew so Grey could sleep in. She really hated having to go to work even though she loved being at the library, but she knew that Grey needed to rest and she didn’t want to be scared and let this Colton butthead push her around.

“Have you given any thought to moving into the farmhouse permanently?” Zara asked during the short drive to the library.

“I’m enjoying being there,” she said, “but I wanted to take things a little slower. I know that Grey is my soulmate, but I did just literally move to town a week ago for a fresh start.”

“I get that,” Zara said. “I’ve enjoyed having another female in the house since you’ve been staying. I don’t mean to be nosy, I was just curious.”

“I don’t mind at all,” Tatum said. She’d been thinking about it the last two nights.

She felt a little silly staying in the room by herself when what she really wanted to do was sleep in Grey’s arms, but she’d promised herself when she walked away from her ex and started looking for a new place to start over that she wouldn’t rush into anything.

And even though she was crazy about Grey, knowing him for a week before moving in seemed like not nearly enough time.

But what the heck was she waiting for?

“Did I break your brain?” Zara asked with a chuckle. “You’ve been lost in thought.”

Tatum realized they’d reached the library.

“Yeah,” she said, laughing. “I was just thinking about how different my life is and how glad I am that I came here and met you all, especially Grey.”

“He’s lucky to have you in his life,” Crew said.

When they both also got out of the truck with Tatum he said, “I’m going to scout around the library and check inside, and then Zara and I will head out for some errands.

Grey is going to pick you up when the library is closed this afternoon.

If anything—and I mean anything at all—looks suspicious, call Grey and someone from the farm will come to check it out. Don’t go anywhere alone.”

“I won’t go anywhere, and I will call if I see anything.” She shivered despite the already hot morning. “I hope I don’t have to call.”

Zara squeezed her shoulder. “We hope so too.”

The two scouted the library together while she turned on all the lights, and then they stayed in the parking lot until Mrs. Fielder arrived right before the library was set to open. She waved goodbye and flipped the lock so the doors were unlocked.

“Is everything okay?” Mrs. Fielder asked as she walked back into the main room from the breakroom.

“Sure, why?”

“You had someone waiting in the parking lot until I got here.”

“Oh, that was Grey’s friend and his girlfriend.

” She knew she couldn’t tell Mrs. Fielder anything about what was going on, but she had to tell her something.

Not a proponent of outright lying, she told her half of the truth.

“Grey and I are getting closer and I’ve stayed at the farmhouse with him and his friends for the last couple nights.

It’s temporary because I’m not sure I’m ready to jump into living with him full time just yet.

Anyway, my car is still at my cabin, so Crew and Zara brought me here, and Crew is a nice guy and didn’t want to leave me alone in the library, so he waited for you to show up. ”

“That’s kind of him,” she said. “What’s keeping you from wanting to move in full time?”

She hummed. “I was thinking about it on the drive here, actually. I’m not sure, it just feels too soon?

My last relationship was really so awful and I stayed far too long.

I’m not gun-shy about a relationship, because I really feel like Grey is my forever guy, but I can’t shake the little voice in my head that keeps wanting to put the brakes on. ”

Mrs. Fielder nodded sagely. “That little voice is a bastard.”

Tatum grinned.

“Well, you’re the only one who knows when the time is right for you, so if you want to say you’re staying there temporarily, then that’s fine. But I’m pretty sure after a few days you might as well just admit that you’re okay with living there.”

“That’s a good point.”

“I have them from time to time.”

“What was the fastest you ever fell in love with someone?”

“My husband, may he rest in peace, was the love of my life and I fell in love with him the moment I met him. I made him work for it, of course—I didn’t tell him I was in love with him until I was very sure he loved me.

But truthfully, I could have told him the night we met that I was in love with him.

It was light love, easy love, the kind of love where you don’t mind that they have annoying habits or that they snore.

I think we can fall in love fast, but that the love changes with time and deepens as we get to know each other. ”

“How long was it before you told him you loved him?”

“A few weeks. He told me first, though.”

“Did you ever get tired of the snoring?”

“Yes! I used to throw my pillow at him. Now that he’s been gone for ten years, I still find myself missing the sound.

” She wrapped her warm hands around Tatum’s.

“It’s okay to fall in love on whatever time frame works for you.

Just don’t tell yourself it’s too early or it hasn’t been long enough, because the sweetest fruit sometimes is the earliest one on the vine. ”

Tatum thought that was a beautiful sentiment. “You could have been a poet.”

“I might give that a try sometime. Now, I’m off to check the drop box before the heat makes me melt.”

Tatum watched her coworker disappear out the front door and then sent a quick text to Grey.

I just wanted to tell you that I think you’re a really special guy. I’m glad I met you.

Even though she didn’t expect him to answer her since he was sleeping, he did a few minutes later. You’re really special to me too, sweetheart. See you in a few hours.

Putting her phone away, she got to work, excited to see her soulmate.

When Grey pulled into the gravel drive of the farmhouse later that afternoon, Tatum felt like she could breathe a little easier. She’d really hated being away from him and was looking forward to not having to part ways until Monday.

She stepped out of the truck and closed the door, inhaling the sweet summer air.

“Would you like to take a walk?” he asked as he came around to her.

“Sure. Where to?”

“Just down along the tree line, we can follow the split rail fence.”

“I’d like that.”

They held hands and walked away from the farmhouse, and she told him about her morning at the library. She hadn’t seen anything out of the ordinary or had any strange feelings that she was being watched. It had been a perfectly normal day and she’d enjoyed it.

She’d even found a book about folklore in the Rocky Mountains that had a legend about a moose with glowing antlers that used them to help light the way for lost hikers.

“That’s pretty cool,” he said.

They stopped when she saw a few deer in the woods, the sunlight highlighting the tawny color of their fur and making it look like gold.

“Now that’s neat,” she said.

They meandered along the fence, picking wildflowers and talking, and it was such a peaceful time together, Tatum never wanted it to end. When they’d returned to the house and checked on the animals, giving Daisy a few treats in the process, they met Zara in the storage barn.

“Hey, I have an idea,” Zara said. “How about a date-night in? We can make nachos and watch a rom-com.”

“That sounds fun,” Tatum said.

“We’re in,” Grey said.

“It’ll be good to do something fun like that, it’ll take our minds off of everything.”

“It was a good day today,” Tatum said. “And it’s a good way to end the evening.”

She helped Zara make a huge tray of nachos topped with seasoned ground beef, homemade salsa, and tons of cheese, and they settled in the family room with the guys for a double date.

Outside, Avi was on patrol while Ford rested for the night shift.

But inside? Tatum was so happy to be where she was.

It had been a normal, almost mundane day, and now she was sitting next to her soulmate with his arm around her while a rom-com played on the big flat screen. By the time the movie was finished, she felt even closer to him, and Mrs. Fielders’ words were swirling in her mind.

Grey was an amazing guy and she was lucky to be with him.

Crew and Zara wanted to binge-watch a few episodes of their favorite TV show, but Grey nudged Tatum and said, “Let’s go talk.”

She nodded and followed him out of the room after saying goodnight to their friends. When they reached the second floor she said, “I want you to stay with me tonight.”

“Oh,” he said with a grin. “I’d love to.”

They stepped into her room and as soon as the door clicked shut behind them, they tumbled into bed together, momentarily forgetting the outside world. In these four walls, it was just her and Grey. No dangerous alpha stallion, no trouble on the horizon.

Just a girl and her sexy guy, and the passion that made her whole body light up.

She didn’t have to tell him that she loved him tonight, but she was going to tell him soon, because she really did.

With her whole heart.