Page 74 of Ridin' Free

He'd seen her behind the bar at Steel Mustang more times than he could count. In his kitchen, he’d stripped her naked and made her come apart at his touch more than once. But right now—the sight of her barefoot, half dressed, standing in the morning sun at her stove, she’d never been so real.

“What?” she asked, frowning up at him. “Why are you lookin’ at me like that?”

He didn’t answer her right away but went to stand at her back, bending to wrap his arms around her middle as he pressed his lips against her temple.

“I see you, Ali-Mae,” he murmured.

He felt her go rigid, his meaning clear.

“Don’t worry. It’s just me. I won’t tell,” he assured her, pulling her closer. “But baby? You sure are fuckin’ beautiful.”

At his words, she relaxed, curving her spine to fit more snuggly against him.

Yeah. She was his.

Heart, body, and soul.

He’d have been a liar if he said he didn’t love it.

He pressed a kiss to her temple then asked, “What’s for breakfast?”

“Omelets. This one’s yours. It’s almost done. Mine’s keeping warm in the oven.”

“Thanks, baby. I’m starvin’.”

“I thought we could eat out on the deck.” She paused and turned her face to catch his eyes. “My backyard isn’t just a bunch of grass that needs to be mowed.”

He chuckled and pressed a quick kiss against her lips.

“Works for me.”

Five minutes later, he stepped outside with a plate in one hand, a glass of water in his other, he took one look at her garden and knew—down to his core—what he saw was the essence of Ali.

Wild. Complicated. Vibrant.

Breathtakingly gorgeous.

“Damn,” he mumbled as he admired the landscape.

“Thanks. I think,” said Phoenix in reply as she walked by him, headed for the table. She sat with her omelet and mug ofcoffee. Twister took one last look around the yard then occupied the seat beside hers.

“You did all this?”

“The landscaping? Yeah.”

“You sure you belong behind a bar? Folks would pay a pretty penny for you to design a yard the likes of yours.”

She knit her eyebrows together, her expression barely masking the vulnerability of her lack of confidence. Her self-doubt was so foreign to him, he couldn’t help but to stare at her intently as she replied, “No.” She shook her head and explained, “I’m not educated or trained or anything. It’s something I do for me. It’s not a job; it’s an escape. Tending bar pays the bills and then some. I’m good where I’m at.”

He admired her as she lifted her coffee to her lips and took a slow sip, her eyes dancing around her garden as she did so. She breathed in deep, and it was like the scent of flowers in bloom was enough to bring her back to herself.

She was in her element, and he liked it. So much so, he didn’t press the issue but dug into his breakfast, instead.

“So—will you be home for a while?” she asked, not bothering to look over at him as she set aside her coffee and reached for her fork.

“That’s the plan. You work tonight?”

She took a bite, met his gaze, and nodded.