Page 53

Three hours later, I’m finally stepping outside of the chicken facility for a drink of water and to catch my breath. I lean against one of the white fence posts, my gaze locked on Regan like it has been for most of the morning.

The moment we got to the egg farm, she and Rae were pulled away to help Cash with the new baby chicks while I got stuck hauling heavy-ass bags of feed with Colt.

To say I’d rather have been anywhere else in the world would have been an understatement.

But I get it. I know why Colt’s pissed at me.

He thinks I married his sister just for the property and not because I love her.

And, hell, at first that was true. That’s the only reason she married me too at the beginning.

Then, when we both started developing feelings, I pushed her away, and the night she was nearly killed, I wasn’t there. It was my fault. I’d be pissed if it were my sister.

But the only opinion that really matters is Regan’s. The rest will follow, or not, I don’t care anymore as long as I have her love.

Colt and I worked in silence for three hours, moving heavy shit that my back isn’t thanking me for, thanks to years of bull riding and my work as a doctor always on my feet.

We stacked, organized, cleaned—barely a word exchanged between us.

He shot me a few angry glares, but other than that, I think he’s the kind of guy who’s comfortable with silence and prefers it even when he’s happy. Which was fine with me.

When we finally finished, we stepped out into the open field behind the barn where the food and supplies are stored.

It’s a massive stretch of land connecting the farm’s other buildings that backs right up to the Blue Ridge Mountains, all rolling green fields and golden sunlight, with hens pecking lazily at the grass.

The main chicken facility sits just beyond, a state-of-the-art setup where they can move between climate-controlled comfort and open-air freedom.

And now? I’m standing here, watching my girl.

Cash walks up beside me, shaking his head with a smirk on his face like he’s trying to piece together a puzzle. “Hayes, what are you doing with my sister?”

“Taking my time,” I answer, my voice firm. “Showing her why she married me.”

Colt crosses his arms and grunts. “She married you for the property, no?”

I shake my head. “That’s how it started. But that’s not how it ended.”

Cash takes a step closer, his tone quieter. “What do you think’s going to happen if she never remembers the last couple of months? Or what if she does?”

“Makes no difference to me. She’s endgame for me.”

Colt sighs, dragging a hand down his face.

I turn to him fully now. “I didn’t see it at first. Hell, I was blind to it.

But before the wedding, after that night we spent together…

” My throat tightens because I don’t owe him an explanation, but I feel like I need to give them one anyway.

“I was on my way to tell her I wanted her. All of her. That I loved her. And then Scarlett showed up to tell me about the accident. I’d told her as much during the wedding, I just hadn’t explained.

Hadn’t had the chance to elaborate on what I meant.

How I wanted to try to be more for her.”

Cash lifts a hand. “I get it. But marriage is more than just sex.”

“I know that.” Frustration flares in my chest. “That’s what I’m trying to show her.

I’m taking my time with her. Letting her get to know me again.

Trying not to be the selfish ass hole that I’ve been in the past. I know you don’t get it, but there was something real between us, even if she doesn’t remember it. ”

He hums under his breath, thoughtful but not convinced.

I rake a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply.

“Look, I know I ruined everything. I know I fucked up. But at the end of the day, my loyalty is to Regan, no one else. And that includes her family. I’ll do whatever Regan wants.

I’ll worship Regan. I’ll protect Regan. Her dreams. Her heart.

Her love. I’ll take care of her, and I won’t ever hurt her again. ”

Cash’s lips twitch, just slightly. He nods. “I gotcha. And I believe you—just like I believed you the night of the wedding. I just don’t want to see my sister hurting.”

Colt grunts and nods his head in agreement.

Neither do I.

The three of us turn back to the field, watching as Regan crouches in the grass, baby chicks swarming around her and Rae.

The late evening sun makes her glow, her auburn hair catching gold in the light.

She looks like a dream out there, and all I want to do is take her back to our home.

Kiss her. Hold her. Tell her I’m here and will wait patient for as long as it takes.

Even if she never remembers me. I remember her. And that’s enough. It’ll always be enough.

“She’s our only sister and it’s our job to look out for her even though she’s grown,” Cash says, his voice steady.

“I know. I’ve got one of those.”

Cash nods, exhaling slowly. “This isn’t just about you, man. It’s about her future, too. She told me everything recently.”

Everything. As in the loss of her fallopian tube. As in the fear she carries, the doubts about whether she’ll ever have kids. I get it.

“And if you’d said this to me three weeks ago, I probably would’ve cowered.

But shit’s different now. I want it all with Regan.

I want to be her real husband. Fuck, I already am.

And I want to be the father of her kids.

I might not know what the hell I’m doing, but she does, and I’ll learn quickly.

I want a family with her. I want it all. ”

Cash studies me, searching for hesitation he won’t find. Finally, he nods. “You’ll be alright, then. You two will be alright.”

His hand lands on my shoulder in a firm squeeze. “I’m glad you’re loyal to Regan first. That’s how it’s supposed to be.”

And with that, he walks toward the girls.

Rae and Regan’s faces light up as they see him, but then Regan’s eyes find mine.

Something softer flickers behind them as she smiles and waves.

Then she stands, hesitates for a moment, and as if making up her mind, she tucks her hands in her back pockets and walks toward me slowly.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” I murmur, watching her every movement as she gets closer. Colt gives her a soft squeeze then moves to join Cash and Rae to help clean up.

“How was working with Colt today?” she asks on a whisper.

“About what you’d expect.”

She huffs a soft laugh, then loops her arm through mine like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “Will you take me home? We’re done here, and I need a good shower.”

I nod. “Yeah, let’s go home, baby.”

—

A few minutes later, we step inside our house.

The one we’ve been quietly renovating like it’s some casual project, even though we both know better.

We never said it out loud, never defined who owns what, but we both built this place and we’re designing it to be a home that we’ll live in permanently.

We chose the tiles, the paint colors and the mailbox.

And maybe that’s why neither of us has dared to bring it up. Because walking away wouldn’t just mean giving up the property. It would mean giving up on each other and we don’t want that.

I’m holding back—white-knuckling it, really. Doing everything in my power not to reach for her. Not to touch her the way I want to. The way I ache to.

“You want me to make us some lunch?” I ask, already turning toward the kitchen, hoping if I keep my hands busy, I won’t use them to ruin everything, but she stops me before I can move.

Her fingers find my arms, and she turns me gently until I’m facing her.

Blue eyes full of heat and desire gaze up at me, her soft pink lips curve at the edges in a smile.

And then, I can’t help it. I lose control.

My hands find her hips, and I pull her in, locking her against me like I’ve been starving for her touch. Just holding. Just breathing her in. Letting myself feel the shape of her again, the solid warmth of her in my arms.

And she doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t stiffen or back away.

She melts into me like this is exactly where she belongs.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur into her hair, my voice rough. “Maybe I shouldn’t have done that, but I’ve been dying to hold you all damn day.” I let out a groan. “I was trying to be good. To be patient and not take matters into my own hands.”

My head dips, my nose brushing against her neck, inhaling her. She smells like sunshine and earth, like something sweet and familiar, like everything I want.

“You smell so fucking good,” I tell her, rolling my face against her skin, wanting her—aching for her—but terrified to push too far.

She lets out a breathy laugh, light but disbelieving. “No, I don’t. I’ve been with the chicks all day.”

I grip her chin, tilting her face up until her big, blue eyes are locked on mine. Her lips part on a soft gasp, her gaze flickering with surprise before morphing into need.

“Don’t tell me what smells good to me,” I say, my voice rough.

And then she surprises me.

She rises onto her toes, loops her arms around my neck, and kisses me hard.

And all I can do is hold on.