Page 23 of When It Reins (Three Rivers Trevors Ranch #5)

juniper

Bliss wasn’t a place where you could physically exist. At least, that’s what I’ve always been told.

But it is where my heart, mind, and soul have been living ever since the moment Mitch decided he was going to give in to the pull between us.

Since then, we returned to our normal lives, everything going back exactly as it was before, with the minor exception that Mitch would kiss me whenever he arrived at work, and when he walked me back to my car every night, he usually came home with me.

The label never called, but that is okay. The experience that I had, singing and performing in front of a huge crowd, is one I will never forget.

That hadn’t even been the highlight of my night, and I would never be able to regret going on that trip.

“Well, that looks like too bright a smile to be working behind a bar.”

Turning, I blink when I see Rosemary standing on the other side. She was right. I had been standing here just grinning away.

It was early enough in the evening that we were mostly filled up with families and clubs, including Rosemary’s book club that came in every month.

“Rosemary, what a nice surprise,” I reply, reaching for another glass out of the dishwasher. Our dryer setting isn’t working properly, so I am hand drying everything that went into it.

“I came to say I got your message.” She waves her phone around like I need the reminder that I left her a voicemail. “That boy of yours is doubling down on offers. Those of us that don’t have tax liens are getting more and more tempted by the offers every day.”

“Even you?” I ask, pausing my movements. I want to help that community, to fight back what David and his company have started to do. But it would be nice to have someone in the actual community to help me.

“No. I’m not giving up my house for some city folk who just want to use the land for their own benefit.

” She sniffs the air, fluffing a curl back out of her face.

I smile at her, loving the fierce gumption she seems to carry around with her.

“Nah, I’m ready for this money night thing you want to throw. ”

Smiling at her, I nod my head. “Charity night. I think we can get a good crowd going, something that gets the folks excited to come and pay for something that they don’t get very often.

” Plus, if I can get Felicity to agree to it, then even more people, local and the surrounding areas, will come in flocks.

“Well, how can I help?” Rosemary waves off the group of ladies sitting at the table behind her, calling out her name to start their club.

“How about I get some stuff together and swing by next week? We can work on ideas.” I have a feeling Rosemary is going to want to be extra involved with this project, which I am more than okay with.

It is going to take a little bit of work to get people to come together and make this whole thing happen.

Including clueing Thea in on what is going on.

“Sounds good, honey. Let’s do that. I gotta get back. They want to complain that the book we read has too much spice again.” She raps her knuckles on the bar top and rolls her eyes. “They need to embrace it.”

I laugh loudly and watch her swagger back over to her friends. She is such a fiery old lady, and I love just about everything about her.

Hours later, with the bar winding down and the floors swept, the tabs paid for and everyone heading home, I’m left alone in the bar with only Mitch.

I’m putting the money back in the safe in the office when I feel him come up behind me, his arms sliding around my body and pulling me into his strong chest. I inhale the scent of him and smile at the smell.

It is probably a silly or even weird thing to love, but I feel myself relax with peace whenever I smell it.

“It’s been a long shift,” he whispers into my ear, spreading a wildfire of goose bumps along my neck and shoulders.

“It has.”

“It’s been even longer since I held you in my arms.”

I nearly feel my knees buckle as I swoon against his chest. Since our night together, he’s spoken to me more freely than ever before. I love it. I love that he is able to talk to me, that he feels safe around me.

“Well…” I turn, leading him back until my legs hit the edge of the desk. His footsteps match each one of mine, and his lips take on a sexy little smirk that I like way too much. “Now that we’re alone, I think we can rectify that.”

He hums low in his throat, leaning his head down until his nose trails over my jaw and lips press against my throat. Rough, calloused hands find the skin under my shirt, and I feel every nerve firing at the contact.

I slide my hands up over his broad shoulders, feeling how massive he is. I heard some girls talking about the giant who guards the door, and I smiled when I did because I never really saw Mitch as a huge, imposing guy.

But he is nearly six foot five, with shoulders I could only just wrap my arms around and muscles lining each inch of him.

To me, he is just Mitch. Sweet, kind, compassionate—a little rough around the edges—Mitch.

My fingers rake into his hair, and he moans, dragging his lips over to mine. He moves my legs until they’re wrapped securely around his waist. The bar is empty, and I am more than willing to fill it with gasps and moans of pleasure if he keeps this up.

I taste him, letting him take control of the situation and going along for the ride.

It feels like a dream. Every moment we’ve been spending together has been like being on another plane of the universe, something that is just ours, just us.

We haven’t talked with our families explicitly about our relationship, but I am pretty sure they caught on. Jax saw us at the concert, and from what I’ve learned about that guy over the last few years is he likes gossip almost as much as Stetson.

Yet, no one has asked me about it, and I am thinking that they are trying to give us space to get our bearings. I am grateful for that. Knowing what I do about Mitch, giving us space to just be the two of us is as kind and generous as it could be.

If he was bombarded with questions or advice or opinions, I’m not sure Mitch would leave his house.

Our lips part, and Mitch presses his forehead to mine, holding my body close as we catch our breaths. “As much as I’d love to throw you down on this desk and devour you.” My thighs clench at the prospect of that comment. “I want to take you home and worship you more.”

I smile, leaning forward to press my mouth to his. “I like the sound of that.”