Page 35 of When It Reins (Three Rivers Trevors Ranch #5)

mitch

The long stretch of road that leads from the Wyoming mountains through to the Colorado ones is in almost complete solitude. The sound of our bikes is disturbing to what is likely a very serene scene that surrounds us.

Atlas and I ride our bikes in front of the van that one of the other members of the club drives, carrying our brand-new haul that we went to Wyoming for in the first place.

And instead of enjoying the nice, quiet drive back home, my mind is running through every scenario of what I am about to come home to.

An hour before we were set to leave, Loki had called and let me know that he may have said something to upset Juniper. I was pissed the minute her name left his mouth, and though I am a lower-ranking member of the club, I let the fucker have it.

Surprisingly, he took it on the chin and told me he fucked up even saying anything to her and was upset with himself for letting her run out of his mother’s house crying.

Of course, all of that would have likely surprised Juniper. She probably hadn’t pieced together the fact that Loki is actually Rosemary’s son, and like an idiot, I didn’t think to mention it.

Strike one.

Then he said something about the club having me keep an eye on her .

That was strike two, I know for sure.

But what is strike three? Or were the first two enough to set her off? She was probably pissed to learn that I was sent to babysit her, but she has to know by now that while that may have started my urge to be around her more often, it isn’t about that anymore.

We shared our hearts and our homes with each other. I told her I loved her, and sometimes, I don’t even think saying those three simple words scratches the surface of the way that I feel for her.

I take a deep breath just thinking about that love and how much it affects me every single day. I love her more than anything on the planet.

I never thought I would love someone outside of my blood family so much, but Juniper proved me wrong again and again.

When she asked me the night before I left on this run if I would consider coming with her on the tour that her new label asked her to go on as the guitarist in her band, I didn’t even hesitate to say yes.

Being away from her while she was touring parts of the country is not an option, and if she hadn’t invited me, I would have packed up my bike and followed her, anyway.

So what is she upset about?

I know if I think back on when we first met, on when she was open and honest about her attraction to me, I wasn’t open to that at all. At no fault of hers. Wounds and trauma from my past made it so I wasn’t ready to be with someone yet.

Now that we’ve been together, I can’t imagine not being with her. I can’t imagine not holding her every night and waking to her every day. I can’t imagine not kissing her before my shift starts at the bar or walking her out, our hands held tightly to one another.

I can’t imagine her not sitting on my lap at Sunday lunch on the ranch, or her singing while I play guitar and stare at her in amazement.

Anxiety clenches my chest and worry seeps in. Fuck. I don’t know what’s going on, but I need to get home.

After Loki called, I sent her a text, not admitting that someone told me something was wrong but just checking in, and she never answered me. That’s not like her either. She is pretty prompt at answering me when I message her, something I love and need to be better at reciprocating.

I am just a shit texter and hate doing it. But when I can’t hang on the phone with her for hours, I send her messages to make sure she knows I am thinking of her.

Hell, when am I not thinking of her? It is rare that it ever happens.

Everything in my life, even the choices I make where my family is concerned, revolves around her.

I just have to get home and convince her it’s true.