Page 24 of Wildest Forever (Lovelock Bay #3)

Pulling my jeans up, I buckle the belt and then slip my badge onto the holder. I reach for a light brown checkered shirt and a plain white tee that I pull on first. Slipping my feet into my boots, I run my hand through my hair and rough it up slightly before I reach for my cowboy hat.

Swiping my phone from the side table, I slip it into the back of my jeans and make my way down stairs, careful not to wake Morgan if she is still sleeping and even more mindful not to disturb Gerry.

Tiptoeing down the stairs, my eyes fall on the back of a man.Skinny, long brown hair that curls at the base of his neck, worn out shirt, dirty jeans and muddied boots.

I clear my throat, and he turns to look at me, giving a sweep over.

Teeth a little crooked, cheeks rosy and eyes dark as mud.

“Morning sir,” he tilts the rim of his cowboy hat in my direction. He steps towards me and holds his hand out for me to take, which I do, giving it a firm shake.

“Morning,” I smile, and he gives a knowing nod.

“You all good?” his accent is thick as he turns around and walks back to grab his coffee mug.I nod, but he doesn’t see it.

His eyes find mine over his shoulder, my hands pushed deep inside my pockets and I nod again.

“Want one?”

“Please,” I smile and the heels of my boots skate across the floor.

“How do you take it?” he asks, the rasp in his voice evident as he reaches for a mug.

“However it comes, not fussy, coffee is coffee,” I admit as I sit at the small table.

“As long as it touches the soul right?” he smirks and glances back at me and I give him a knowing nod.

“Right.”

We fall into a comfortable silence whilst he makes my coffee then places it down on the table and drags his own chair out.

“I'm glad she has you,” he admits, lifting his chin.

I curl my fingers around my mug and drag it towards me.

“Me and Marsha,” and I cock a brow. “My wife,” he smiles, “we knew that Gerry was unwell...” he pauses and takes a mouthful of his coffee, wincing as he does. “We were worried about how Morgan would cope in this house, the ranch... the looming dread of a sale.”

I keep quiet.

“Damn, if I had the money I would snap this place up in a heartbeat,” he shakes his head softly from side to side. “But this just isn't my workplace, it's my home,” he swallows, and I watch the way his throat bobs.

“Gerry took me in back when I was a teen, got me out of trouble more times than I can count,” he chuckles softly, his eyes drifting to the small window that overlooks the rolling green.

He looks lost in thought but I just sit and drink my coffee.

“So yeah, I care a lot about this place, about Morgan... about the future.” His eyes are back on mine.

“I get it,” I roll my lips before licking the coffee remnants from them.

“You're going to make her happy yeah? You're going to try and keep the land from those greedy suits, right?” and I can hear the desperation in his voice.

“Yeah,” is all I say because how can I promise something that I don't know is achievable.

“Good,” he gives a nod then pushes back on his chair. The sound of boots fills the room and a knowing smile pulls at my lips as I look over my shoulder and see her standing in the doorway.

Cream tee, low rise jeans and tanned cowboy boots.Her blonde hair is pulled into a low pony, cowboy hat pinched between her fingers.

“Morgan,” Dusty says as he walks past her and leaves it just me and her.

She hovers for a moment before stepping into the kitchen and standing by me.

“Morning,” she smiles down at me and I feel the air shift between us.

“Morning,” I reply and take a sip of my coffee.

“Sleep okay?” she asks as she begins to move towards the coffee pot, letting her fingers brush ever so slightly on the pot to make sure it's still warm. Reaching for a cup, I let my eyes roam over her back, slipping down to her rounded ass and shuffle in my seat.

I don't want her to know I am checking her out.

Crossing that line is not on my agenda.

Sure, our sex would be explosive, but I am not sure if we should.

It then goes from a marriage of convenience to an actual marriage and an annulment will be out the window.

“Yeah,” I admit, I didn't need to tell her that I slept awful and I was plagued by nightmares. “You?”

“So so,” she sighs as she fills her cup and comes to sit with me.

“Wanna talk about it?” I ask as my eyes settle on her. She twists her lips and drops her gaze for a moment.

“Nope, because if I talk about it, I'll cry and I don't need that today when I have to move the heifers to the lower field.”

I wait for her to look at me as I sit and drink my coffee.Seconds pass and her watery green eyes connect with mine.

“Okay,” I say softly and give her a smile.

She nods and we sit in silence as we drink our coffee.

Once we're finished, we put our mugs in the sink and I hover by the doorway.

“How's your pops?” I find myself using the name she does and my heart warms.

“Yeah, he is good, nurses said he was stable through the night, levels are good and all that,” she waves her hand in front of her.

“Well, that's good,” my lips turn up and she smiles back at me.

“Yeah,” she nods and walks towards me.

“You ready for the day?” I ask, a little hopeful.

“Think so, my first job when the sun comes up is to go and get your horse,” she hovers a hand over my chest and for the first time I want her hand on my chest, I want her to feel the way my heart beats so she knows I'm not a complete lost cause; that I can love, but I just have no idea if it would be with her.

“Thank you for doing that for me,” I say softly just as her hand retracts back beside her.

“You don't have to thank me,” she whispers.

“I know I don't have to, but I want to...” I tilt my head just as I lift my hat and run my fingers through my hair.

Her cheeks turn pink and I fucking love that. She gives me a soft nod and walks past me and towards the door.

“I've got to go into my office, have a few things to look into and then I'll be back around lunch time. I'll check on pops and sort lunch, let me know what you fancy and I’ll grab it on my way in.”

Her eyes trail over her shoulder and she gives me a smile.

“Surprise me,” she flutters a wink towards me before she opens the door and walks away.