Page 27

W alker and Heath quickly make their exit after Briar and I get back.

I’m no doubt grateful but I may never ask them to babysit again.

Granted, I still appreciate that they were here so I could bring Briar home, and I have no regrets about agreeing to four Saturdays of hard labor, since it means I didn’t have to spend the whole night wondering if she was still with her date.

After tucking Caleb in again, reading him two bedtime stories, and leaving a glass of water on the nightstand—just in case—I head downstairs. It’s late, but I can’t go to bed until Briar and I finish our conversation.

The kitchen is quiet when I walk in. I wash my hands at the sink, my gaze shifting out the window, where I spot her on the front porch. She’s changed into flannel pajama pants and a cardigan, her hair falling in soft waves around her face.

She’s so damn beautiful; it takes my breath away.

I decide to make a batch of hot chocolate for us, adding a generous splash of whiskey into each cup once it’s ready. We could both use something strong to take the edge off.

When I step outside, Briar looks over. “Did Caleb fall asleep okay?”

“Yeah, he’s out cold.”

“Good.” She smiles when she notices the mugs in my hands. “Please tell me that’s hot chocolate.”

“ Spiked hot chocolate,” I correct her.

Briar accepts the mug I hand her, and cradles it against her chest. “Even better. Hot chocolate is my comfort drink, even in the summer. When I was little, Mama Julie would make it on the nights I stayed at the ranch house. I had trouble sleeping, and it was her way of making sure I felt safe and warm.”

She slides over, leaving space for me to join her on the swing. I’ve come to think of this as our meeting spot. A quiet place where we can be ourselves and the rest of the world fades away.

Sharing what’s on my mind has never come easy, and I’ve always been the type to work through my problems alone. But with Briar, she picks up on the things I’m afraid to say out loud, and somehow, that makes me feel more confident than I ever have.

“Yeah, the Halsteads’ place always felt like a safe haven. For me, nothing beats Julie’s rolls and honey butter.”

“Everything Mama Julie makes is good,” she says wistfully.

“I couldn’t agree more.” I lean back, taking a drink, savoring the heat that hits after the sweetness fades. “If you don’t mind me asking, how could you stay here when this town holds so many painful memories? Didn’t you ever want to leave and start over?”

That’s a question that has been on my mind since Caleb and I arrived. I don’t have all the details of her past, but enough to wonder how she could stay here, surrounded by reminders of everything she’s been through.

Briar nibbles at her bottom lip, lost in thought for a moment. “ To be honest, no. Bluebell’s always been home, and the first time I stepped foot on this ranch, I wanted to build a life here.”

I look out over the open fields, the lights from the guest cabins dotting the horizon.

We were both lucky to have the Halsteads when everything else around us was crumbling.

I drifted between here and my parents’ trailer, dreaming of escape and swearing I’d never set foot in this godforsaken town once I got out.

Whereas Briar found a permanent home here, taking solace in the ranch, and building a life in the very place I wanted to forget.

“You’re lucky,” I say, a bitterness creeping into my voice. “Growing up, I wanted to be anywhere but here. I hated being the kid whose parents were gambling addicts, living in a shitty trailer because the bank foreclosed on their house.”

“I never asked to be the daughter of a bartender who exchanged favors with men, but somehow, we both made it through, didn’t we?” Briar offers with a small smile.

Her upbeat attitude has me returning her smile. I may harbor hard feelings about my past, but that doesn’t mean I should let negativity weigh down our conversation.

“We did,” I say. “Has your mom ever reached out since she left?”

Her shoulders slump, and the light in her expression fades as she gazes at the ground. I hate that what I thought was a harmless question immediately darkens her mood.

“No. For a while, I held on to the idea that my mom would come back for me, but after she missed my graduation, I knew she was gone for good.” Briar’s voice falters as she finishes.

After setting my mug on the porch table beside me, I turn back to her. I extend my hand to gently squeeze hers, offering what comfort I can without crossing any boundaries, unsure if she’s ready for anything more until we’ve talked.

“I’m sorry. You deserved more from your mom.”

Our parents failed us in different ways .

“Your situation didn’t turn out any better,” she says, eyes glossy with emotion.

No, it didn’t. My dad died of a heart attack five years ago.

I paid for his funeral despite our nonexistent relationship.

I meant to be there, but my mom called, furious I hadn’t wired her the money directly, and told me I wasn’t welcome.

A year later, she died alone in some casino hotel in Mesquite, Nevada, still chasing the high that destroyed her and my dad.

“You’re a better person than me. While you grieved the loss of your mom, I was relieved when my parents passed,” I confess.

“They might have let you down, but you’ve turned that pain and suffering into something good for Caleb,” Briar states with conviction.

It’s uncanny how easy she is to talk to.

She doesn’t interrupt or offer platitudes.

Instead, she listens and gives me space to express my true feelings.

Even from the beginning, she’s made it easy to open up to her.

Maybe it’s because we come from similar backgrounds, bonded by the fact that our parents cared more about their addictions than they ever did us.

This is one of those rare times I wish Briar and I were closer in age.

If we’d gone to school together, maybe we would’ve become close sooner, and I could’ve shielded her from some of the pain she had to carry for so long.

She had the Halsteads, but I wish I’d been there for her too.

We crossed paths almost daily at their place, but she was just a kid following Julie.

I didn’t pay her much attention, since I was too buried in my own problems.

What matters is that now we’re both able to be here for Caleb.

“He deserves unconditional love, and I’ll do everything I can to make sure he never goes without it,” I say.

“That little boy is certainly spoiled.” Briar chuckles. “I still can’t believe you left him with my brothers tonight. I’m shocked that giving him cookies and watching a late-night movie was the worst they did. ”

“I don’t have room to judge. Just the other day, I promised him ice cream if he ate his vegetables, and yesterday, I let him watch cartoons for two hours instead of the half-hour limit I set.”

She gasps, feigning horror. “A real tyrant.”

I smirk. “Guess I won’t be winning any Parent of the Year awards.”

Briar’s laughter fills the air, a melody I wish could play on repeat. I’m not expecting it when she leans over me to set her mug on the table. Her hair brushes against my cheek, and I freeze—the soft scent of her perfume invading my senses, and I have to remind myself to breathe.

She pulls back just enough to look at me. Our thighs are touching, and neither of us moves, waiting to see what the other will do.

“Briar,” I whisper.

“Hmm?”

A soft breeze picks up, and her hair falls across her face. I brush it behind her ear, and she shivers at my touch. My hand lingers as I trace along her cheekbone with my thumb, memorizing the curves of her face.

“I went to the diner tonight to see you, but what I should have done was stop you from going altogether.” The overdue confession tumbles out, leaving me with a sense of relief and wishing I had found the courage to speak up earlier.

Briar’s eyes go wide, her lips slightly parted. “Oh, and why is that?”

“Because I like you.”

She grins, leaning into my touch, her face still cradled in my hand. “That’s unexpected, given how few people you can tolerate.”

“I guess I’m a glutton for punishment.”

“We can’t all be as accommodating as me,” she teases.

“Like I said earlier, I haven’t stopped thinking about you since we shared that kiss.

The way you moved, the way you sounded—I want to experience it all again.

” I pause, trailing a finger down her neck.

“Watching you at the diner just proved I should’ve asked you not to go.

Because the only guy you should be out with is me. ”

Briar tilts her head, her eyebrows knitting together. “If that’s the case, what are you going to do about it, cowboy ?”

Damn, this woman has me twisted in knots, and all I want to do is draw her close and never let go.

I reach down to her lap, taking her hands in mine. “This summer, you’re mine. I want you in my bed, moaning my name.”

“But we have to be quiet,” she says with a gleam in her eye.

“I can think of a few ways to make that happen,” I whisper, trailing my thumb across the inside of her wrist.

What I’m proposing is a gamble. Briar could easily turn me down or tell me to leave.

Even if she says yes, things could get messy fast if we’re not careful.

But after thinking it through, I see no other choice, since I can’t let her be with someone else while I’m around.

There’s no reason for us to be miserable for the rest of our time together when we could enjoy each other’s company.

“What about Caleb? I don’t want whatever this is”—she motions between us—“to affect him negatively. He always comes first. It’s probably best if he doesn’t know about us, especially if it’s temporary.

” That last word puts a bitter taste in my mouth, but I swallow it down, not wanting to spoil the mood.

“Sneaking around could be fun. Although your brothers definitely know something is going on between us. Walker grilled me earlier when I called and had the nerve to claim I’m too old for you.” I scoff.

“Oh, he did, huh?” Briar smirks, grazing her fingers across my temple. “Good thing I’ve always had a thing for vintage collectibles.”

“Don’t worry, sugar, I’ve still got the endurance advantage.” I grin, giving my bicep an exaggerated flex.

“Looking forward to you proving it.” She leans closer, her eyes sparkling. “But remember, this is just for the summer.”

“Just for the summer,” I repeat .

“Promise me that however this plays out, you won’t use it against me. I want to be Caleb’s nanny until you leave… if you’ll have me,” Briar says with a hint of vulnerability.

A heaviness settles in my chest at the thought of us going back to New York, but I force the emotions aside.

I press a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I’m afraid you’re stuck with us until then.”

“Oh no, how will I ever survive?” she asks with a twinkle in her eye.

“Besides, we can’t have Caleb revolting if he doesn’t get to see you every day. He’s smitten.”

Just like his dad.

“He’s not the only one,” she says, trailing her fingertips along my knuckles.

“Listen, the county fair is next weekend, and I was thinking of taking Caleb. Would you want to go with us?”

Sure, we agreed to keep our new development under wraps with him, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all enjoy a day out together.

He’ll probably enjoy himself more if Briar is there.

It’s been ages since I’ve been to the fair, so I could really use her expertise to find the best food and attractions for Caleb.

Briar nods enthusiastically. “I’d love to.”

I cradle her cheek in my palm, brushing my nose against hers. “I’d like to kiss you now, sugar.”

Her grin widens. “Better not keep me waiting.”

I lean in and capture her mouth in a slow, teasing kiss.

The way she melts into me has me looking forward to our first night together. I want it to be memorable, not rushed by sneaking around worrying that Caleb might wake up and end it abruptly. Briar deserves so much more than a hurried moment, and I’ll make sure she gets it.

The only issue? Waiting will be the hardest part.