I mounted Junebug, the saddle creaking beneath me as I settled into place. The weight of everything was still there, but it felt lighter now. “Race you back?” I teased, gripping the reins as Junebug’s muscles shifted beneath me.
Without missing a beat, Dad was urging his horse forward. “You’re on!”
Of course he had the advantage. His horse was already galloping before I even had the chance to nudge Junebug into motion.
I rolled my eyes and laughed, spurring Junebug forward, knowing full well she could easily overtake them, but winning this particular race didn’t matter. I had nothing to prove but to the man and child I loved. And by God, I wouldn’t let either of them down.
22
HUDSON
The knock came just as I was slipping my boots on. My heart thumped crazily. After four years, I was going on a date again with Matty. I’d dreamed about it but never expected it to happen.
“Coming.” I padded across the hall and swung the door open. Matty stood there, dressed in jeans and flannel like he’d stepped off the cover of some ranchwear catalog.
The guy did love his flannels, but I understood why. Simple had never looked so sexy. And this was one of the reasons I was obsessed with him. He didn’t come across as someone who was loaded. At heart, he was a rancher and didn’t sweat the fancy stuff.
“Hey.” I stepped aside. My stomach was doing all sorts of somersaults from looking at him. With Ivy at the ranch with Ozzie and Gray, we had the house to ourselves. “Come in. Let me grab my?—”
He caught me by the shirt and reeled me up against him, mouth crashing against mine. The kiss was deep and hot, all tongue and teeth and that low, hungry sound he made when he wanted me. I pulled him inside, kicked the door shut,and backed him up against it, returning the passion in his kiss.
Who needed to eat out anyway?
I slipped my hand under his shirt and groaned into his mouth. My man was sexy as hell, and I loved the feel of his cut abs under my fingertips.
“God, you taste so fucking good,” Matty growled.
I was more than a little unsteady on my feet. “So… are we going out,” I asked, breathless, “or to the bedroom?”
He chuckled. “Out. Maybe. But we should talk for a bit first.”
Thatmaybelanded heavy.
“Okay, then. Let’s talk while I finish dressing up for you.” I jerked my chin toward the hallway, and we walked into my bedroom. I made a beeline for my closet, wishing I had more options.
“You already look all dolled up.”
I laughed. “Hardly. I haven’t bought new clothes in a couple of years.”
“You’d look good in anything, Huddlebug.”
My breath hitched, and I closed my eyes, soaking in the nickname I hadn’t heard in years.
“You okay in there?”
“Yeah.” I grabbed my worn denim jacket and shrugged into it. “Are you going to tell me what’s up or continue to eyefuck me?”
“That is a hard one. I want you straddling my lap so bad.”
Damn, he still knew how to make a guy feel special.
“Is this about whatever happened earlier, before you picked up Ivy? Because I could tell you were upset but didn’t want to bring it up in front of her.” His eyes had been red, and he’d looked pale. “You had been crying, hadn’t you? Is itme? Did I do something? Because if it’s too much and you have second thoughts, I understand.”
It would be difficult, but I would respect his decision. His forgiveness was a big ask.
Matty shook his head, stepped forward, and took my arm. “Come here.”
He pulled me toward the bed and sat, guiding me down beside him. “Tell me about the day you got married.”
