Page 52 of Tough Love

Her hand shoots up between us, and her eyes snap shut. “It’s fine, Rawlins; it is what it is.” Her eyes open and those deep brown eyes hold mine. “I have no expectations of you. I mean, come on, I’m leaving at the end of the year. It wouldn’t be fair to you...”

“Sure.”

Of course. What else was I expecting? She will finish her contract and move back to the city. I’ll take over the ranch, god willing. We go our separate ways. Hundreds of miles apart. An ache grows in my core, and I turn and walk back onto the porch. This is the way it has to be. Harry was right—don’t get involved. Harry is usually right. Why would this time be any different?

When the light starts to fade, my phone rings. Ma.

Mack is home.

Excitement builds in my gut, and I start packing up the tools.

“We’re done?” Addy asks. She has sawdust all over her face and neck. Her clothes are coated, too. Fucking adorable.No, Hudson, not adorable.She’s just dirty.

God, that’s worse. I clear my throat, as if I need to excuse myself from my own thoughts. “Mack’s home. You ready?”

“Oh, wow! I’m so excited for you!” Her face splits into the prettiest smile.

“Let’s head back.”

“I can’t wait to meet him. Your mom will be relieved he’s home.” Having mostly dusted herself off, except for the smudges on her face, she slides into the truck. I hop in and start the truck. But I hesitate. She would be embarrassed if I didn’t tell her about the dirt on her face.

“Check the mirror, Howard. You don’t want to scare him all the way back to the front line.”

“Oh shit.” Tugging the visor down, she scoffs, taking in the streaks of dirt and sawdust covering her face. She wipes her facewith both hands. I hand her a rag from behind my seat, and she gives it another once-over. “Did I get it all?”

She turns to me, and I study her face. All except one little bit. “Mostly. May I?”

“Hudson, you had your head between my legs this morning, I think you have permission to touch my face.”

I choke out a laugh, and she leans forward. Those perfect breasts push up, and I force my focus to her face and rub my thumb over her jaw, removing the last streak of dirt. “There. Perfect.”

She sucks in a ragged breath and turns to face the front. “Ah, thanks.”

I push the truck into gear. Forty minutes and three boners later, we pull up beside the homestead. The weeping willow is lit up with fairy lights. And my family is seated around the outdoor table. Double-checking I’m not smuggling a raging hard-on, I jump out of the truck and scoot around to Addy, opening her door. She jumps out, rubbing her arms.

“You cold, Howard?”

Her eyes narrow. “How could you tell?”

“Goosebumps. Don’t flatter yourself.”

She chuckles and I pull her sweater from the truck. It is practically a permanent feature these days. She slips it on, and we make our way to where Reed is regaling Mack with a tale of some great feat, judging by his wildly swinging arms. Ma’s attention shifts to where we close in, and Mack spins around. He looks good.

I stride to where he is, and he jumps up and grabs me in a tight hug.

“How’s it going, Huddo?”

“Good to have you back, Mack.” The words are strained.

He slaps me on the back. I try to ignore the burn behind my eyes that follows the swell in my chest. Every time he leaves isharder than the last. And every time he comes back to us is a blessing.

Addy steps up beside me and holds out her hand. “Addy Howard. It’s so wonderful to meet you, Mackinlay.”

“Ah, so you’re the vet who has my big brother all moon-eyed.”

Addy blushes but doesn’t back down. What the hell have they all been talking about in the forty minutes it took us to drive here? I snap my gaze to Reed. A shit-eating grin splits his face. He is a literal dead man.

But Mack wraps an arm around her and steers her to a seat by his. “It is so good to meet you, Addy. Finally.”

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