Page 41 of Heart & Hope

I finish off the food and hop out of bed, grabbing my laptop. His large, warm hand folds over mine. “Nope. Not today, Rubes.”

“But I need to check for feedback and emails. Manage any social posts from last night.”

He shakes his head.

“Reed, come on.”

He pulls the laptop from my grip and places it on the table by my tote. “The only thing you are doing today is a full day of R & R.”

“Really, R & R? What does that even entail?”

He tilts his head, giving me an incredulous look. “Exactly my point. Now, jeans and boots and a polo or something.”

“I don’t have boots, Reed.”

He feigns shock. “Thought you might say that.” He pads to where his duffel bag sits by the wall and digs into it. When he returns to where I sit on the edge of the bed, he hands me a large brown box.

“What is this?”

“Well, you can’t visit me at the ranch without these.”

I open the lid. White tissue paper is folded neatly around whatever is inside. The smell of new leather starts my heart racing. I rip the paper from the box. Inside sits a pair of western riding boots, tan on the bottom covering the toes and ankle, but from there up, it’s all pink. Intricate stitching in the shape of swirls and flowers covers the pink top part of the boots.

My mouth gapes.

They are so stinking pretty.

And like nothing I would ever own.

“I’m hoping you have socks,” he says, rubbing a hand behind his neck. “Kind of forgot that part.”

“I have socks,” I whisper. Emotion chokes me up, and I press my lips together. No one has ever given me a gift this thoughtful—or useful, for that matter. “Thank you. Guess this means I have to come visit you whenever I can.”

“They’re a gift, Rubes. Visit or don’t, they’re all yours.”

I slide across on the bed and hug him tight. He chuckles and folds me into his chest.

“I see how hard you work, baby. You deserve nice things.”

“I usually buy my own nice things,” I say, pulling away to take in his face.

“I know you do. But it’s not the same. And I... I like taking care of you.”

I can’t breathe.

I can’t respond.

Tears burn behind my eyes.

“Come on, outta those PJs. R & R awaits.” He packs his bag. I hadn’t had time to think about what happens after the opening night for the inn. What happens with Reed and me. And when we go our separate ways for the months between events for the inn.

I hunt through my bag for the clothes I need and slip into the bathroom and change. When I walk back to the bedroom, Reed is waiting on the bed, my new boots in his hands. He pats his knee. “Foot, baby.”

I hesitate before lifting my foot onto his knee. He slides the first boot on. It’s so comfortable. The leather is like butter. Oh my lord, they’re divine. Who knew cowgirls had such stellar boots?

I offer the other foot and he works the boot on, gripping my ankle a little longer than necessary before he lowers my foot to the floor.

I spin around and show him the complete outfit. But he only frowns. He stands and plucks his Yankees cap from the table and pops it on my head before sliding his aviators on.

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