Page 31 of Rancher's Heart

“Parker called me since you were working, and he thought Troy was gone,” Griff said. He explained the situation and how Ryder had pulled up the footage that cleared Parker, and I immediately started signing what I wanted to tell him. His large hands clamped around mine, and he pulled me to him. His hands pressed between my breasts, and my hands against his chest. “Talk to me.” Griff’s voice was low and made my anger melt away.

“He’s my son Griff. We aren’t your problem.”

His eyes grew dark, and I swore they could have spit fire. “You’re living with me, and while neither of us really knows what’s happening, the second you moved on to my ranch, you became someone I would protect and you have the full weight of the other four also. We protect what’s ours.” His eyes dropped to my lips, and I leaned into him.

I’d longed to have his lips pressed against mine. It was insane how much I thought of it. He lowered his head, and I stood on my tip-toes and sparks flew between us as we kissed. I’d never kissed anyone in a hospital, but it was the stuff good shows are made of. He let go of my hands and moved his to my waist, pulling my hips against his. Griff moved his tongue along my lips and I opened for him.

I hadn’t allowed myself to be this intimate with anyone since we’d moved here, and even before that, I hadn’t ever been kissed as if my life depended on it. My arms ached to hold him, torun my hands through his hair, but I was pinned against him, melting into his chest.

“Damn, you’re a good kisser.” He said when he pulled away from me. “Can’t have those pouty lips and not know how to use them.” He lowered his head again and placed another quick kiss on me.

“Griff,” I whispered as I could feel the blush cross my cheeks. Missing his arousal wasn’t an option with as tight as I was to him. The door flew open, and I took a step back from Griff, who moved behind me.

Parker walked back in the room and looked from me to Griff with a coffee and bag in his hand. He held them out for me. As soon as I took them, he started signing.We got these to smooth over the fact I’d gotten in a fight, and I forgot them in the truck.

“Thank you, that was very thoughtful. I still don’t like the fact you were in a fight, but this helps.” I smiled at him and Griff, who was apparently settled enough to go stand beside my son. Before I could change my mind, I kissed Parker and then Griff on the cheek.

“Well kid, let’s let your mom get back to work. We’ve got the rest of the day to do whatever we want.” He slowly signed, and my heart burst. He was the first man who’d taken the initiative to learn how to communicate with Parker. The first male figure who thought he was worth learning a new language for.

“Wait, why aren’t you in school?”I asked out loud and signed.

Griff said I didn’t need to be there today.Parker shrugged.

“None of the teachers sign, and without his implant, he can’t hear, right? So, I figured he wasn’t going to get much out of just sitting there.”

“Oh my god, you two are trouble,”I shook my head and sighed. Griff wasn’t wrong. It would be more frustrating for Parker if he had to try and read lips for the rest of the day.

“I also hate to be the one to tell you, but your ex-husband, who is home, now knows I’m not old and half dead, so you’re probably going to have to deal with him now, too.” Griff smiled tightly.

“Great,” I groaned. “I have to get back to work.” Turning Griff to face the door, I took the opportunity to admire the tight ass in front of me.

Parker walked out ahead of us. “The first place I saw you was in that exam room; now I get to kiss you in it. I wonder what else we could do in there?” He said quietly, leaning close to me.

“Nothing, we can do nothing else in that room, ever,” I said, slipping my hand into his back pocket.

“And just when can I do more with you again?” He whispered, even though the hallway was empty and Parker couldn’t hear us.

“If you keep being there and protecting my kid, maybe sooner than you think.” Taking my hand out of his pocket before we got back to an area where people could see I smiled up at him. “Thank you for the coffee and doughnut. They will get me through my shift.”

Parker waved as he and Griff headed out through the sliding doors. Leaning against the desk, I couldn’t help but laugh at the two of them. They walked the same and I could have sworn they were related from the back. Griff threw his arm around Parker’s shoulder, and they walked out of sight.

“Now that’s a man,” Sarah said. I looked down, and she was staring at the now-closed doors. “Elle, you sure are lucky.” She turned back to the charting she was doing, and I took a sip of the coffee.

“I know.” I left the front desk, and went to my area, and made a quick check of my patients. All were settled, and I sat at my computer. My phone lit up, and I glanced at it.

Griff: hope you enjoyed watching me walk away

I couldn’t not reply to that. Turning on my chair so I wasn’t visible to the world I didn’t try to hide my smile.

Me: What are you talking about?

Griff: you were staring at my ass I could feel your eyes on me

Me: Keep dreaming cowboy.

Griff: hows delulu land treating you

Me: Delulu?

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