Page 49 of The Run Option

I shake my head. “Don’t worry about it. We should both get some rest. You can show me later, or I’ll just blame you if I can’t find something.”

The right side of his mouth hitches up in a boyish grin. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll be right across the hall if you need anything.”

I nod, my heart skipping a beat. I guess we won’t be as far apart as I’d thought.

Chapter twenty-two

Jason Kingsley

A low groan escapes me as I stand and stretch. After barely sleeping the last two days, I desperately needed that nap. I glance at the sunrise alarm clock on my bedside table, my eyes widening when I see that it’s closing in on five-thirty. That was more of asleepthan a nap, but hopefully Willow did the same and I haven’t abandoned her for too long.

I scrub my face in an attempt to overcome the groggy feeling clouding my brain, then slide on the tennis shoes I barely took off before crashing onto my bed, and walk out into the hall. Willow’s door is open. I glance inside and see that the bed is mussed, but she’s not in it. I walk through the living room and kitchen, even check the laundry room, but she’s nowhere to be found.

It’s only when I return to the living room and look out the French doors that I notice her familiar figure leaning on the wood fence blocking off the horse pasture. I make my way out onto the porch and stop to take in the view. It’s good that she’sfacing away from me right now, because she’d probably think I was up to something with the awestruck grin on my face.

She’sbeautiful. The sun is setting, casting a warm glow over her and the horses in the field. Her long brown hair is floating in the cool autumn breeze. For a moment I contemplate if I ever woke up. It feels as though I must be dreaming. That’s mywifeout there. How many times had I imagined a scene so similar to this one? The only thing missing is a baby on her hip.

I rake a hand through my hair, tugging on the strands in an attempt to pull myself together.I’m a fool,I think as I walk down the wooden steps. She’s not truly mine, and I don’t deserve to think of her in that way. I didn’t win her affections, didn’t date her or spend nights cuddled up watching her favorite movies. I haven’t met her parents or learned her deepest secrets. I’m just a way for her to stay in the country to help her grandmother.

“I hope you haven’t been up long,” I say as I approach.

Willow glances over her shoulder, a serene smile on her lips that makes my steps falter. Have I seen her so at peace before? I hope I never forget how she looks right now in my field with that little smile. Even if she breaks up with me when all this is over, I don’t want to lose this memory.

“I’ve only been awake maybe thirty minutes. I guess we both needed to catch up on sleep.”

I stand beside her and lean on the fence, watching the horses graze in the fading sun. It’ll be time to put them up soon, but there’s nothing quite like watching them beneath an orange sky.

“I’m glad you were able to rest. Since the sun is going down, we maybe should postpone the tour until tomorrow,” I say, stealing a glance at her.

The warm glow of the sunset brings out streaks of caramel in her dark hair. I have a strong urge to brush back the strands lying against her cheekbone. And an even stronger urge to kiss her after.

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I should probably check my work email and some social media stuff. I just couldn’t resist coming out here to watch them for a while.” She gestures toward the horses.

“I noticed the stables at Granny Mae’s house. Did you grow up around horses?” I ask, hoping to learn something new about my wife.

Her peaceful smile fades into something more wistful, and those pretty gray eyes of hers turn misty.

“I did,” she says quietly. “My grandaddy raised horses and trained them too. I spent every summer outside with him. He taught me everything about caring for them, and how to ride too.”

“I bet you had a lot of fun those summers,” I say, sensing that there’s more to the story.

“It was the best part of my year, hands down. There were plenty of days where I left the house at dawn and didn’t come back until dark. And even then I wished for more time. There never seemed to be enough.” Her voice cracks. On instinct, I reach an arm around her. She leans into me. “He passed away three years ago. After he died, my dad came and sold off the horses so that Granny didn’t have to worry about them. I understood why he did it, but every time I see that empty barn it feels like I’ve lost Granddaddy all over again.”

I run my hand up and down her arm. The soft sound of her crying breaks my heart. I turn my head toward hers and press a kiss into her hair. “You’re welcome to spend as much time as you like with the horses. They’re yours too now. They each have their quirks, but they’re good, well-trained horses. There are trails all along our property. I take them out often, so they’re used to the terrain.”

She sniffles. “That sounds really nice. Thank you, Jase.”

She surprises me by shifting to hug me fully around my middle. I wrap her up in my arms and close my eyes.

“Thank you for sharing with me.” I hope she can hear the sincerity in my words.

“Thank you for listening.”

“Always, Lo, always.”

I’m leaning against the kitchen counter nursing a cup of coffee early the next morning when a sleepy Willow shuffles out into the living room. After sleeping most of the day away yesterday, my sleep schedule is off. It must be the same case for Willow, or she’s an early riser. I can discipline myself to wake up when I need to, for things like training, but I prefer staying up late to waking up early. It’s why I always feel like I play my best during night games. Something about the crisp evening air sharpens my senses.

Not that my senses are dull this morning though. They couldn’t be with Willow around. She lights my every nerve up in the best way.

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