Page 46 of White Collar Rancher

“Mutual.” She shouldn’t have to explain more, but the urge was too strong. “With work, I have too much going on.”

“And his reason?” Dad wasn’t going to let it drop.

“He’s not ready to get serious with a baby, so…” Please drop it. And while you’re at it, don’t tell anyone.

Give her this. She didn’t do bars. She didn’t party. Her old med school friend Natasha had emailed her about a fund-raiser in April, a gala to raise funds for a children’s hospital. Emmett would be there. She hadn’t accepted yet. On the one hand, she wanted to go if only to prove to the world she’d moved on. On the other hand, she wouldn’t really be able to prove to herself that she’d moved on until she faced Dr. Bezos and had the talk with Justin.

Mom and Dad watched her. Bezos and her relationship status would come later, and she wouldn’t deal with them at the same time. This weekend was hers. She squared her shoulders. “I won’t be home until tomorrow, or Sunday if I get snowed in.”

“Okay.” Mom managed to say so much with one word. “If you try to drive home and it’s snowing, shoot me a message. I’m still going to worry about you on the roads.”

She would’ve made the drive in record time, but she stopped at the grocery store. Justin probably hadn’t made a trip in the last week, and in her downtime, she liked preparing meals. He liked eating them.

She grabbed the staples like milk, bread, and butter. Meat wasn’t an issue. His basement freezer was stocked with more beef products than the store had on display, and only Justin ate it anyway. Flax and quinoa were the last on her list. She’d promised to make the items that he’d teased her about. I only touch flax when I’m planting it or harvesting it.

Challenge accepted.

A few snowflakes landed on her windshield as she drove out to his place. She always looked forward to spending the weekend with Justin. Being on call used to be an obstacle, one that meant she stayed home rather than going to his place, but that hadn’t lasted long into the arrangement. The drive to the clinic was farther, but so far it hadn’t been a problem.

She parked in her usual spot and grabbed her overnight bag, which held her toothbrush, hair product, soap, a change of clothes, and pajamas. How much of this stuff could be left here for the next time? All of it. But she never did. Maybe this time she could leave her toiletries. He shouldn’t balk at that.

Would things change once she had job security again? For her? Probably. What about for Justin?

They’d been doing this for a couple of months now. She didn’t want to stop, but how long could she remain the secret lover?

Chapter 14

White shit everywhere. Snow drifted over the driveway in piles that probably came up to his chest. Justin stared out the window, squinting in the sun.

It had started snowing late last night, then the wind had picked up this morning. By the afternoon, the clouds had broken apart and the sun now shone. Temperatures were dropping thanks to the clear sky, but the wind had also died down.

“Wow, that’s a lot of snow.” Priya crossed her arms in front of herself and shivered like just looking at snow dropped her internal temperature a few degrees.

Or it could be the old, drafty picture window.

“I don’t think my little skid steer will be enough. When Isaiah naps, I’ll go out and clear snow with the tractor.”

“You can go now, and I’ll watch Isaiah.”

He’d been hoping she’d offer, but he was cognizant of not assuming. She wasn’t his personal babysitter, and while she truly seemed to enjoy Isaiah, he didn’t want her to think that he had her over just for sex and babysitting.

He almost leaned over and grazed a kiss on her forehead. The move would’ve been so instinctive, the inclination startled him. They fucked. They didn’t do things like hold hands or cuddle outside of the bedroom. She had her chair. He had his. Sometimes, she sat on the couch and he hoped it wasn’t an unspoken invitation. The longing he had to fold himself around her and snuggle while they watched TV was dangerous. The last thing he wanted was to get rebuffed.

No, the last thing he wanted was to start something beyond what their arrangement was. Yes. That was the last thing he wanted.

He left his pajama bottoms in place and pulled his coveralls on over them. Priya gracefully dropped to the floor to sit next to Isaiah as he chewed on various toys and crinkled them in his little fists. The meal she had going in the Crock-Pot smelled delicious. Vegetarian chili.

The vegetarian dishes she’d made all weekend had him wondering if she was making a statement.

He walked through the kitchen to the back door to find his thick boots and winter gear. The back door was less blocked than the front. He’d use the tractor on what he could, skid steer the smaller areas, and shovel off the rest.

His gaze landed on the bags of groceries she’d picked up. He reminded himself again not to look too hard at it.

This dish soap is easier on my hands.

He bought the same stuff his mom had always used.

Then there was the new bar of soap she’d gotten for the shower. Usually, she packed in and packed out what she brought. But the pale green block smelled faintly of mint and hadn’t even come in a box. It’s a natural soap with essential oils. It leaves less gunk in the shower to scrape out. Easier to clean. Between the two of them, she was the expert about cleanliness, but he couldn’t help his mild defensiveness.

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