Page 64 of When It Burns

She smiles at me and leans in to kiss me quickly. “Well, now that that’s settled you should know, you aren’t getting rid of me, Cowboy. I don’t care how noble your intentions might be, if you want me gone, you're gonna have to force me to leave.”

“Sunshine, you came into my life, and damn if you didn’t light me on fire. In one of the darkest times of my life, you burst in like a goddamn sunrise and made me realize how dark everything had become. There’s no way you’re going anywhere.”

“Is that a threat or promise, Chief Johnson?” she asks with a wink, and in that moment, I know it’s all going to be okay.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

CAROLINE

Ifeel like I am floating by the time Theo drops me off at Maracas Monday night. I enter the restaurant, and sink into our usual booth. I can’t believe how much my life has changed since last week when we were here.

After the events of Friday night, Theo and I spent most of the weekend together in bed. Margaret stayed the weekend with Hannah, and I was grateful she was spared from our weekend shenanigans, considering we only got dressed to check the cows and ride the fence lines.

After ordering a drink, I momentarily lose myself in the memory of Theo asking me to move in.

We were tangled up in the sheets and I was enjoying my post-orgasm haze when Theo leaned over and wrapped his arms around me before whispering, “I know this may be a little fast, so you can tell me no, but what do you think about moving in with me?”

I blinked up at him to make sure I heard him correctly, but the sincerity and insecurity in his voice was impossible to miss.

“You want me to live with you?” I asked, trying to keep the shock out of my voice.

“Well yeah, but only if you want to.”

“How will Margaret feel about that?” I questioned.

“Well she’s mentioned looking for a place closer to town since she’s getting ready to start work on the bakery,” Theo explained.

“Oh, that makes sense. Do you think she would be interested in moving into my apartment? I don’t want her to feel like we’re forcing her out, but we could just swap,” I said, cuddling closer into his chest.

“Let’s talk to Margaret and see what she thinks.The last thing I want is to hurt her. Honestly Sunshine, I just want to be wherever you are. But if it’s too fast—” Theo started to ramble, and I cut him off.

“Theo, I want to be wherever you are too,” I told him honestly. “But also just remember, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good, because I’m never letting you go, Sunshine,” he whispered, brushing my hair out of my face and leaning over to kiss me. The kissing eventually led to more as he teased me with his fingers and tongue. By the time he slid his cock back inside me, I had been ready to agree to anything he wanted as long as he continued giving me access to unlimited orgasms.

After pulling ourselves out of bed yesterday afternoon, Theo and I rode out to check on the farm and met Margaret in the driveway. When we mentioned the swap to Margaret, she’d immediately asked to move into my apartment. At first, I had worried that she’d felt forced out of the farmhouse, but she explained that she was excited about the proximity to the bakery, and I hadn’t argued with her after that.

The waitress walks by with my usual peach margarita, and I take a sip before grabbing a handful of chips to snack on until Margaret and Hannah arrive. After a few minutes of snacking and scrolling through Instagram, Margaret enters and makes her way towards our table.

“Hey, Caroline. How was your Monday?” she asks as she slides in across from me.

“It was good. I am exhausted though. How was yours?” I ask before stuffing another chip in my mouth.

“Ugh, it was fine. I cannot wait to get started with the bakery. I am so nervous about getting everything going, but I’m excited at the same time you know?” Margaret asks.

“Well I totally get that, but you have nothing to worry about. I have never met anyone who bakes as well as you do. You are gonna kill it, and we will all be there to help you with the manual labor part,” I tell her after she orders her own margarita.

“Yeah, you’re right. I tried a few new recipes today that I need y’all’s feedback on. I can’t decide how many I should offer on the permanent menu,” Margaret says looking stressed.

“Hey, you’ll figure it out. And you know we’re always here to help with the taste testing too,” I say with a laugh as Hannah walks into the restaurant.

She throws herself into the booth and sighs. “I swear Leroy Scott is going to be the death of me.”

Margaret and I giggle as Hannah orders her margarita, and we each take turns chatting about our day. After the last few weeks, I was grateful for a mostly uneventful Monday. There had been no fire drills, outbursts, or wild animals, so I was calling it a win.

After a while, the table gets quiet before Hannah and Margaret look at each other. “So, Caroline,” they both say at the same time causing us to all burst into a fit of giggles.

“Yes, let’s get this over with,” I say with a laugh.

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