Page 85 of Ridin' True
“Know this, gorgeous—I’m searchin’ for forever, whatever that looks like.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised, and yet I was.
Until he said those words, I was anxious to share the truth about what I wanted when it looked so different than what I knew of his past. But he’d proven to me over and over again that I could trust him.
With my life.
With my heart.
He was a safe place.
He wasmysafe place.
“You have flaws, right? I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, for this whole Prince Charming thing you have going to fade, but it’s not.”
“Prince Charming?” he muttered with a furrowed brow.
I hummed my amusement, leaning toward him until my forehead was pressed against his. “That night at the storage unit—you rescued me, and you brought me my shoe. My Prince Charming.”
“Cute. That’s real cute, Lex, but I’m no prince. I’m a Stallion, and I come with plenty of flaws.” He squeezed his fingers at my sides as he added, “Need you to do somethin’ for me.”
I pulled away so I could see clearly into his eyes. “What is it?”
“Don’t hold me to some fantasized standard you’ve got in your head. I’m gonna mess up. You will, too. No one’s perfect. Doesn’t mean we can’t work anyway.”
“Papi,” I began with a grin, reaching up to sink my fingers into his hair. “You’re doing it again. Saying only the right things.”
He slipped his hands underneath the hem of the shirt I wore, seeking the bare skin of my back. The feel of his rough callouses gave me goosebumps, like they had since the first night he touched me. He coaxed me closer, and I didn’t resist.
“This much I can tell you—I’m a happy man. Don’t have much to gripe about. Got a job I like. A brotherhood I belong to. Kids I love. House I earned. And you. Knew I wanted you the moment I laid eyes on you. Realized you were worth keepin’ shortly after.
“I might not be a prince, darlin’, but I’m content. A man who’s content doesn’t stir shit up just because. You got enough trouble, Lex. We’ll deal with that, then maybe my flaws will become more obvious.”
“Okay, I’m going to need you to stop talking,” I murmured, bringing my lips to his. “If you don’t shut up and kiss me, Jed Barker, I’ll never believe you’re not a prince.”
He chuckled, pulling me closer still, and then he kissed me.Thoroughly.
This time, in spite of his sleeping children on the opposite side of the house, when our longing for one another became quite obvious—we didn’t hold back.
Five Days Later
Ittooknotimeat all for Jed and me to fall into a routine at his house, and it was much the same with his kids around. He’d make sure they were awake before he escorted me to work, then he’d return home and get them situated for the day. During the summer, if they weren’t with Winnie and her boys, Hank would come over and keep an eye on them while Jed was at the garage.
It was kind of funny to think of one of the Stallions as a babysitter, but they didn’t call HankShephardfor nothing. In the club, he was in charge of looking after the prospects. With the kids, he was kind of like a grandpa. He didn’t have any children of his own, but he was a natural.
When our work days were done, Jed came to escort me back to his place and we’d spend the evenings making dinner and hanging out with the kids. We played games and watched TV if we were together. Sometimes the kids wanted to do their own thing. On Thursday night, Axel begged Jed to light a fire so we could roast marshmallows, and we did. Marlowe told ghost stories, regaling us with her wild imagination, and I loved it.
Before Jed and I went to bed each night, I spent a little time working, trying to tie up all the loose ends at the office before my last day, or working on my new employee contract, aiming to be thorough and fair. With the week drawing to a close, I was up pretty late Thursday, after marshmallows and ghost stories, hoping I could get enough done that I wouldn’t have to worry about it over the weekend. When my alarm clock sounded Friday morning, the last thing I wanted to do was crawl out of bed; but I needed to get up and fold the blankets on the couch before I hopped in the shower.
With a yawn, I crept out of Jed’s room and made my way to the living room. My hair was loose, and I raked my fingers through it, certain a pitstop at the coffee shop for a chai latte was definitely on the docket that morning.
I wasn’t two steps removed from the hallway when I heard movement in the kitchen. I gasped, startled, and jumped before I froze and stared at Marlowe. She stared right back from where she stood, at the island, by the fridge, with a glass of water in her hand.
“Uh, hi,” I managed to say, my brain working double time, trying to figure out how best to handle this moment. “You’re up early.”
“I was thirsty.”
“Mmm, yeah. I see,” I said lamely.
