Page 15 of Cowboy Stalker
“Missy, this is my aunt, Dorothy, and her foreman, Russell,” Griffin says. “This is my girl, Missy, and my other girl, Daisy.”
My cheeks warm at the introduction. My girl. Those two words repeat in my head. He claimed both of us. “Hi,” I squeak out the single word. When Griffin said I was staying with him, I didn’t imagine that I’d be meeting his family.
Aunt Dorothy is not some frail old lady like I pictured. Her boots are faded and scuffed. She’s wearing dirty blue jeans with holes in the knees, and her T-shirt has a logo for her favorite racecar driver on it. Her curly silver hair is cut short, and when she looks at me, she has a knowing gaze as if she can see right through me.
Griffin says, “She’s here because?—”
She takes a swig of her beer, condensation rolling down the neck. “There are no secrets in this town. Take her and the baby to the guest room.” She nods to me. “Welcome to the family. You go in and sleep as best you can. We’ll be standing guard through the night.”
I gape at her for a moment. I’ve never had anyone besides Griffin accept me so quickly and easily. I don’t even know what to say. Fortunately, I don’t have to because he’s ushering me inside the house.
It’s tidy, with not a thing out of place. Oval braided rugs adorn the dark hardwood floors and the furniture is a mixture of rustic antiques and oversized squishy cushions that somehow make it feel homey and inviting.
I don’t have too much time to study the house. He guides me with a hand on my back until we reach the guest bedroom which is beautifully decorated. There’s a large queen-sized bed in the center of the room with a beige ottoman at the foot. The neutral paint on the walls makes the canvas print above the bed pop to life in vibrant red and yellow hues. It’s a painting of birds with a sign that reads: Bless this nest.
He puts Daisy down in the crib in the corner and gestures toward the doors on the opposite wall. “The right is a walk-in closet. Not much in there other than some old boxes. On the left is a private bath attached to the room.”
He sets the duffel bag on the ottoman at the foot of the bed. “I’ll watch Daisy for a bit if you want to get comfortable. Take your time.”
I paw through the bag quickly, grabbing some clothes and my toiletries before disappearing into the bathroom. I’d planned to do a quick wipe down, but the sight of the walk-in shower is too tempting. Griffin did say I could take my time.
After a very hot but quick shower, I dress in a tank and some panties. I wish I had some of those cute little pajamas, but I never have anyone over at my rental. It’s always just me and Daisy hanging out.
I can’t find a hair dryer, and I forgot to pack my own. I decide to braid my hair and secure it with a hair band. Then I go through my bedtime routine, washing my face and brushing my teeth.
When I leave the bathroom, I see that Griffin has dragged the armchair across the room next to the crib. He’s texting on his phone, pausing to glance at Daisy every couple of minutes. He’d be a doting dad. The thought makes me smile despite the crazy day.
I clear my throat. “I feel human again.”
He looks up from his phone, and his gaze raking over me heats me hotter than that shower did. Liquid fire burns in his eyes. The same hunger I saw when we made out in the kitchen is back again. “You look beautiful.”
I’m in a faded black tank top and some tummy-control black panties. The clingy tank shows off the rolls I carry on my tummy, and the panties are highlighting the cellulite on my jiggly thighs. I don’t feel attractive, but something about the way Griffin is looking at me makes me think he finds me sexy.
I squeeze my thighs together as I realize how much he desires me. But then the confusing cowboy pushes to his feet. He pockets his phone. “Try to sleep. We’ll unravel this in the morning.”
He kisses me on the forehead and goes to leave the room.
I reach out for him, grabbing his arm. He’s so big and strong, and I don’t want to be alone tonight. “Don’t leave me. Stay.”
His dark gaze softens. “Are you sure?”
My heart races as I look at the bed. “It’s big. We can share it.”
“I’d like that,” he murmurs before he crosses the room. He pulls the decorative pillows off the bed, stacking them carefully in the armchair next to the crib. I follow his lead, the whole moment of turning down the bed together feeling domestic.
He pats the bed. “Crawl in.”
As soon as I do, pausing to fluff one of the pillows, he unbuttons his pants. He tugs them down slowly, revealing a prominent bulge encased in black cotton briefs. His thick thigh muscles have my mouth watering.
He doesn’t have that gym look that most guys with muscles have. No, this is the look of a man who earned his muscles the hard way. He’s strong and built everywhere. There’s a fluttering low in my belly again.
He smirks when he sees me staring, and my cheeks heat. He caught me checking out his package. “Don’t you look at me like that. It’s not happening.”
I’m not sure I’m ready for us to go all the way. Pent-up desire and relief war with each other. I make a soft groan as I turn over onto my side to glare at him. “And why not?”
“Because that’s not what you need right now,” he answers, advancing to the bed. He climbs in next to me and tugs my body closer, so my head is resting on his shoulder. “What you need is comfort, and your needs will always matter most to me.”
His words have me melting into him. He smells so good. Spicy and citrusy. “I can’t believe you came for me when I called you. No one has ever done that before.”
