Page 11 of Single Dad at Mountain Creek Ranch
It’s been so long since I woke up with a woman in my arms. I tighten my hold on Eden. Her back to my front, she can likely feel the effect her naked body pressed against mine is doing to me. I kiss a trail up over the curve of her shoulder to the dip of her neck. The soft rose scent of her shampoo tickling my nose. It’s only been one night, but I know that I could spend the rest of my life waking up like this. I ache when Eden is away from me and crave her when she's in my arms.
I slip my hand beneath the sheets to initiate another round with the woman I love when my hand skims her side right where she's ticklish.
“No, don’t.” She giggles, flinching away from me.
“I’m sorry.” I pull her back to me. “But since you’re up…”
She looks over her shoulder at me. “I wish I could, but I have to go home and check on my mom and take her to physical therapy this morning.”
"Oh, right." I lay back. "Will you stop by after? I don’t know how long I can be apart from you.”
"I think you will survive for a few hours." She laughs and leans over to kiss my chest. “Well…maybe if we are quick.”
I close my eyes as she continues the trail of kisses up my body. The mattress dips as she moves to straddle me. I inhale through my teeth as her hand takes hold of my cock, her grip firm as she strokes it up and down. I’m about to lose myself to the moment when my phone dings from my pants pocket on the floor.
“Ignore it,” I tell Eden.
She lets go of me. “It could be important.”
I sigh in frustration as I reach down to grab it. This better be important. I unlock my phone and see a text from Willow.
WILLOW: I took the girls home. You need to get here. Now.
ME: What’s wrong?!
WILLOW: I’ll tell you when you get here.
ME: Fine. I’ll be there as soon as I can.
“What the heck?” I turn the phone around to show Eden the screen. “Do you know anything about this?”
She squints to read the text exchange and shakes her head. “I have no idea.”
I hate when people make you wait for them to tell you something. Like my mind isn't already playing through the worst-case scenarios. It can't be anything wrong with the girls. She would have told me that. This is something different. Something terrible enough that she doesn't want to tell me over the phone but in person.
“I guess we should go since my sister is an annoyingly cryptic mood killer.”
“Cryptic Mood Killer. That sounds like a terrible serial killer from one of my mom’s true crime shows.” She laughs.
“If this isn’t life or death. I may smother my sister with a pillow.”
“I’m sure she has a perfectly good reason.”
We both get dressed and head out. We don't even bother trying to hide the fact that we spent the night together. I'm ready for everyone to know that I'm with Eden, and she's with me. If I thought she'd say yes, I'd take her to the courthouse and make it official, but for now, I stop in the front lobby in full view of the dining area filled with guests and townies alike. I cup Eden's face in my hands and kiss her. One that I hope she feels to her toes.
I can hear a few gasps of surprise and some chuckles. Good, if the gossip mill works at its normal speed, everyone in town will know we are a couple by noon.
I reluctantly drop Eden off at her mom’s house before heading home. Willow is standing with her arms crossed outside, waiting for me as I pull up the drive. She doesn't look happy. I cut the engine of my truck and get out.
“What’s the emergency that couldn’t wait until I got home?”
“She was here when I brought the girls back.”
“Who’s here?” I ask, confused.
Willow pauses for a moment before answering, “Rona.”
My stomach clenches, and I feel every muscle in my body tense up.
