Page 34 of A Cowboy's Trust
He stared at the bundle for a good two minutes before deciding he didn’t have the bandwidth to deal with them right then and shoved them back into the closet.
Everything else, including the letters, he’d leave where they were. He’d be back in the apartment soon enough once these particular ranch hands had moved on and Jinx felt comfortable again.
He hoisted the duffle bag over his shoulder and carried the box into the house, navigating through the darkened living room. He should’ve been paying more attention, but his mind was elsewhere, daydreaming about Tansy, wondering what it would be like to share more than just a couch and a colouring book. First chance he got he was going to?—
His foot caught on the edge of the living room rug, and before he knew it, he headed for the floor. The duffle bag slammed into him and the box tumbled from his grasp.
Its contents spilled everywhere.
“Damn it,” Jake muttered under his breath, dropping to his knees to gather everything. He stuffed his belongings back into the box, his thoughts still wandering. So much closer to Tansy now that he was here in the house.
Only distance didn’t matter. It was what they were trying to establish. Right speed, right motivations.
Once he’d collected everything, he headed down the hallway to the room Jinx had set up for him. The one right across from Tansy’s.
Jake paused outside her door, his heart thudding in his chest. The faint sounds of her getting ready for bed carried on the air and for a moment, he let himself imagine what it would be like to join her. To fall asleep with her in his arms, to wake beside her. To be with her completely.
He shook his head, forcing the thought away. No use in rushing. She had another full day of work tomorrow, and so did he. Whatever was building between them would have to stay slow.
With a sigh, he stepped into his new room, setting the box on the chest of drawers. He ran a hand through his hair, looking around. It wasn’t much—a simple space with a bed, a dresser, and a window that looked out over the back pasture. But it was where he was supposed to be.
For now.
9
With the mad rush of the weeklong cooking spree over, Tansy woke late on Monday—six thirty was late in her books—to the familiar scent of fresh coffee drifting through the house.
Which was lovely. Coffee she didn’t have to make was always a treat, at least once she’d trained them to make it properly.
But more, there was thatsomething elsethat was different—her senses tingled with an awareness that she wasn’t alone.
Tansy snickered. She was never alone, not in the bustling ranch house that was High Water, butthiswas different.
Jake was here now.Livinghere.
She stared at the ceiling, trying to process the shift. Jake had moved in. Not forever, she reminded herself. Just for a little while to make sure things stayed running smoothly and to help Jinx feel safe. But it did mean he was right there, across the hall from her.
One quiet midnight walk away…
Tansy groaned and threw off the blankets, swinging her feet out of bed. “Temptation does not need to be answered,” she muttered. “It needs to be resisted.”
The pep talk didn’t do much to quiet the butterflies in her stomach or the vivid images flashing through her brain. How did Jake sleep? Naked, or did he…
“Creeper,” she scolded herself. Definitely veering into creeper territory. Shoving a facecloth under cold water was barely a punishment—her cheeks grew hot thinking of the man stretched out naked in bed.
When she finally made her way to the kitchen, Jake was there, sitting at the table with a half-empty mug of coffee and his phone in his hand. He glanced up and offered a lazy smile that did nothing to calm her.
“Morning, Sunshine,” he greeted. “You’re finally up.”
Amusement hit hard. “Didn’t realize you were an early riser.”
“Didn’t realize you were one to sleep in.”
She smirked but didn’t reply. Grabbing her own mug of coffee, she leaned against the counter, trying not to stare for too long. He always looked so at ease, as if he belonged.
The easy confidence both irritated and attracted her. She’d bet the man could walk into any room and instantly feel as if he was home. For her, pretending to belong was a long practiced deception.
Which made staring at him all the more necessary and dangerous. She headed to the counter and made herself breakfast.
