Page 65 of Kentucky Nights
“You’re going to make me fall in love with you if you keep that up.”
Warmth blooms through my body, my heart skipping a beat, and I hold my breath when I realize what it is.
Hope.
Because I do love her already. Loving her happened the moment I smelled her blood. Loving her happened when I killed those shifters to save her. Loving her happened when I finally had her in my arms, close to my chest, and my tears falling into her wound.
“Maybe you falling in love with me is exactly what I want and need.” After sectioning her hair and wetting it, I reach for the shampoo, pouring a generous amount in my palm.
Taking care of her is my life’s mission now.
Nothing else matters.
After being pampered in the shower with amazing haircare products from Lorcan, including a lovely deep conditioning mask that I left on while Kentucky washed every inch of my body, I’m feeling better than I have…ever.
“What do you want, Dru?” Kentucky asks me as we sit on the rocking chairs on the porch while we have our coffee.
His just the way he likes. Black with an inch of blood inside. I like to give him extra rather than a few drops. I like knowing I’m feeding him, especially after what Lorcan told me.
It’s been hard keeping that a secret. To not let Kentucky know that I know I’m his mate. I want to spill the truth to him. I don’t feel right knowing this while he is respecting me enough to allow me to make my own decisions.
I have to. Lorcan is right. Kentucky won’t think I made the decision myself if I knew the truth, but I think I’ve always knownI was destined for him. Even on the first day, when I was scared, I felt in my soul that I had no reason to be afraid of him.
“What do you mean?” I take a small sip of my hot coffee, careful not to burn my tongue as I watch the sun cast its brightness on the tall grass of the pastures where all of his cows graze. I can tell the sun won’t last long. In the distance, storm clouds are forming.
It’s rained every day I’ve been here, and I have to say, I don’t hate it at all.
“Out of life? What are your goals? Is there anything you want to accomplish? Do you want a big family?” The spurs of his boots reflect from the sun with every rock of the chair; the sharp points could kill someone, the longer I analyze them.
I wonder if they have?
“I would love a big family. Both of my parents were only children, and after my mom died, I remember growing up wishing I had siblings. Then, after my dad died, I became focused. I didn’t care about having a lot of friends because I didn’t want to get distracted. I had a goal. I wanted to become a dentist. Eventually, I’d like to have my own practice.”
“You could be a dentist here if you wanted. The town is small, and people have to go to the next town over to get dental work done. I think you’d be successful in this town. If you know, you want to think about it. And maybe, you could specialize in animal dentistry. I don’t know anyone who does that, and there is a lot of farmland out here. A lot of animals need care. I’m just saying, I think you could be successful.”
“I’m not a veterinarian. I could only focus on the teeth.”
“That’s perfect. There’s a vet I know who comes when I need him. It’s been a while.”
“Can’t you give the animals a drop of your blood if anything is wrong?” I ask. “Like you did with Romeo.”
“Well, turning animals is kind of frowned upon in the paranormal community. There aren’t laws against it, so Lorcan told me, but they don’t celebrate it either. I got a pass because I have the rare gift of speaking to animals. Romeo let me know he didn’t want to die. I had to give him a lot of blood, kill him, and then he came back as a vampire. I try not to use my blood to heal any of my animals if they need help. I know it seems cruel, but then I’d have dozens of cows with momentary enhanced speed and strength. I wouldn’t feel comfortable selling my cattle either if they had my blood in them. I take pride in my farm. I believe life is sacred. The animal’s life is sacred. You’re born, you live, you die. I give them the best life possible.”
“Do you only have cows and Romeo? Why not more? Have you ever thought of adding to your farm? Maybe even a sanctuary of animals who are like Romeo? Who want to live? They could be a big happy family.”
His cowboy hat shadows his face when he dips his chin. “I’ve thought about it. It is only me here, so I figured that wasn’t what was best for them. Is that what you would want? To save animals and they could have good teeth?” he jokes, adding a smirk before hiding it in the coffee mug.
I toss my head back, laughing. “I mean, that doesn’t seem so bad, does it? Seems pretty great to me. We could have chickens, donkeys, peacocks, and dairy cows! We could sell milk. We could have more horses. Romeo is probably lonely.”
Shadows darken the sky again, the sun vanishing as a storm trickles in. A light fog stretches through the pasture, covering the grass in a large cloud.
I love the weather here. I could sit on the porch all day to watch the rain fall, the greenery sway, and the sound of the leaves being pelted by the water. It’s perfect.
It’s no wonder Kentucky loves it here so much.
“I love the sound of that. If that’s what you want, then I can make that happen, you know. I’ll give you everything you want.” He turns to me, placing his hat on top of my head. His eyes swirl into the ruby color I love so much. “You look cute with my hat on.”
I pinch the brim like he does and give him a tilt. “Maybe I can get my own one day, Mr. Jones.”
