Page 48 of Wild Heart
“We’ve got your truck and the highway. I want to show you how much I care. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you here.”
“I’m staying with Sawyer. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to show me you care.” A shiver turns into a violent quake when he grinds his hardness against my jeans.
“I do care, honey. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it to you.” He growls low and slow.
“A few days is fine.” I laugh into the sinewy muscle of his thick masculine neck when my nose rests there just to breathe in his minty essence. “I’ll need my truck back. I need to get another job and be independent.”
“Summer, you ain’t coming all the way out here to live in a barn. You’ll be in my bed with me, as my woman. That's non-negotiable. The truck is yours… and so am I.” He nuzzles into my neck.
“There’s just one thing… I brought Ellie with me. She’s back at Sawyer’s place. Maybe we could organize a party and invite all your good-looking friends.” I smile with mischief.
“Good-looking friends?” he quizzes.
“Yeah, Ryder and Levi and Shane.”
“Good-looking friends,” he repeats.
“Don’t worry, Hayden. I’m so into you, like big time crazy love. You know I’ve fallen too deep to fancy your hot friends.” I giggle. “Ellie on the other hand needs a hunky hot American man to keep her occupied while we...”
A deep sultry growl is followed by a fierce, possessive kiss that tugs my lower lip with a playful nip. “Get in the truck and buckle up. We’re going for a ride. I love you more than ever, and, honey, it’s forever.”
Epilogue
Ellie isn’tecstatic about her living arrangements. Apparently, I’m a nasty best friend for shacking up with a hot rancher and leaving her to sleep alone, above horses, with the stench of animal shit, and a grumpy old man who hides in a scrap yard all day. I’ve told her Sawyer’s bark is worse than his bite, but that just got me a thump to the shoulder.
“You told me there were heaps of strapping men about this place.” Ellie sighs when we leave the small convenience store and walk out into the street. “All I see are old dudes with hats and a few kids.”
That’s not what I see. Hayden sits in his truck with the music playing, his window rolled down and shaded eyes all over me. A slow quirk of his lips gives away his silent filthy intentions and my thighs clench. “I think the talent around here is outstanding.” I wink at him and flick my ponytail because I’ve learned that drives him wild. “Come on, Star needs her injection.”
I pull open the bag of dog treats that we just bought and stuff a handful of tiny looking bones into my pocket. Strolling up to the red truck, my belly flips. “Hey there, sir, you single?” I smirk.
“Afraid not, honey, I’m attached at the hip to this one.” Hayden laughs when Star bounces onto his lap, wagging her tail.
“You two make me sick.” Ellie groans. “Get the dog and let’s go, Summer.”
A wicked grin dances on Hayden’s lips, and he passes Star through the window. “Wait up,” he calls as I turn away. Opening the driver’s door, he jumps down to the pavement.
“How about I buy you two lunch once we’re done,” he suggests, strolling along beside me with his hand on the base of my spine. We try to keep the contact to a minimum when Ellie is around. Not just for her benefit, but for his. He told me I’m like a tube of Pringles. Once he touches me, he can’t stop until I’m devoured in one sitting.
We reach the Vet clinic at the end of the road. Clay isn’t always available, but Hayden phoned ahead to make sure he was around. Hayden holds the door open for us and then swaggers to the counter and dings the bell. There isn’t a receptionist waiting for us, so we wait for Clay to come out to the front. The treatment room door swings open, and Clay shouts out from the back, “Pet name?” It sounds like he’s wrestling a lion back there, and it’s winning. My heart melts when Hayden hollers back, giving over the name of his pet as, Star Taylor, with sincerity and a hint of pride. It’s like he’s taking our future kid to the doctor for a checkup. Not that I’m pregnant, which wouldn't come as a surprise for the amount of times we’ve made love since I moved in with him. We’re certainly not trying to have a baby out of wedlock, just enjoying each other a lot. It’s tricky finding the right opportunity with Hank living in the same house, but we manage. There have been times when Hayden has had to cover my mouth with his to absorb my wild groans.
“Come on through, Hayden,” Clay shouts back. There’s a bang and a swear word, and then a soothing calm voice. “That’s it, big fella. In ya go.”
I stand up and look down at Ellie. “Are you coming in with us?”
Her eyes roll. “I have no desire to see that cute pup get a needle jabbed in its ass or find out what that vet is harboring in there. I don’t do wild animals.”
“Fine.” I laugh. “Wait here and stay out of trouble.”
Hayden and I go through the door and meet Clay in a small treatment room with another door behind him. His dark brown hair is messy, and his cheeks are flushed. He slaps Hayden’s arm and grins. “Summer, great to see you.” They look at each other with a secret smirk, like they’ve spoken about me in the past.
Clay sticks out his hand, but I decide to go in for a hug instead. It’s not flirtatious in any way and sandwiches Star between his chest and mine. “Great to see you again. I take it you’re busy?”
He blows out a puff of air. “I’m always busy. If I didn’t love animals, I’d give it all up tomorrow.”
“Please be gentle with this one.” I smile tightly and sit Star on the silver table.
Hayden’s arm snakes my hip, and he jerks me into his side with a possessive deep sigh.
