Page 23 of Bray
I went to her cabinets next, opening one, then the next. The farmhouse was old and the kitchen had vintage cabinets. The counters were white laminate with gold flecks, but spots were rubbed down so much they were missing in sections. A wood table was tucked by a window that looked out behind the house. Beside it was the back door with a white cafe curtain over the window.
Opening the third cabinet, I found the glasses and handed one to each of my brothers. “Here. Water from the tap.”
As they filled them, I continued my way down the line. The amount of food Kitten had was negligible. Generic cereal, oatmeal, ramen. Pasta. Cans of beans.
I shut the last door and spun around. Took in the room. There was no separate pantry. The house was too old for that feature. What was my girl eating?
She’d mentioned the night before that she couldn’t lose her job at The Roadside, that she needed the tipsfrom a busy Friday night. Was she really that hurt up for money that she was eating ramen and jelly sandwiches?
She had the ranch. Her stable was full.
I felt like I’d been kicked by one of her horses. I was a dumbass. Of course, she needed money. A girl like Kitten choosing to work at The Roadside? She’d never work there unless she was desperate.
How had she been living like this without me knowing? Did Lainey know? Thinking of my kitten and how quiet and proud she was, probably not. I doubted Lainey would let her go hungry either. She was fierce like our Ma. Protective, too.
Lainey’d said they were going out to dinner tonight, her treat. Last night, did Katie get a meal before her shift at The Roadside? Did she have to deal with fuckers like the asshole I knocked out cold in order to put food in her belly?
Shit. Shit.Shit.
I ran a hand over the back of my neck, ready to lose my shit.
“You okay, Bray?” Buck asked, setting his cup in the sink. There was no dishwasher. “You don’t look all that happy for a guy who just claimed his woman.”
I grunted. Since she and Lainey were going out, that meant she hadn’t eaten yet. Was that one of the reasons she said yes, to get a meal?
It didn’t matter. I was taking care of Kitten now. Making sure she was happy and cared for and didn’t have to work in a place where she could be fucking groped. I just fucking never imagined that it would be to ensure she didn’t go hungry.
I clenched my jaw, then looked to Buck. “Tell Ma we’ll be there for dinner.”
15
KATIE
“Are you sure about this?”I asked, sitting beside Bray in his truck as he drove toward his parents’ place. I tucked my hair behind my ear, unusually nervous. The music was turned down low, the windows open.
He woke me up from my nap with kisses and his hand stroking over my hair. I couldn’t remember the last time I napped. Of course, I’d never had sex before either. Who knew a few orgasms would conk me out?
Instead of Bray saying he was leaving and going home, he’d told me to get dressed because we were eating dinner with his family.
His family! After we–
I could feel my cheeks heat thinking about whatwe’d done. I’d been to the Wilder ranch many times, but now? Things were different. It felt different.Ifelt different. I was sore, deep inside, which wasn’t surprising because Bray was huge. I was really surprised he actually fit. I’d be feeling him every time I moved for days.
I blinked, swiped some flyaway hair out of my face. I’d had sex with Bray Wilder! Oh my God.
He reached across the center console and took my hand. “Of course. Zeb mentioned ribs and mac and cheese and, well, I worked up an appetite. No doubt you did, too.”
The wink he gave me made me blush. And my pussy clench.
I was sore down there because, well, Bray was a… vigorous lover. It was hard to keep up with what was going on.
I’d had sex with Bray.
I was riding with Bray to his parents’ house.
I was supposedlywithBray.
We’d had sex, so maybe he was letting me down easy by taking me to be with his family. They were a rambunctious bunch, so it’d be easy to put me back into little sister’s best friend territory like usual when I was over there.
