Page 145 of That Moment
“I’m fine,” I lie.
She studies me for a beat, then pulls back, hands on her hips. “Scotty. I know when you’re out here tinkering with this old thing, something’s on your mind. Talk to me, babe.”
I exhale, rubbing the back of my neck. “Fine, but just know I'm going to sound like an asshole and a baby, and I know that.” I take a breath. “I overheard your call this morning.”
Her brows lift slightly, confusion flashing across her face. “My call?”
“The one about LA.”
Realization hits her instantly, and she steps closer. “Oh, that. Okay, so what about it?”
“I just… You told me you didn’t want that job. That you wanted to stay here. But hearing you ask about it again—I don’t know, it messed with me. I don’t want to hold you back, Adrienne. If that’s what you really want, I’ll support it. I meantwhat I said before. I’d sell the ranch and move wherever you go. I’d give it all up if it meant you’d be happy.”
Her eyes soften, shimmering in the glow of the shop light.
“Just not the mares,” I add with a half-smile. “They’re staying here in Colorado no matter what.”
That earns a laugh from her. She presses her hand to my chest. “You big idiot.”
I huff out a laugh. “What?”
“I wasn’t asking for me,” she says gently. “Agnes, one of my friends from law school, just moved back to the States. She’s been miserable at the firm she landed at, and she’s been thinking about a change. I was asking about the position for her. I just wanted to make sure it was still open and that she’d be able to make their timeline before I brought it up to Celeste.”
Her thumb traces over my shirt, slow and soothing. “You really thought I was planning to leave you?”
I drop my head, voice rough. “Didn’t want to. But yeah. For a second, I did. And look, I know it’s pathetic, and I said I’d be better, and I’m trying. But sometimes,” I close my eyes for a second, fighting back a tear, “just the thought of losing you again is so overwhelming it’s like I struggle to remind myself.”
She leans in, her forehead resting against mine. “I’m not going anywhere, Scotty. I love my job, but I love you more. You’re home for me.”
I close my eyes, letting that sink in, the knot in my chest finally starting to loosen. “Guess I overthought things a bit.”
She smiles. “Maybe just a little.”
“Won’t happen again.”
“I’m sure it will,” she laughs. “But I promise you, we will work through it next time, just like this time.” She presses a soft kiss to my lips, then tugs my hand. “Now, take a shower with me.”
My brows lift. “Yeah?”
Her grin turns playful. “Yeah. I missed you tonight. Couldn’t stop thinking about this big,” her hand drops down between us, “dirty secret waiting for me at home,” cupping my cock through my jeans and instantly eliciting a groan from me.
“Oh yeah?” I growl when she squeezes me, my cock hardening with each second. It pulses against her hand. “You want me to remind you just how big and filthy this secret is?” I thrust my hips forward slightly.
“Mhmm,” she bites her bottom lip, looking up at me through her long lashes. “Remind me how dirty it can get, how much it hurts. And then,” she steps back, reaching for my hand, “You’re going to make love to me for hours.” I follow her inside, fingers laced in hers.
The water’s barely on before she’s pulling me under with her. Our clothes are only half off, mouths colliding, the water still too damn cold, but it doesn’t stop us. She’s on her knees, tugging my soggy jeans and boxers down my thighs, taking me deep in her throat before I can even process it.
By the time I’m inside her, the only thing that exists is the sound of our breathing and the soft thud of her heart against mine as I bury myself inside her, losing all track of anything else besides her.
And this time, I don’t think about LA, or the ranch, or anything that could ever take her away.
Because she’s here. With me. And I know, without a doubt, she’s never leaving.
Chapter 29
Adrienne
I’ve sat in this chair in Celeste’s home office a hundred times over the years. When I told her that I wanted to be like her when I was older. When I first told her I want to intern for her in college, when I needed advice about law school, when I thought my heart was breaking over men who didn’t deserve me.
