Page 31 of Training the Heart

Thirty minutes later, I stand back and admire my handiwork.Fuck, if I ever fail as a rancher I’m pretty sure I could absolutely kill it as a chef. I deliver her plate and take my seat on the other end of the sofa with my own.

“Oh God …” She moans that tempting sound again as she chews her first bite. “This is delicious,” she mutters as she takes another.

I let myself eye her up when she isn’t looking, wrapped up like a little burrito in the corner. The dark hair that’s escaped her bun sits wispy around her face, and she looks way too good right now in my clothes. Speaking of which …

“CeCe is going to head to your cabin when she’s done at Olympia today, she said she’ll FaceTime you and you can instruct her on what to bring you for the next few days.”

She nods. “She’s already messaged me. I gave her a list. She should be here anytime.”

Not even two bites later, the telltale sign of CeCe’s headlights shine through the front window.

“Knock knock, delivery.” CeCe’s voice sings through the space as she opens my front door toting two good-sized duffle bags. Nash is trailing behind her like the puppy he is.

“Well, isn’t this cozy …” Nash chuckles while I mentally berate him for being such a cocky son of a bitch.

Ivy smiles a megawatt smile at CeCe that almost takes my breath away as I watch it light up her whole face.

“A Not Angel home delivery service,” Ivy remarks.

“Hell yes, and this delivery service comes with the help to put everything away too … Ooh, Mama’s chicken penne? Don’t mind if we do,” CeCe says, already grabbing herself and Nash plates down from the cabinet.

“Guess this is a dinner party.” Nash smirks as CeCe loads his plate up and he stuffs a piece of garlic bread into his mouth.

CeCe and Ivy ramble on while they eat, about random things going on in town, changes to Olivia’s boutique. The factthat Gemma, Cole’s shitty excuse for an ex, has a new boyfriend. Small-town gossip at its finest.

Nash and I make our way to the kitchen when we’re done eating and I pour us both a bourbon. I grab my Pop-Tarts out of the pantry, open a package and pop two in the toaster. We lived on these things when we were young

“So, you have a house guest for a few days?”

“Appears that way, yep,” is all I offer back.

“Fuck it, I’m just gonna ask. How the fuck is that gonna go?” He swirls his glass and takes a swallow.

I look at Ivy in the next room as I answer. Her face is animated, pretty, soft. A far cry from how it looked when I found her on my porch last night. She looks comfortable and she looks too damn good in my living room. I avert my eyes to the sink as I start to fill it with hot soapy water.

“It seems to be going alright so far. She’s already looking better,” I say, pulling the Pop-Tarts out of the toaster and passing one to Nash, he takes one from me and takes a bite.

“Must be all that tender loving care you’re giving her,” he says as he chews, smiling big enough to show me he’s on to me, as if I’m that obvious.

“Fuck sakes, it isn’t like that,” I mutter under my breath, but I don’t deny it. I am looking after her; it’s the right thing to do. “I’m doing what I need to do for the ranch—she’s got to be better to train. I would do it for anyone.”

Nash grins again, and even though he isn’t really my brother, sometimes I feel like he knows me even better than Cole does.

“Whatever gets you through the day, Sergeant,” he says as he claps me on the back.

He thinks he’s so smart. What the fuck does he know?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ivy

“Are you feeling comfortable here?” CeCe asks as we put away my things.

“Oddly, yes,” I answer honestly.

“Wade acts tough but somewhere in there he’s just a great big softy,” CeCe says to me as she hangs a few sweaters in the small closet.

She’s brought me everything I asked for, tights and yoga pants because jeans will be too structured for the next few days, big sweaters, my toiletries and pajamas, and my beloved two books that I’m currently reading so I can take a break from the TV.

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