Page 41 of Wildest Dreams

“You didn’t,” her voice breezes over me, “you can sit down…” she trails off and begins to hum softly once more.

I debate it.

I did want to watch the sunrise. It had been a while since I had been up and ready for five-thirty in the morning.

“Okay,” I sheepishly move towards where she is nursing Lainey, eyes not landing on her once.

Not my place. Kind of weird to watch her nurse her daughter, maybe if she was my own kid, wouldn’t be an issue.

I sit in the rocker, hot coffee in hand as my eyes cast down and I see her empty coffee up.

I didn’t think breastfeeding moms were supposed to drink coffee?

“I switched the coffee for decaf,” she springs on me mid hum as if she reads my mind, taking my mouthful of my coffee and my lips turn down slightly.

Didn’t taste any different.

“Why are you awake?” I ask, my eyes pinned forward to the pinky, orange sky.

“Couldn’t sleep. Lainey is teething. Thought if I was up this early, I may as well come and watch the sunrise.” Her voice is slow, lazy almost.

“You sound tired,” I observe, side eyeing as her hand gently rubs her daughter’s back.

“I’m okay,” her head rolls round to face me, a small smile pinching at the corner of her lips.

Silence coats us for a second.

“Why are you awake?”

I glance down at my coffee cup nestled in my lap.

“First proper day on the job, didn’t want to be late. Riggs will be here any minute. He normally gets up about four-thirty, gets to the ranch for five… but since being with Aspen he has become a little lazier.” I smirk, scoffing on a small laugh.

“Riggs, lazy? I doubt that,” she teases as she moves a snoozing Lainey.

The sun begins to peek over the mountains and the early morning wake up makes it worth it. The creak of the rocker pulls my eyes from the beautiful sunrise and Dixie is standing, Lainey nestled into her.

“See ya later,” she gives a soft smirk and I throw two fingers up, flicking my hand back at a half attempt to saysee ya.

And just like that, I am alone with my heavy thoughts and my warm cup of coffee.

I needed to go over to Kelcie, needed to delve a little more into Dixie's connection with Clay and to find out just how deep it lies.

A sigh rattles from me as I see truck lights approach through the dusk. Riggs.

Pushing from the rocker, one hand folded into my jeans, the other wrapped around my empty mug. Something hits a little different when you drink a hot cup of coffee on the porch whilst watching the sunrise. I'm a simple man. I like the small things in life. The simple things.

Riggs parks the truck and jumps down with Ace in tow. He bolts down the field and Riggs whistles him back. Dog’s recall is on point.

“Morning sunshine,” his voice gruff as he lifts his cowboy hat from his head and rubs his hand over his curly hair.

“Morning,” I nod as he climbs the steps of the porch and walks into the house. I follow him just like Ace does.

He moves towards the coffee pot and pours himself a cup then twists, holding it out towards me and I place my cup under the teat as he pours me another cup full.

“How did you find getting up this morning?” He asks, lower back resting against the countertop as he takes a sip of his drink.

“Yeah fine, felt a little groggy at first but I was alright once I was up,” I admit, lifting my own cup to my lips and taking a mouthful.

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