Page 154 of Giddy Up, Daddy

Luke

Sometimes love is in front of your face. Let Alden lead.

As if I had a choice on that front.

Wyatt

Will let you know how that goes.

Luke sent a winky-face emoji.

Luke

I’ll buy a new pillow for you to sit on.

Huffing, I strutted out of the bathroom. For a Dom, Luke sure was a brat.

Making my way to the guest bedroom, I knocked once before walking in. I hadn’t respected Kennedy’s privacy earlier, and I wouldn’t make that mistake again. Alden called out that I could enter.

“Good timing, Wyatt. Kennedy is all tucked in.”

“I brought our little galloping goddess some meds.”

Kennedy held out her hands. “Thank you.”

I handed her the water bottle along with the pills.

“Things could have really gone badly for me this afternoon if you weren’t here to help,” she said sincerely.

“You’re welcome. I’m really glad you’re okay.”

She hugged me, then settled into the mattress. I tucked the blanket around her, surprising myself. We flirted like we breathed, but tonight something had shifted in the air. Our closest friends were in throuples: two-man, one-woman relationships. I thought the world of her, but I had zero clue if she’d ever consider me as her partner. Could I somehow believe that after all this time I could balance two relationships?

Don’t get ahead of yourself.

She nuzzled my knuckles before I dropped my hand from the pile of blankets. That sweet gesture was new, but Kennedy had been through a lot today even if she pretended like it wasn’t a big deal.

“Sweet dreams.”

“Good night, Wyatt.”

Keenly aware of Alden’s presence behind us, I crossed in front of him into the hall. Leaning against the wall, I waited semi-patiently. Alden bid Kennedy good night, closing the door behind him. He stared at me for a minute without speaking. Did he seek an apology for my odd behavior today? It wasn’t just the teasing in front of Kennedy. No, I’d been poking his buttons since I arrived at the ranch. Scratch that. I’d been seeking a reaction from him for years.

“I should get going,” I said casually.

“We have a conversation to finish, Wyatt. I’ll give you a choice. Follow me to the barn or to the couch. Select carefully.”

“I’m very sorry for referring to you with a title. I threw it in your face to get under your skin.”

“Barn or couch?”

“Did you hear what I said?”

“Make a choice or I’ll do it for you.”

Jabbing my fingers into my hair, I looked up at the ceiling as if the answer to my dilemma would be penned across it. Itwasn’t. I thought about the text messages with Luke. He had no idea how true his last statement had been. Alden was going to bust my ass. And I was going to thank him for it. I battled bratty submissives on the regular. Figuring out their motivations, plans, and unearthing the heart of the matter brought me great satisfaction. For me personally? Only one man had unraveled the complicated web of needs, wants, and desires that I spun around the wall keeping my heart together. And that man was no longer available to me. I’d been searching for someone else, but never really tried. No. I hadn’t found anyone because the person I’d been needing was right in front of me. Alden tapped my boot with his.

“Barn it is.” He made the choice for me. “Are you gonna walk or do I need to carry you?”

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