Page 24 of Back in the Saddle

“I can keep you warm all day.”

“No can do, sorry. I’ve got to head back to my father’s farm and the family from hell.”

Her sadness was back.

No fucking way was I letting her go that easily. “I’ll go with you. I’m good at dealing with hell.”

Taylor’s eyeswere still locked on mine and when her lips lifted in a smile that mirrored hers after our first kiss, heat rushed through me. My breathing faltered. Her cheeks were flushed. Was she reliving the kiss with me? Feeling the connection we had?

The kids laughed about the shark story more than they had when they were younger and made jokes that they were evidence my dick still worked. I’d toned down the kiss. There were some things your children didn’t need to hear. They didn’t need to hear how I held onto their mum’s arse and pulled her close within minutes of meeting her. They didn’t need to know the lust that had soared through my body. That I’d thought love at first kiss was absurd, until it wasn’t.

“Keep going, Dad,” Callum said.

“Not until I have an agreement that you each cook a meal every week.” Blackmailing them would work in my favour.

“Fine.” Isabelle huffed.

Taylor nudged my knee, and heat radiated from the spot where we touched and landed in my stomach. When I glanced at her, she nodded, encouraging me to add more onto the chores list. I smiled. Good idea to milk this. I’d always wanted them to have a carefree childhood, the total opposite of mine. It had taken a toll as I did more and more around the house. And I wasn’t setting them up for life while doing everything for them.

“And you can do the laundry on weekdays,” I said, my attention focused on them.

Isabelle and Callum whispered to each other while glancing at Taylor and me. There was a lot of nodding and sly smiles.

Callum stood straight. “We will do the laundry each weekday for this household only.”

Taylor nodded. “Agreed.”

What the hell? I was getting shafted. After my mother left, I wouldn’t be in this household.

Lorraine grinned as she turned to put the lasagne in the oven.

“I think you can tell the rest of the story,” I said to Taylor.

She smiled. “It’s one of my favourite parts.”

It was one of mine too. Because if my kiss hadn’t won her over, then this next part certainly won me my wife.

10

Taylor

Mum, the kids and Ciaron looked at me expectantly. What Ciaron had done that night had been simple but effective in winning my heart. I’d never seen anyone stand up to my father like that. Most people were intimidated by his size. That’s probably why he hadn’t lasted with Mum. She wasn’t intimidated by much and he didn’t like that.

I made eye contact with Ciaron as we sat opposite each other. His gaze was smouldering, setting my nerve endings on fire. My fingers itched to touch him, to feel the heat of his skin against mine.

Would this moment be as defining for us as the story I was about to tell?

I staredat the ridiculously hot guy standing in front of me offering to go to my father’s with me. He was rough around the edges with his five o’clock shadow, rugged hands with a couple of scraped knuckles, tight jeans that hugged his muscularthighs and a tattoo on his arm that poked out the bottom of his jacket sleeve.

I almost laughed, imagining my stepmother’s reaction when she saw him. She’d either be swooning or she’d be appalled. Then she’d need to fan herself. It would be worth taking him home for that alone. But even my petty revenge wouldn’t extend to taking some random guy home.

“All good,” I said, dismissing his offer.

He shook his head. “Showing you a good time extends to chasing your demons away.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why?”

“I’m a sucker for a pretty girl who needs help.”

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