Page 103 of When We Burn

“Someone fell between two old buildings downtown, and they’re stuck.”

I frown and blink into the middle of the room, trying to figure out how that’s even possible.

“I don’t know what that means.”

“I’ll take pictures.” He turns my face back to his. “Baby, I don’t want to leave you tonight.”

“Someone’s stuck,” I remind him. “You have to go get them unstuck. I’ll be fine here. Are your parents bringing Birdie back after dinner?”

“Yeah, they’ll be back soon.”

“Then Birdie and I will watch a movie and hang out. Don’t worry about me.”

He doesn’t move me off his lap, and he doesn’t say anything, and I can see the fight in his eyes.

“Hey.” I take his face in my hands. “I knew what I was getting into when we started this. You have a demanding job, and sometimes it’s going to interrupt us.”

“It feels like italwaysinterrupts us.”

“And then you’ll come home to me.” I kiss him sweetly, and he groans as he leans into the kiss, taking it deeper, his hand drifting down to my ass where he grips my flesh with his fingertips. “When you get here, I’ll be ready for you.”

“I don’t deserve you.”

I laugh and kiss his chin. “Sure, you do.”

Chapter Nineteen

BRIDGER

“Daddy, I want my own bucket,” Birdie says with a frown. “I can carry it.”

“You pick, we carry,” I remind her. “You have an important job.”

Snowline Orchard is a family-run apple orchard, nestled between Bitterroot Valley and our closest neighbor of Silver Springs. My parents have brought us here since we were kids, and even though they moved to Florida, Mom makes sure they come back every year to keep the tradition alive.

“Come on, baby girl,” Mom says to Birdie, smiling as she takes her granddaughter’s hand. “Come help your grandpa and me. We have to get a lot of apples for all the baking and canning we have planned.”

“Miss Dani is going to let me help with apple butter,” Birdie says, and I glance down at my girl and see her smile. Fuck me, that smile. It knocks me on my ass every time.

The fact that myex-fucking-wifesaid such horrific things to her makes me want to punch a goddamn wall. She scared my daughter, hurt my woman, and, as far as I know, she’s still in Bitterroot Valley, which only pisses me off more.

“Is that so?” Mom also glances back at Dani. “I want in on that action, sweetheart. I never could perfect my apple butter.”

“Oh, it’s an easy recipe.”

“I still want it.” Mama winks, and then she, my dad, and Birdie are off to hunt down a few baskets of apples.

We watch the three of them march away, into the heart of the orchard, and then I take Dani’s hand in mine and lead her in the opposite direction.

“I think we’re going the wrong way.”

“Nope. I haven’t had ten minutes alone with you, except at night, and I’m going to tuck you behind a tree and kiss the hell out of you. Did you wear those fucking jeans to torment me? To make me suffer, knowing that I can’t touch you all damn day?”

She laughs as I tug her along, looking both ways to make sure we’re not being watched, not that I really give two fucks. I then pin her against a tree and lean on the trunk just above her head.

“I didn’t realize you were an ass man,” she says. Her laughing eyes are pinned to my lips, and she’s breathing a little hard. Her dark hair is tucked under a red beanie, and she’s bundled in a thick flannel shirt, and she’s so fucking adorable, I wish I could take her against this tree. “I thought you were a boob man.”

“Did you just swear, kitten?” I lower my head so I can whisper in her ear. “I think you did.”

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