Page 21 of Spring Forward

DELANEY

The last week has flown by, and I’ve settled into a routine that has helped to settle some of my anxiety. I thrive with routine even though I love a bit of variety as well. It works for me since what I do might be the same, but the varied personalities of the horse I’m working with changes things up enough for me to feel like every day is a new adventure.

Even though all the horses are sweethearts at Limitless, I’ve really bonded with Bolt. He’s a gorgeous horse and has the sweetest temperament. He’s going to be able to connect with men with PTSD who need a gentle horse, one who can follow their lead, while also not being weak willed. Bolt will keep whoever they’re working with on track and keep them present instead of allowing them to fall into the black holes of their mind.

A horse shouldn’t be what pushes me over the edge when it comes to staying or going, but it’s a huge bonus. I’ve worked withso many horses over the years, but there’s something special about this lot, especially Bolt. Walking away from them feels impossible.

“Delaney,” Eden’s cheerful voice pulls me out of my thoughts as I look up to find that she’s joined me on the porch. She plops down next to me on the swing which has become one of my favorite places on the ranch. “We’re going out tonight.”

I blink at her a few times because she didn’t ask, she stated it like it is a forgone conclusion. What is it with these people and making bold, irrefutable declarations? It throws me off my game and I find it almost impossible to say no.

“We are?”

“Oh yes,” she sighs dramatically with a big smile on her face. “I need a little break from all the last-minute wedding stuff,” she twists her face up in annoyance, but I can see the love shining in her eyes even if she is a little over the planning for her wedding. “You need a break from work and the insufferable looming presence of a certain Burns brother.”

My shoulders go up instinctively and I deflect, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The eye roll Eden gives me is epic. She continues as if I haven’t said anything. “You also need to meet some of the other ladies in town.”

“This is sounding more and more like a girl’s night out,” I muse.

She claps her hands together and nods enthusiastically. “That’s exactly what it is. Morgan and Audrey are going to meet us there. They’re both teachers. Morgan’s brother is Jared, oneof Noel’s best friends. They were enlisted together,” her voice drops to a whisper at that last part, and I nod sagely.

Noel has mentioned Jared to me already though he didn’t seem eager to introduce us. I have no idea why.

“We need it,” her words are filled with exasperation, but they do nothing to hide the affection she has for Fletcher, the Burns men, or Limitless Ranch.

She pulls me up from the swing and ushers me inside before walking away while throwing over her shoulder, “I’ll be back in half an hour, and we’ll head out.”

When I step inside Noel and August are sitting at the dining room table with a Lego kit still mostly in pieces spread out before them. The concentration on August’s face is something I’m used to seeing, but the affection, the sheer love and adoration, on Noel’s face pulls me up a little short.

When Noel glances up, all that love is directed at me and the weight of the decision on what to do next, on whether I stay or leave, doesn’t feel so heavy. How could it when a man like Noel is looking at me like he is right now?

“What’s up, Freckles?”

Before I can answer, August’s head snaps up and he grins at me while waving toward the table, “Look, Dela, we’re building a set together.”

I walk over and kiss the top of my brother’s head, and he doesn’t scowl at me like he’s too old for my affection. “I can see that. Having fun?”

“I always have fun with Noel,” he chirps, and I swear I see the eyes of the big man in question turn a little glassy with unshed tears.

“Apparently,” I direct my words toward Noel to answer his question, “I’m going out tonight with Eden for a girl’s night?”

Noel’s jaw clenches for a second before his face smooths out into something more neutral. “That will be fun.” He stands up and comes around the table, gently moving me a few feet away from my brother before kissing me gently on the lips. His words are whispered against me as if he’s branding me, “Just remember you’re mine when all those men at The Range are checking you out, trying to buy you drinks, and asking you to dance.”

I scoff and shake my head at his ridiculousness. “I don’t think you need to worry about that, Noel.”

His lips curl into a grin that is downright sinister as his eyes move down and then up my body slowly. “I think you don’t see yourself the way others do, Delaney.”

The kiss he plants on me is firmer this time and his touch is downright fucking possessive as he grips my hips and pulls me against his chest before he lets go. I’m in a daze as he walks back toward the table and sits next to August. Smugness radiates off the man because he knows exactly what he does to me.

“Don’t worry, we’ll have a boy’s night here at home,” he assures me with a wink as August lets out a whoop of excitement. “I bet Fletch and Mack will be here too since Eden will be with you.”

“Can we have cookies?” August drops his chin to his chest as he asks the question and wiggles his eyebrows in a move that is wholly Huxley Burns.

As if he even needed to ask. I chuckle while heading upstairs and jumping in the shower quickly. Since I have no plans to impress anyone, I keep my clothing casual when getting dressed.Honestly, I don’t have much in the way of dressing up clothes as it is. It’s not like I’ve been doing much beyond working.

Jeans, a shirt, and a flannel will have to do for the night. Everything’s clean since I just did laundry yesterday. What more could these people want?

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