Page 21 of Stay for Me

There was an ache in my chest now, the same one I’d always felt whenever she was around. The urge to chase her down coursed through my veins. That was my biggest concern—the way I yearned for her, the way I seemed to think I needed her.

She was dangerous.

The power she had over me was damning.

Four Hours Later.

Iwasonthefront porch when Kings arrived, my arms crossed over my chest as I watched him park his shit-box of a truck and unfold his tall frame out of it. The gravel crunched underneath his boots with every step, echoing throughout the night. But fuck, I could practically feel his anger from where I stood. It oozed off him like a toxic virus, plaguing everything around him. Though, there was no one on this planet who could blame the man for his anger, not with the cards he’d been dealt.

Denver Langston was an unlucky son of a bitch and, deep down, I hoped that, one day, happiness would find him.

I remained silent until he began climbing the porch steps. “You get it taken care of?” I asked, my voice low.

A deep, tired sigh came from him as he took off his hat, running his hand through his dark hair. “Yeah, Mags, I did.”

I nodded and tipped my head back towards the front door. “Your boy is passed out on the couch.”

Silence followed and his gray eyes held mine for some time, the moonlight stretching over the land behind him as the warm glow from his house illuminated his front. I watched patiently as his throat worked. “Thank you for watching him. I know it was on the spot, and it’s not in your job description,” he finally said, gratitude thick in his voice. “I hired a cowboy, not a babysitter.”

His soft tone struck me in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

I looked away from him then, focusing on the spot where Diana had parked hours ago, studying the way the moonlight showcased her tire marks. “My job description is whatever the hell you want it to be, Kings. Watching your boy for a few hours wasn’t a hard ask.”

“I know, but it’s also Friday night,” he countered. “I know you like these nights to yourself, since everyone usually goes into town.”

I wanted to laugh.

No, I don’t.

Solitude was the only place where I allowed myself to think, yes, but it was nightmare most days. I kept myself busy to keep the demons away, but they would always return when I was alone, in the night, drowning in memories.

My silence gave nothing away, and when he spoke again, I looked back over to him. “You’ve never left the ranch,” he stated.

“No reason to,” I replied simply, pushing off the post I was leaning against. Now wasn’t the time or place for this conversation. In fact, this was a conversation I never wanted to have. Not with him. Not with Jigs. Not with my buddy, Grayson. Not with anyone.

His brow furrowed. “Mags—”

I cut him off, wanting to be done with this conversation—with this night. “Caleb had a full dinner. He ate everything on his plate and asked for seconds.”

My boss ran his hand through his hair for a second time, looking away and taking the hint. “Good. That’s good. I’m thankful that boy has never had a problem with eating,” he said softly, chuckling at the end.

Again, I said nothing, but I also didn’t leave. My boots remained planted on the porch despite everything in my body telling me to go back to the bunkhouse, to sit in the darkness and silence, to let the demons eat me alive.

“Want a drink?” he asked, clearly needing me to say yes.

I studied him then, seeing the pain of the past swirling in his eyes, tormenting him in a way I was all too familiar with.

Neither of us wanted to deal with our demons tonight.

I nodded once and watched the tension leave his shoulders. He looked relieved as he said, “Well, come on inside then.”

Ten minutes later, after Caleb was upstairs in his bed, Kings poured me three fingers of whiskey and slid the glass over to me. I wrapped my fingers around the glass, waiting as he poured himself the same and set the bottle down on the butcher block. “How’s the herd?” he asked, capping the bottle.

“Healthy and accounted for,” I answered, thankful we were talking about something easy. Work. The Ranch. Simple and uncomplicated.

“I appreciate you being wagon boss today. Jigs told me you handled it well.”

“Nothing to it,” I muttered, remembering the old cowboy’s compliment today. While the job was simple, it was the leadership that came with I didn’t like. I’d done enough leading in my life and I sure as hell didn’t want to do anymore.

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