Page 11 of Her Grumpy Cowboy
When she finally falls asleep in my arms, contentment rushes through me.Tomorrow, I’ll help her cross the creek so she can get her things and move in here.Because I want a thousand more nights exactly like this one.
Jenna
This man is perfect.It’s the first thought I have the next morning when Walker’s soft snores wake me from a delightful dream where he has his head between my thighs again.Not only is he amazing when it comes to sex, but he’s kind and gentle too.He even believes in me.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand and I scramble to grab it.Walker must have brought it in here last night.I grab for it and see a voice message from my dad.My heart sinks but I’m not about to ignore it.
Padding from the bed, I move to the front porch.Walker’s entire yard is one big muddy mess with patches of green here and there.Branches and twigs are scattered everywhere, proof of the wind that kept buffeting the house all night long.
Still, the birds are out in the trees and singing their morning love songs.The sun is cresting over the ridge, turning the sky a brilliant shade of early morning pink.This would be the perfect place to practice my yoga routine.
I sit on the swing and start the motion with my big toe while I listen.
“Jenna, what are you doing?We got three deliveries to make this morning.Get your lazy, useless butt back over here.Stop causing trouble for the Walker boy.He doesn’t need you underfoot.”
I wince at the words and quickly delete the message.Lazy.Useless.Trouble.
I had one night with Walker and it was almost enough to convince me that I’m more than those things.But you can’t outrun who you really are, and I need to go before Walker sees the real me.Because the day he sees what my father does, my heart will shatter into a million pieces.
The front door opens and Walker stumbles onto the porch.He looks so sexy with his hair rumpled and his eyes still glassy from sleep.Wordlessly, he passes me a coffee mug and takes a seat beside me on the bench.He’s sitting so close our thighs are pressed together.I love this, the way he’s always so physically affectionate with me.Like I matter to him.
“Good morning.”My voice comes out wrong too high and too happy.I wonder if he can tell I’m faking it.
He grunts.
Not a morning person then.I cover my smile by taking a sip of my coffee.It’s a little sweeter than I care for.It’s then I realize that I’ll never get the chance to learn how he likes his coffee.We won’t get mornings like this together on the front porch.
As if confirming my thoughts, Walker says, “My ranch hands tell me the creek is still higher than normal and it’s rushing.We won’t be taking the truck across it today.But I can get you through with a boat.”
Don’t be a nuisance.You can cry over Walker later.I force a smile I don’t feel and remind myself that the things he said last night were in the heat of passion.We both had a lot of endorphins.It’s only natural that I would feel like he meant those words when he didn’t.“That would be great.”
Before he can say anything else, I push to my feet.“I’ll grab my bag.”
The ride in the boat is only about twenty minutes and I’m pretty sure we could have made it over the creek in half that.But Walker was going slow, like he has the world’s most precious cargo with him.
He even insisted I wear a life jacket.I told him I’d been swimming since I was a kid and had experience in both creeks and rivers that were fast-moving.But then he did that thing where he just arches an eyebrow.I think it’s his way of asking if I really want to challenge him.Since the spatula threat was still on my mind, I let him dress me in the ridiculous orange jacket.
River was waiting for us on the other side of the creek.He had the keys to his truck that he passed to Walker.
“How’s Mallory?”I ask as I hold baby Lily.She’s getting so big.River was a grouchy single dad when he demanded Mallory marry him and marched her up to the courthouse.She always tells the story like it’s the most romantic thing that’s ever happened in the world, and guessing by the way they love each other, I’d have to agree.River and Mallory are perfect together.I only wish I could have something like that with Walker.
“She’s getting ready for the grand opening,” he explains.When Mallory quit working at the Feed & Seed, she decided to start her own clothing boutique in town.She makes beautiful retro dresses.I’ve already bought one from her even though the opening for Sew Cute isn’t until next month.
“Tell her I’ll be by to lend a hand later today.”After the deliveries, there should still be plenty of time to drop by Mallory’s shop.That’s what besties are for.Plus, I can tell her about Walker and how I have to go change my name and move somewhere new, so I never have to see this hot, grumpy cowboy again.
“Will do,” River promises as I pass Lily back to him.
I get in the passenger side of the truck while Walker says something to River.The other cowboy laughs and claps him on the back.I don’t know what he said but they both look pretty darn happy.
Then Walker is climbing into the cab beside me.Was it just yesterday that we sat in the rain and talked about our deep, dark secrets?How is it that in twenty-four hours I feel like I know him better than I know anyone else?
Keep it together for a few more minutes, Jen.
As soon as he pulls the truck to a stop in the parking lot of my father’s store, I hop down and glance at him.I try to put the right amount of casual cheerfulness in my voice, “Thanks for the ride!”
“Wait just a damn minute—”
I slam the truck door and hustle across the parking lot, careful to avoid the deep potholes that are filled with rainwater.
