Page 17 of Rough Ride with the Grumpy Cowboy
“Better than I remember. I love it here,” I sigh happily, turning my gaze outside to the breeze coming in through the open bay windows.
“Your voice does sound lighter. I’m glad to hear that. Enjoy your stay, keep me updated, and remember to eat,” she demands.
I groan in annoyance. “Jeez, you sound just like Ella.”
“I’m glad I’m not the only one worried about you.”
“I’ll be fine, Lou. Stop fussing.”
“I can’t help it. You’re my responsibility.”
“Noted. I’ll do my best not to worry you.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
We bid each other goodnight and hang up. I lay my phone on my chest and stare up at the ceiling.
I’m glad the Morgans welcomed me with such open arms... except for one of them. After thinking about it, I decide that for the moment I’ll heed Zane’s request and stay away from him... for the time being, until I figure out the best way to address the elephant in the room between us.
For now, I’m going to focus on enjoying my stay here, unwinding, and just taking a breath from my chaotic life. I owe it to myself, and I might as well take full advantage of my time at Iron Stallion.
6
ZANE
As an individual living in constant agony, days where I get a full night’s sleep are rare. The ice baths and medications help, but only for so long. My mornings are usually filled with pain, and because of this, I’m an early riser. I’m used to this, and it allows me to get ahead of my duties before the rest of the ranch wakes up.
This morning isn’t any different, and I wake up when even sleep isn’t enough to subdue my pain. I reach out for the bottle of pills I keep on my nightstand, but my hand is restricted by a weight lying on my chest.
The sleep fog clears, and that’s when I realize that I’m not alone in bed.
What the fuck?!
I lift the covers to find a familiar mop of dark hair sprawled on my chest. She mumbles something inaudible in her sleep, and her fist tightens around my t-shirt. Again, what the fuck?!
What is she doing here? How did she get in? I was explicitly clear when I asked her to stay away from me, so how did that translate to her sneaking into my bed?
The sun has not risen yet, so my room is pitch black. I turn to check the time on the alarm clock, and it’s five a.m. I switch on the bedside light, and I’m able to make out more of her face. She’s sleeping peacefully in my arms as if this is normal for her, like we’re a couple in love or something.
Well, we’re not. We would be, if she didn’t... never mind, now is not the time for that. What I need is to know what she’s doing in my bed, how she got in, and how do I kick her out?
I shake her awake, but she doesn’t budge and mumbles more indistinct nonsense.
“Ava, wake up,” I grumble in frustration as I poke her shoulder.
She swats my hand away and burrows her face deeper into my chest. “A few more minutes, Lou.”
Lou? Who the fuck is Lou? Wait, isn’t that her mother’s assistant’s name?
I am definitely not Lou, and she’s not getting a few more minutes.
“Ava,” I call out a bit more loudly.
Too loud apparently, as she jumps in shock as if waking from a nightmare.
“What? What is it?” She mumbles, seeming confused, but her eyes are still half-closed.
If things weren’t so strained between us, I’d find this all very endearing, but unfortunately, that’s not the case. I take note that she’s in the same clothes she was wearing yesterday when I found her in front of my cabin. This means she must have snuck in here right after I went to bed.
