Page 125 of Brim Over Boot
“Would you stay the night?” I ask.
Noah lets out a soft breath like the question pleases him on multiple levels. “Yeah, Colt. You ask, and it’s yours.”
I’ve never had someone make that promise before. Let alone follow through on it the way Noah has. And I believe him. I think if Ididask him to move in here with me, he’d do it, even as it’d pain him to leave Walter.
I’d never ask for that, though. Never ask Noah to do anything that would hurt him.
I think, when the time comes, I’ll find a way to get him to ask me to move in with him. And I’ll say yes. Because for as much as I love being close to my family, Walter is the only family Noah has left. And it’s not like I’d be far. Not to mention our horses will stay here, so we’d come back all the time. I wouldn’t ever truly be gone.
I never wanted to leave this ranch before. Never had a reason to.
But Noah…Fuck. I think he’s going to be my reason for a lot of things.
“Come on,” I say, giving Noah a gentle shove to move back. “Let’s finish eating so we can wash up. And then I wanna test out that whole little spoon thing. I was too fuck-drunk last time to truly appreciate it.”
“Fuck-drunk?” Noah asks, a chuckle in his toneas he sits upright.
“You know exactly what you do to me, King. Don’t pretend otherwise.”
“Does that mean you’ll be begging for my cock again soon?” he asks, the evil, wonderful man.
“Dunno,” I lie. “You might needa make me.”
Noah’s responding grin is far softer than I expect. “I think,” he says, eyes tracing over my face in a way I wouldn’t have allowed myself to see before, “that can definitely be arranged.”
Maybe things could have been different. But this right here?
No. I wouldn’t give this up.
Chapter 34
Noah
“Thankyousomuch,Noah,” Henrietta says, handing over my usual basket of goat milk products as I stand on the Brookes’ front porch. “Quite the heat this summer, don’tcha think?”
I hum my agreement. July has reached some of the hottest temps in recent history. “Can’t argue that,” I tell her. “See you and Brownie again in six weeks?”
“You bet. Take care now.”
I set the basket of goods on the passenger seat of my truck before removing my hat and turning the engine. The scent of bergamot wafts over from the handmade soap Henrietta made, reminding me instantly of Colton. Although his citrusy scent is laced with leather and something far more masculine.
The man himself texted me earlier to let me know he’s bringing steak by tonight. Walter, of course, will love him for it. I’ll just make sure there’s some broccoli on the plate to even things out.
When I arrive home, I put away the basket of goods before hopping in the shower. I scrub the dirt and grit out from under my nails, letting another hard day’s work wash down the drain. Despite the roughness of it, there’s not a thing I’d change about this life of mine. Aches and pains included.
Especially now that a certain rival farrier isn’t a rival at all. No, that man is entirely mine.
A smile graces my lips as I dry off and get dressed. Walter is on the phone when I come down the stairs, likely—by the tone of his voice—talking to Hank Darling. He and the man have developed a rather surprising friendship in the past month, even though my uncle is a good decade older than Colton’s dad. I’m glad for it, truth be told. It’s gotten Walter out of the house more often lately.
I never expected my relationship with Colton to help my uncle’s loneliness. Just another thing I have to thank the man for, I suppose.
I leave my uncle to his phone call and head out the back door. I’m not surprised to find Colton here already, but seeing him crouched down in front of the garden we planted at the end of spring has all sorts of flutters setting off in my stomach and chest.
Colton goddamn Darling.
Wonders never cease.
“Hey,” he says, popping up once he sees me. “Steak is in the fridge. Was that goat butter from the Brookes I saw?”
