Page 6 of Every Single Wildflower
I almost roll my eyes, but the fact Cooper is being his usual, protective self makes the anxiety built up in my muscles ease a little.
“I will. Call me the second you hear anything.”
After climbing back into my car, and the thirty minute drive to the ranch, I can barely keep my eyes open. I manage to make it to the cabin that Cooper has lived in since he turned eighteen. Letting myself inside, I sluggishly slide my feet to the bedroom, dropping my bag on the floor before I’m crawling under the covers and letting the exhaustion finally take over.
A sharp ray of light hits my face, causing me to groan out my frustration. I hadn't slept that hard in weeks, and getting out of bed was the last thing I wanted to do. But I had things to do today. People to face. Fears to conquer. Sliding out from underneath the covers, I pad into the kitchen in search of a coffee pot. One is placed on the counter, so I quickly start what will be my life saver today then resort to the bathroom for a hot shower. After scalding my skin, and possibly ruining the hair mask I did last week by using whatever dollar store shampoo and soap combination Cooper had on the shelf, I shut off the water and step out onto the bath mat. Shivering, I toss open the cabinet above the toilet, my hand searching for a clean towel. My fingers meet solid wood, not the plush material I assumed would be there. Gritting my teeth, I stomp to the door, peeking out towards the laundry room. It’s just a few steps away, and knowing my brother, the towels are still in the dryer, most likely having been tumbled at least three times by now. Laundry was never his strong suit. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if my mother still comes over and does it for him.
Tiptoeing across the old wood floors, the air conditioning kicks on, which causes my nipples to peak immediately. I curse under my breath, rounding the corner with a skid, before I collide into a solid wall of muscle. A surprised scream erupts from my throat as I stumble back, but a warm callused hand catches my upper arm. My eyes finally raise, traveling up the broad chest, before they lock with a pair of blazing hazel eyes. Eyes I’ve seen give me this same look hundreds of times. Eyes that I wish belonged to anyone else. Anyone else besides Maddox Sheppard. Those angry eyes dip down, raking over me, reminding me that I’m not only naked, but soaking wet. I rip away, one arm covering my boobs, while the other hand shoots down to cover everything south.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I hiss, backing away.
“Me?” He lifts a brow. “You’re the one in my house.”
“You’re house?” I frown in confusion. “This is Cooper’s cabin.”
He never moves from the hallway, his gaze still hard and unwavering.
“I’m assuming Copper didn’t tell you that he moved into the apartment above the barn two years ago. I live here now.”
I want to die. Crawl inside a hole with some rabid coyote family and let them rip me to pieces so I don’t have to live through this mortification.
“I…” I shake my head, my hands still covering the goods as I take another step backwards.
“Watch the…” Maddox begins, but it’s too late.
My ankle catches on the corner of a saddle that’s inconveniently tossed in the floor, and I tumble down, landing flat on my naked ass.
My hands instinctively leave my body to break my fall, exposing every intimate part of me to the man I would have gladly given myself to on a silver platter years ago, but that was no longer the case.
“Damn it, Ivy," he grits out before he’s storming in my direction.
Before I can stand, I’m yanked up and tossed over his shoulder. He rounds the corner to the bedroom, where I’m thrown down onto the bed like a useless sack of Idaho potatoes. The door slams, and I remain motionless. Breathless. Embarrassed.
The door cracks open again, and a towel comes flying in my direction. Before I can respond with a weakthank you, he slams it again, causing the house to practically shake from its force.
You can always go home they said.
Well,they,were full of shit.
Chapter four
Ivy
Twenty minutes later I’m dressed and glaring at Cooper from the front porch of the cabin.
“Really Cooper? You failed to mention you don’t even live here anymore.”
He shrugs. “Sorry, I forgot. What happened?”
“I’d rather not relive it,” I hiss as I move down the stairs, falling in line with him.
I forgot how alive this place looks in the early mornings. The sounds of the birds. The colors of the sky when the sun rises just above the ridges. The continuous rustling of the animals at the barn. Which thank the Lord, is still standing. It’s weird how youtake it for granted. The simple things. Angry car horns during rush hour have been the only serenade I’ve been privy to for the last few years. Not the songs of nature.
With smooth steps I follow Cooper out past the old horse barn. This ranch is over ten thousand acres, and I hadn’t seen anything remotely this breath taking in my time in Georgia. I don’t think I ever will.
But as we walk, I begin to see the remnants of what was previously prime pastureland, and the charred wood of what use to be a happy home.
“Well. Go ahead.” I gesture my hand, waiting for the lecture deep down I know I deserve. “Tell me how pissed you are.”
