Heatless
by Elsie Silver
Published by Bloom Books
Book 2 in the Chestnut Springs Series
Working as a nanny for the world's grumpiest single dad should be simple...except she can't keep her eyes off him. And he can't keep his hands off her.
Cade Eaton is thirteen years older than Willa Grant, and he barely looks her way, even though she's living in his house for the summer. That is, until she gets him into the hot tub one night for a game of truth or dare. Then, all bets are off--and so are their clothes.
Cade is gruff, a little rough around the edges, but broad-shouldered ranchers with calloused hands and filthy mouths are this city girl's kryptonite. So who is she to resist?
But it's in their quietest moments together that he softens. It's in the unexpected way he takes care of Willa that she realizes his hardened exterior is just a façade. And it's when she watches him go all sweet with his little boy that she starts to fall for him, whatever the consequences.
Someone once convinced Cade that his best wasn't good enough. But Willa has never felt more cherished than she does in his arms.
Her contract says this arrangement is only for two months.
But her heart says this is forever.
Genre
Trigger
Child abandonment (not by MC), Lied about birth control/unexpected pregnancy (not by MC), Unplanned Pregnancy
This.
This is what I needed from this author.
If you read my review of Flawless, you will already know that while overall I liked it, I didn't love it.
So my introduction to Elsie Silver was ... uh, lukewarm.
Take her or leave her.
You know that thing authors and publisher's do at the end of their books, where they include the first chapter of the next book in the series, or coming out?
The first chapter of Heartless at the end of Flawless is what got me.
It worked.
Because oh my God, that meet cute was utter perfection.
Everything about this book - chef's kiss.
I'm saying that about a book that heavily features a cowboy, one of my least favorite tropes.
As for the plot, it was interesting. Nothing incredibly dramatic happens. It's very small town driven. No one is out to get anyone. It's just two people, with their own insecurities and baggage, finding one another. Two complete opposite personalities that bring out the best in one another.
And because they are such polar opposites, whenever they were together on page, the banter was so much fun.
Everything was fun.
Sexy.
Heartwarming.
Honestly, if I had to sum up this book in three words, it would be fun, sexy and heartwarming.
Heartless is the book that made me fall in love with this series. It made me invested in these characters, and now I can't wait for the next book!
Summer: “Listen, that’s everyone we’ve interviewed. I went out of my way to weed out the applicants who seemed less interested in spending time with Luke and more interested in spending time with . . . you.”
Harvey: “Hoo boy”
—Dad slaps the table—
Harvey: “and there were several. Who knew women would willingly sign up to endure your scowls and bad moods? The pay isn’t that good.”
She groans as my fingers unfurl. And slowly but surely, I figure out why she’s acting so horrified over me being a gentleman and picking up her . . .
Panties.
I stare at the scrap of black fabric in my hand, and it’s like everything around us goes blurry. My eyes shoot to hers, all wide and green. So many shades. A mosaic.
I’m not known for smiling, but the corners of my mouth twitch.
Cade: “You, uh, dropped your panties, ma’am.”
Cade: “You forgot your . . .”
I trail off because I refuse to shout this across the coffee shop full of people I have to face day in, day out.
She turns and presses her back into the door as she leaves, holding my eyes for a beat, barely contained amusement touching every feature.
Willa: “Finders keepers,”
Now, she does laugh, full and warm and so damn amused. Then she exits into the sunlit street, hair shining like fire and hips swinging like she owns this town.
She leaves me stunned.
And when I glance back down at my open palm, it hits me she’s long gone. I have no idea what her name is, and I’m still here . . .
Holding her panties.
Summer: “You didn’t take them back?”
I smirk and take a sip of my beer.
Willa: “No. He looked so . . . I don’t know. Stunned? Like not offended, but not pervy about it either. It was kind of adorable. I feel like I freed a house-elf or something.”
Summer: “Did he resemble Dobby?”
I groan and waggle my brows at her suggestively.
Willa: “If Dobby was hot.”
Cade: “And I don’t care if you’re her best friend. You smell like beer and your panties are still in my back pocket. You’re not taking care of my son.”
My eyes narrow, and my lips curve up at his misstep.
Willa: “You saving them for later?”
I wink at him, watching fiery red splotches crop up on the apples of his cheeks and seep out across the immaculate bone structure hidden beneath that beard and scowl.
Summer spins on me, chocolate eyes wide as saucers. She resembles one of those squishy-faced dogs whose eyes are constantly bugging out in the most adorable way.
Summer: “Cade is the panty guy?”
Cade: “I’m not the panty guy,”
he interjects, but Summer and I ignore him.
Willa: “Yeah. And you said that any sane man would have thrown them out. So you know what that means.”
We’re grinning at each other like crazy people now, and before I know it, a giggle slips from between Summer’s lips. And before long, she’s doubled over, hands on her knees, gasping for air.
Cade: “For fuck’s sake.”
The grump runs a broad hand through his hair in frustration.
Cade: “I am not the panty guy.”
Luke: “He’s not a panty guy! He wears boxers!”
A small voice echoes from the hallway as the most adorable dark-haired, blue-eyed little boy comes blasting into view.
Luke: “Those tight ones though,”
he clarifies, adding insult to injury.
Willa: “Yeah,”
I deadpan to the little boy who’s now wedged himself under his dad’s arm. Big eyes regard me with keen interest.
Willa: “Can’t have any chafing.”
Luke: “What’s chafing?”
he asks curiously, as his dad holds one broad, tanned hand up to his eyebrows and rubs at them.
Cade: “Luke.”
Willa: “Like when all your junk rubs together,”
I explain. You don’t grow up around my parents and act shy about this stuff. Nothing is off the table in our family.
Luke: “Oh yeah,”
he nods, appearing wise beyond his years.
Luke: “I hate it when that happens.”
This kid has his number though. Sapphire eyes widen almost dramatically, and his bottom lip pushes out ever so slightly.
Luke: “I wanna go play with Summer and her friend.”
He’s precious.
Cade: “No,”
his dad says, right as I say,
Willa: “Sure!”
Cade’s head snaps around, brows harsh slashes across his forehead, the lines there furrowed as though I’ve done something to personally offend him.
Cade: “How old are you?”
I straighten, refusing to cower under his piercing gaze.
Willa: “Twenty-five.”
His throat works as he assesses me again.
Cade: “Do you have a criminal record?”
Willa: “Not a substantial one,”
I reply honestly. I got caught with pot once before they legalized it. Sue me for being a fun teenager.
Cade: “Jesus Christ.”
One thick hand runs through his closely cropped hair as he shakes his head.
Luke: “I did it!”
Luke shoots up, still oblivious to the fact that I’m here.
Willa: “Of course, you did. You made this tree your bitch.”
Rhett snorts beside me and I glare at him.
Luke: “Don’t go too high! What if you get stuck?”
Willa: “You’d save me,”
Willa calls back from what sounds like much higher up the tree than I thought she’d go.
Luke: “I’m too small. But my dad would save you!”
Her raspy laugh reaches us at the back deck. It’s still as disarming as it was earlier today.
Willa: “I don’t know about that. He might be happy to leave me up here, Luke.”
I press my lips together. She’s not entirely wrong. My life would be a lot less complicated if she hadn’t waltzed into Chestnut Springs this morning.
My dick would be a lot softer too.
Luke: “Oh never. He helps everyone,”
my son replies, making my heart twist in my chest. Sometimes I wonder how I must seem to him, how I look in his eyes. And this one gets me right in the gut.
Willa: “Sounds like you’ve got a pretty great dad,"
Willa: “Sounds like her loss, because you might be the coolest kid I’ve ever met.”
She doesn’t use a sad voice, or a baby voice, she just talks to him like a normal human being.
Cade: “Fucking hell,”
I curse under my breath because she just practically hired herself.
All thick arms and broad chest and furrowed brow. Dirty boots. Muscular thighs.
Cowboy porn with a frown.
Cade: “Willa.”
Cade says my name like it’s a demand.
Cade: “You need to wear proper undergarments while you’re at work. You can’t be dropping them out of your purse around a child.”
I swear my feet grow roots and my jaw drops. The fucking nerve.
If I didn’t actually kind of want this gig, I’d march over there and lay into him for being an overstepping, presumptuous prick.
Undergarments. What year even is this? And why would they traumatize a kid?
He might technically be my employer for the next couple months, but I’m the one doing him a favor. I don’t need the income; I just need a purpose. So I opt to do what will piss him off even him even more.
I rise above.
Well, sort of.
I plaster on the sweetest smile I can muster and turn to look back over my shoulder.
Willa: “I’ll be ready for your inspection tomorrow, boss.”
Summer: She’s going to be great. You’re going to love her.
Cade: No. I’m not. I’m going to tolerate her.
Summer: Po-tay-to, po-tah-to! Just be nice.
Cade: I am nice.
Summer: No. You’re kind of an asshole.
Cade: With family like you telling me things like this, I just can’t imagine why.
Summer: Don’t worry though. It’s part of your charm.
Cade: I’m a charming asshole?
Summer: Exactly!
Cade: “No sugar after dinner.”
She rears back, eyes widening.
Willa: “Not even dessert?”
She sounds like I’ve just told her I kick puppies or something.
Cade: “Not on weeknights.”
Willa: “You rule with an iron fist, Daddy Eaton.”
I groan, cheeks pinching up in distaste.
Cade: “That’s what we call my dad.”
A silent puff of air slips from her lips, the bottom one more full than the top.
Willa: “Daddy Cade it is.”
I’m not sure what I did to deserve this torture, but it must be something terrible. I like to think I’ve lived a straight and narrow sort of life, yet I’ve been handed heartache after heartache, challenge after challenge. It seems like the universe could have granted some sort of reprieve.
But it granted me Willa fucking Grant.
Willa: “Beg.”
Cade: “Pardon me?”
Willa: “You heard me.”
Her lips don’t even twitch. She’s not joking at all.
Willa: “Beg.”
Willa: I just got up.
Cade: Okay?
Willa: I’m making coffee.
Cade: Alright.
Willa: I’m getting dressed for the day. Panties? CHECK.
Cade: Too much information.
Willa: Luke is now awake.
Cade: Oh good.
Willa: He peed.
Cade: The bed?
Willa: No. In the toilet. Sounded like a big one. Like when Austin Powers comes out of being frozen or whatever.
Cade: Why are you telling me this?
Willa: Just keeping you apprised of 'everything we do!!! '
Cade: I already regret telling you that.
Luke: “Let’s just put some back in the bag!”
Luke says, standing on a chair beside me at the kitchen counter as we stare into the bowl of pancake mix.
The pancake mix that is now more chocolate chips than batter. I’m no mathematician, but I’m pretty sure this ratio is off. I forgot that children’s motor skills aren’t super refined and handing Luke a bag of chocolate chips to put in might not have been the most strategic plan I’ve come up with in my life.
Willa: “Dude. We can’t put them back in.”
He shrugs, not looking sad about it.
Luke: “I guess we’ll just have to eat them.”
Luke: “One of the kids at school said that he and his dad drove really fast down the back roads and threw heads of lettuce out the window and watched them explode on the road.”
I stare at the little boy, all earnest and genuine. It’s like he doesn’t even realize what majorly hillbilly shit he just asked me to do.
Goddamn, small towns are weird.
Willa: “It’s day one. Are you trying to get me fired?”
Luke: “You can’t get fired. We like you too much!”
Willa: “Who is we?”
I ask, loading the dishwasher. And I freeze momentarily when his response is,
Luke: “My dad and me.”
Willa: “If I were kidnapping a child, I wouldn’t stop at a grocery store to buy five heads of lettuce first. I’m his nanny.”
Her eyes narrow, but she turns them back on me.
Lucy: “I applied for that job.”
She sniffs again as she straightens.
Luke: “Yeah, and my daddy said he’d rather roll around in the manure pile than hire you.”
My eyes nearly pop out of my head right as my hand slaps over my mouth to contain my amusement. This is a moment where I need to behave more grown-up than I’m feeling inside.
Luke: “My dad will accept your apology. He likes you.”
Willa: “How do you know he likes me?”
He’s mentioned this twice now, and honestly, I’m downright confused.
Luke: “Because he hasn’t said a thing about rolling around in the manure pile.”
I snort. Because that’s the bar. If Cade Eaton “likes” you, you’ll know because he won’t mention his preference for rolling around in horse shit.
Willa: I’m sorry I called you a woman hater.
Cade: It’s fine.
Willa: Do you know what the first thing I did this morning was?
Cade: Willa, I’m working. If everything is okay, we don’t need to chat.
Willa: I put my panties on.
Willa: Are you ignoring me?
Willa: I figured you’d be proud. Day one and I’m knocking all the rules right out of the park.
Cade: If I pay you more, will you stop texting me about this?
Willa: Probably not. I don’t need the money. I’m just easily bored, and poking the bear is fun.
Green irises glowing, she looks at me in the most unnerving way.
Willa: “How far down my throat is my foot right now?”
Cade: “You’re pretty much digesting it at this point,”
I deadpan.
Willa: “Well, shit. It’s going to be hard to chase your kid around all summer like this.”
Willa: “Welcome home, Master Cade,”
I announce with a flourish as he walks into the kitchen, shooting me a scowl. An annoyed scowl?
Cade: “What are you doing? And why are you calling me that?”
Cade’s voice rumbles dangerously.
Willa: “Stirring the spaghetti sauce that the young Padawan requested, I am.”
Ask stupid questions, get stupid answers. He can clearly see that I’m moving a spoon around in a pot full of Bolognese sauce.
He glowers at me like I’m the least funny person he’s ever met.
Willa: “And I’m talking like this because it’s hard to get out of character after playing Star Wars all afternoon.”
Cade: “You’re not supposed to cook dinner.”
His fingers rap against the marble countertop, but his eyes stay fixed on the pot. Lately it’s like he totally avoids looking at me.
Willa: “The force is just too strong with me in culinary arts. Young Luke has announced that my cooking is superior to yours.”
I smirk at him, getting far too much enjoyment out of needling him, especially since I know he loves to cook and is damn good at it.
The manly man across from me just scoffs, finally lifting his eyes.
Cade: “He did not.”
Willa: “He did.”
His arms cross petulantly.
Cade: “I don’t believe you.”
I smile prettily.
Willa: “Okay, Darth Cade.”
Cade: “You’re not supposed to do my laundry.”
Willa: “Well, you’re not supposed to interrupt me watching Gossip Girl reruns. But here we are.”
Cade: “Anyone ever told you that you’re rude?”
is all he comes back with. I grin at him before turning back to the TV and cranking the volume.
Willa: “Says the guy who still hasn’t given my panties back.”
Harvey: “ . . . Today I got to tidying up around the property a bit. There were leaves everywhere, so I gave the yard a good blow job.”
Cade’s eyes widen. Comically wide. Playfully wide. And I can’t help the hysterical little giggle that bubbles up out of me. I slap a hand over my mouth to cover it.
Rhett chokes on a piece of his food, and Summer slaps his back and coos at him like he’s a baby choking on applesauce while trying to suppress her giggles.
Beau: “I’m sorry, Dad,”
Beau says with a playful glint in his eye.
Beau: “You’re gonna have to explain that one to us again.”
Harvey shakes his head and rolls his eyes.
Harvey: “You not wearing ear protection at the shooting range? I said the yard was a mess. Next time you can make yourself useful and blow it yourself, Beau.”
My god. Is Harvey Eaton a sheltered simpleton or a comedic genius? He’s got the entire table stunned speechless, struggling to hold in their laughter, and he’s just munching away at the food on his plate, looking oblivious.
Jasper: “Do you have a special technique he should know about before he gives it a go?”
I don’t have a clue how Jasper is keeping a straight face after delivering a line like that. Is this something they teach you in the NHL? Because I’d like to have that training.
Willa: “Wanted to come see what a well-blown yard looks like, huh?”
Cade: “Willa—”
He can barely get my name out. It’s a breath. It’s a wheeze.
I smile and lean against the post several feet away from him before turning my gaze on the yard.
Willa: “It does look great out here. Your dad could suck the chrome off of a—”
With one hand held up to stop me, his head drops lower and his shoulders shake harder.
Willa: “I wonder if he’s sore. He really put his back into it.”
I snort as I say it. Honestly, I’m barely holding it together. I am a child.
Willa: “Eaton. You grumpy motherfucker. You just laughed,”
Cade: “Yeah, Red. I did.”
Willa: “Wow, Harvey,”
Willa announces as we walk into the dining room.
Willa: “It looks fabulous out there. You blew the hell outta that lawn.”
I scrub a hand over my face as the table erupts into giggles. Harvey included. Bunch of children.
Willa: “If I make a blow job joke, will you laugh again?”
My teeth grind.
Cade: “No.”
Willa: “What’s the best thing about a blow job?”
Cade: “Good lord, woman. Just stop.”
I turn my chin down at her and try to give her my most intimidating expression. Just hearing her say the words blow job is too much for a guy who hasn’t gotten one in years.
But, as usual, Willa isn’t the least bit deterred.
Her fingers pulse in mine, and she does that light, sparkly laugh that makes my dick twitch.
Willa: “No, wait. You’re going to love this one. It’s so you.”
She leans into my ear, and her breath fans across my neck as she huffs out a small snort before composing herself enough to finish the joke. I bite the inside of my cheek to contain whatever expression might pop up on my face.
Willa: “The ten minutes of silence.”
I have to look away across the room. I can feel her body shaking, laughing at her own joke.
No shame.
Willa: “I got you. I saw that. Are your cheeks bleeding, Eaton? Does it hurt to hold in your laughter like that? I hear it can give you erectile dysfunction.”
Cade: “You kiss your mother with that mouth, Red?”
She blows a raspberry, highly amused.
Willa: “Oh yeah. She’d love that joke.”
Cade: “The joke’s on you though. I wouldn’t last ten minutes and just because you’d be quiet doesn’t mean I would be.”
Summer: Did you leave with Cade?
Willa: Yeah.
Summer: You could have stayed with me! We’re getting a cab.
Willa: Nah. Cade’s hotter. Went home with him instead.
Summer: Lol.
Summer: Wait. Are you joking? I can’t tell.
Willa: Save a horse, ride a cowboy.
Summer: I still can’t tell.
Willa winks at me over Luke’s shoulder.
Willa: “I missed you too, you little psycho. I’m not so sure your dad missed me though.”
Luke: “Pfft.”
Luke’s head rolls as she places him back onto the chair.
Luke: “He did. He told me so.”
Willa looks visibly shocked by that.
Willa: “Oh, yeah?”
Luke: “He said the house feels silent without you here.”
Her lips twitch as she tries to hold back her laughter.
Willa: “I think that just means I talk too much or play my music too loud.”
Luke: “Do you see how weird she is, Dad?”
Luke calls to me.
Cade: “Yeah. Super weird,”
I agree as she turns to give me a fake scowl over her shoulder. The only weird thing is what I’m feeling about a woman I’ve known for mere weeks.
It’s not just weird.
It’s fucking absurd.
Luke: “Okay. Now Grandma and Grandpa dance!”
Luke giggles, pulling Willa over to me.
I scowl at them both.
Willa holds a hand up to her mouth and whisper-shouts toward Luke,
Willa: “I think he might be the weirdest.”
Willa: Hi, Lawyer friend. Can I ask for some legal advice?
Summer: Do you need me to come bail you out? Just send the address. I’m there.
Willa: Is it illegal to bang your hot boss?
Summer: Are we talking about your brother or Cade?
Willa: Fucking gross.
Summer: Dude. I’ve had to listen to you make hot dad jokes for years. Shooters gotta shoot.
Willa: I’m never coming to you for advice again.
Summer: My legal advice is to be very specific when you ask a question.
Willa: OK, FINE. Is it illegal to bang Cade?
Summer: You’d have to ask him. Haven’t seen him with a woman the entire time I’ve known him. Maybe he thinks it’s illegal?
Willa: He is a stickler for the rules. Maybe I’ll break them and see if he spanks me.
Summer: Fucking gross.
Lee: “Goddamn fucking asshole!”
Cade: “Gotta be smarter than the horse, Lee. And watch your fucking mouth. There’s a child and a city girl in our midst.”
Lee: “Sorry, boss.”
Luke giggles at the f-bombs flying left and right. And I feel it then. All eyes swivel in my direction, the men straightening or clearing their throats, like I’ve never heard a swear word in my life. Leave it to Cade to make me seem like some fragile princess.
I wave in their general direction and offer a friendly smile as I drawl,
Willa: “Nice to fuckin’ meet y’all.”
I wink at him.
Willa: “Thank you for the coffee. I’m ready for you to break my back.”
His face pales, like he realizes how I could have interpreted his note.
Cade: “I meant you could ride if you wanted to.”
Willa: “Oh, I want to.”
Heat flares on his cheeks. I shouldn’t prod the bear like this, but it’s just who I am. I like to watch him squirm.
Cade: “A horse. You can take mine.”
He hikes a thumb over his shoulder.
Willa: “Nah, I think I’ll take one of the young ones.”
Cade: “No chance.”
His jaw hardens.
Willa: “Why not?”
I quirk a brow.
Cade: “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
He says it so simply, like it should be obvious to me.
Willa: “But I thought that’s what the note meant? Unless the note really meant . . .”
I trail off and waggle my eyebrows at him.
Cade: “You’re insane.”
Willa: “I know,”
I smile back brightly.
Willa: “I’m a redhead. No takesies backsies, Eaton. "
With that in mind, I take the reins and slide a hand over the young horse’s shoulder.
Guy: “Boss is gonna kill ya,”
one cowboy mutters from the opposite side of the fence panel.
I just smile to myself.
No, he’s not. Cade Eaton is out of his depth with me.
Cade: “Red, don’t you fucking dare.”
I shake my head, but don’t look behind me at Cade. He’s only sort of my boss.
He doesn’t feel much like a boss lately. And I’m difficult to boss around at the best of times—ask my dickhead brother.
With one deep breath, I swing a leg over the filly’s narrow back, sinking gently into the saddle.
Cade: “Woman.”
I snort. Cade just womaned me. I want to laugh, but I can feel the horse’s back curled up beneath me.
Luke: “I’m gonna ride like Willa when I grow up!”
Luke has climbed up to the top panel of the fence and leans over, eyes glowing with excitement.
Luke: “She made that filly her bitch!”
Willa: “Luke!”
I say right as Cade barks,
Cade: “Lucas Eaton.”
The little boy’s eyes widen as he drops off the fence, like he knows he’s stepped in it now. He takes off into the barn, tiny cowboy boots thumping against the dirt road, without a backward glance.
Cade: “You taught him that.”
Cade points at me as I lead the filly over to one of the guys.
Willa: “Yeah?”
I quirk a brow and head toward the man I started out not liking but who I now can’t stop thinking about.
Fantasizing about.
From my side of the fence, I lean close, dropping my voice.
Willa: “I’m pretty sure of the two of us, you’re the one with the filthy mouth, Cade.”
His hand shoots between the metal panels, fingers hooking through my belt loop to hold me still. To keep me there, as he breathes down on to me. The whoosh of each exhale caresses my cheek.
Cade: “You have no fuckin’ idea, Red.”
Willa: Panties? Check. Bra? No check.
Cade: You’re going to a children’s birthday party. Try again.
Willa: Right. Let me try again.
Willa: Panties? No check. Bra? Also no check.
Cade: The town is talking about you enough as it is.
Willa: Oooh. What are they saying?
Cade: That your panty lines are very defined.
Willa: My god. Did you just make a joke?
Cade: I’ll be there at 6 tonight. Please don’t embarrass me.
Willa: Oh boy. Is that a challenge?
Cade: Bye, Red.
Willa: I do this with Luke when he behaves badly too. Just ignore him. I don’t think it’s going to work on me though.
Betty: “Excuse me!”
his mom trills, her white wine spritzer swirling in the glass.
Willa isn’t touching the kid, but she’s right in his face, and I can see her lips moving slowly like she’s carefully enunciating her words.
Betty: “Did you hear me? Stop talking to him!”
Willa: “Somebody needs to explain right from wrong in terms he can understand,”
Willa says over her shoulder to the red-cheeked mom.
Willa: “Or did you miss the part where he pushed Luke into the pool and held his head under water?”
Betty: “It was a joke! You’re out of line, and you will not speak another word to him.”
Luke’s tear-stained face tells me he wasn’t in on the joke.
Willa rises slowly, almost predatory in her movements, as she turns and arches a brow at the woman.
Willa: “Oh, no?”
Betty: “Not another word.”
Willa: “Fine.”
Willa smiles but it’s a scary smile. And then, with one well-placed hip check, the birthday boy goes flying into the water.
Betty: “Sebastian!”
His mother’s spritzer sloshes on her hand as she rushes forward.
Luke is suitably shocked. The mom’s mouth is moving, but no sound is coming out, just like when you pull a trout from the lake.
Willa crouches at the pool’s edge, smirking at the boy, who is already standing in the shallow water, angrily wiping his eyes.
Willa: “Life lesson, shithead. Careful who you pick a fight with. Someone insane might love them.”
Betty: “You need to leave! Now!”
The mom points toward the gate, and her arm shakes with fury. I’m almost to them, but the sight of Willa knocking a kid into the pool stopped me in my tracks.
She really is insane.
Possibly in the best way.
Willa: “Gladly.”
She stands, brushing her hands.
Willa: “Contact a professional if he starts killing bunnies or something.”
I should know her name for the number of times she’s tried to chat me up at the grocery store or school pick up, but I don’t, so I take a guess at what sounds close and pray I’m right.
Cade: “Hi, Bunny.”
She blinks at me.
Betty: “It’s Betty.”
Should have prayed harder, I guess.
Willa might be a bit of a psycho—after all, she did just push a child into the pool—but the more time I spend with her, the more I feel like she’s my psycho.
Summer: Come for dinner tonight. Bring the boys!
Willa: I can promise Luke and I will be there.
Summer: What about Cade?
Willa: Who knows?
Summer: Trouble in paradise? Did you bang him?
Willa: I wish. He barely even looks at me.
Summer: Flash him.
Willa: I’ve tried. He’s too mature. He just rolls his eyes and walks away.
Summer: Wait. Did you really flash him?
Willa: "The only way we converse is via text message or the Post-it notes he leaves around the house.”
Summer: “He leaves you Post-it notes?”
Her lips pop open in surprise. I shrug.
Willa: “Yeah. He’ll walk in when Luke and I are cleaning up after making a batch of cookies and say nothing about it. Just talk to Luke. But then in the morning he’ll leave a note by the coffee that says, Best cookies I’ve ever had.”
Summer laughs.
Willa: “Summer! Stop laughing and help me. What does that mean?”
Her head tips back, and I catch the guys glancing up at us.
Summer: “It means he loves your cookies, Wils.”
I snort.
Willa: “Of course. My cookies bring all the boys to the yard.”
Summer laughs harder, her wine sloshing in her glass as she does.
Summer: “He did it all for the cookie,”
Willa: “Good lord. Can we please stop quoting awful songs and talk about my actual problem?”
Summer: “Have you tried talking to him?”
I blink at her.
Willa: “Talking?”
Summer: “Yes. You know . . . where you use your mouth to create words that describe what’s going through your head.”
Willa: “Sounds weird. Sounds awkward. Don’t like it. Not approved by me.”
Willa: “Shh. Luke. Luke. It’s just a car. It doesn’t matter. You’re what matters. I don’t care about the car, babe. I’m more worried about you.”
I pull away, looking at him, trying hard not to glance down. Because I know there is barf on me. The last thing I need to do is start heaving too. He nods tearfully at me.
Luke: “Willa?”
Willa: “Yeah?”
Luke: “You have throw up on you. I can still see a strawberry.”
I pop my lips open and opt to mouth breathe so I stop smelling it, focusing on his wide blue eyes. I’m an adult, I’m an adult, I’m an adult.
Willa: “That’s okay. Everything can be washed. I’m going to buckle you in and drive the rest of the way. If you feel like you need to barf again, just tell me and I’ll pull over for you. Got it?”
Willa: “I think I watched a porno like this once.”
My head snaps up from where I’m scrubbing the upholstery in the back of Willa’s Jeep.
Cade: “Pardon me?”
I pop around the open door and take her in, sitting on the top step of my front porch, wearing black leggings and a black tank top. She looks good. There is not a single place in this house this woman doesn’t look good. I can see the outline of her nipple piercings, but more than anything, I’m entranced by the way her pale skin contrasts against the dark fabric of her clothes. The way her fiery hair seems even brighter.
Willa: “The grumpy mechanic guy with bulging muscles. A girl who can’t pay her bill. A tale as old as time.”
Cade: “The shit that comes out of your mouth sometimes.”
Cade: “You’re not a maid, Willa.”
Her lips quirk up and her eyes narrow. I’ve noticed this look. It comes right before she says something inappropriate.
Willa: “I was a sexy one for Halloween one year.”
I scowl at her. Internally I’m scowling at myself because my first two thoughts were: 1. Does she still have that costume? 2. How do I track down and kill every guy who saw her wearing it?
Cade: "He’s going to be fine. Fever broke and everything. It’s you I’m worried about now. You two are giving me some extra grays today.”
I smile and drop my gaze.
Willa: “Ah, well. They look good on you.”
Cade: “I’d be very proud of him if he turned out like you.”
When she tilts her head, one soft tendril of hair slips out and caresses the side of her face.
Willa: “Really?”
Cade: “Yes, Willa. What more could I want for him? Intelligent, independent, a solid sense of humor, a good head on his shoulders.”
Willa: “Do you think he’ll proposition his nanny for no-strings-attached sex though?”
Cade: “Jesus Christ, woman.”
I stare at the ceiling again.
Rhett: I’m supposed to tell you to be careful.
Willa: Of what?
Rhett: I think my brother’s words were: she’s clueless that a bunch of dumbass cowboys keep humping her leg when she walks past.
Willa: Cool, cool, cool. I’ll try not to trip while they do.
Luke: “I heard Dad tell Grandpa it doesn’t matter how much money Blueberry is worth because she’s the biggest bitch he’s ever ridden, and her mean attitude already makes her a winner.”
I drop my face into my hands, body shaking with barely restrained laughter.
Rhett: “Jesus, Luke. You gotta stop eavesdropping on people,”
Rhett scolds, but the big grin on his face kills the intimidation factor.
Jasper: “He’s probably going to need a massage tomorrow,”
Jasper tosses back.
Luke: “Willa can do that for him,”
Luke slides in casually.
And we all freeze.
Rhett looks like a goddamn dog with a bone.
Rhett: “Oh yeah? Have Willa and your dad been swapping massages?”
Luke: “No. Just beds.”
I make a choking sound, and Jasper holds a fist up over his mouth.
Willa: “I got a stomach bug and Cade gave me his room for one night so I’d be near a bathroom,”
Luke: “Yeah. But wasn’t he massaging you that night you guys danced in the kitchen?”
Luke says it so innocently, but my eyes bug out all the same.
Willa: “It’s . . . that’s . . .”
I stare down at Luke.
Luke: “What?”
Summer: Are you okay?
Willa: Yeah. Why?
Summer: I just got a text from Cade asking.
Willa: You can tell Cade I’m getting railed by ten dudes at the best gangbang of my life.
Summer: Oof. Even I’m not that brave. I’ll let you tell him that yourself.
Summer: He seems stressed, Willa. Just letting you know.
Willa: Good.
Cade: “Keep talking like that and I’m going to fuck the filth right out of your pretty mouth.”
I arch a brow at him as goose bumps break out over my body. The air between us sizzles.
Willa: “Excuse me?”
He swipes the back of his hand over his mouth, like he’s pulling away the filter that’s been there all along.
Cade: “You heard me, Red. You keep barking at me like that and I’m going to put you on your knees, open those strawberry lips, and fuck your face just to shut you up.”
Cade: “Woman.”
He always sounds so snarky when he calls me woman.
Cade: “Are you insane? You think I went three years without laying my hand on a single person to break my streak with one as exceptional as you and then let you just walk away?”
Three years?
Willa: “I—”
Cade: “No.”
He holds up a hand.
Cade: “I’m going to talk. And you’re going to close your mouth and listen. Because if you’d let me finish what I was saying out there, you wouldn’t have spent a single moment in here thinking I don’t want to complicate things with you. I said I promised myself I wouldn’t complicate this with you. You’re young, you’re restless, and I’m truthfully too fucking jealous to do anything casual with you.”
He runs a hand through his hair, giving the ends a frustrated little tug.
Cade: “I’ve watched you with my son. I’ve watched you, period. I’ve longed for you. I went crazy tonight thinking of you out with Lance. I know in my bones that I won’t want to let you go at the end of the summer, but I’ll take what I can get. Because you’re too fucking special to pass up. Fuck my promises, that’s what I was going to say.”
Willa: “Why are you smiling? It’s creepy. You never smile.”
I shake my head at her.
Cade: “I smile. You just miss them because it’s when I’m staring at your ass.
Little silver studs adorn either side, sparkling in the light, and I want to fucking play with those. I want to play with everything. If Willa is the playground, I want to fucking play. Period.
I wrap her loose hair around my fist, pull her close and whisper against her ear.
Cade: “I’m going to peel these skin-tight jeans off of you and enjoy a taste of what I already know is going to be a perfect little cunt.”
A tremor racks her body, but I keep going.
Cade: “Make you come in my mouth. And before you've even recovered from that, I’ll shove my cock into you, make you scream my name loud enough they’ll hear you one town over.”
My chest rumbles in satisfaction, and my hands work at the button on her jeans.
Cade: “And when I’m finished, what will you say?”
Willa: “God,”
she breathes out so quietly I almost miss it, her eyes fixed on where my hands are now making quick work of her pants.
Willa: “I knew you had big dick energy, but this is something else.”
I yank at her jeans and she eagerly lifts her hips.
Cade: “What are you going to say, baby?”
Willa: “Thank you,”
is her breathy response.
Cade: “That’s my girl,”
I grit out as I peel her pants off, dusting kisses down her thighs, feeling gooseflesh pop up under my lips where I drag my stubble across her tender skin.
Cade: “You’re wearing panties,”
I grumble, staring at her nude lace full-cut booty shorts. Perfect curves. My cock twitches. She nibbles at her lip.
Willa: “You keep telling me to.”
Cade: “Red, me telling you to do things”
—I reach forward and tug at the top so they wedge between her pussy lips and sit high on her hips—
Cade: “has almost never worked.”
Willa: “Some days I do. Some days I don’t. Gotta keep things interesting. Plus, I keep waiting for you to check. Kind of hoping you’ll dole out some discipline if you catch me without them.”
Cade: “Fuck.”
Admittedly, I’ve never wondered much about the way my pussy looks. It’s always served its purpose just fine. She’s been a real champ, if you ask me. But I preen under that compliment from Cade. He’s older. More experienced. If he says it’s pretty, well, who am I to disagree?
Cade: “Now take my cock and put it in. I want to watch you.”
Willa: “Jesus Christ, Eaton. I’m going to be stuck in a permanent state of blushing after getting naked with you.”
Willa moves her head to my chest, sliding her fingers through the sparse hair.
Willa: “Shh. Go back to sleep. I’m having the best dream.”
The thought that Willa is another of the best things in my life crops up, but it scares me. It feels too soon. She feels too young. It feels too . . . impossible.
Cade: “What are you dreaming about, Red?”
I lift my head and drop a kiss to her silky hair. I feel her chest shake a little, her breasts pressing against me. Even the metal of her piercings is warm, because of course she sleeps naked.
Willa: “That my hot boss banged my brains out last night.”
I shake my head.
Willa: “No, for real. You should see this fucking guy. All dark and broody with a massive dick.”
Cade: “Willa.”
Willa: “These big, calloused hands to go with his big, round ass—”
Cade: “Woman.”
I flip her onto her back, the sound of her giggle music to my ears. I lie on top of her, propped on my elbows. She’s got this playful smile on her face and creases on her cheek from the pillowcase. She looks like a sleepy, creamy, green-eyed goddess.
Willa: “This. What happened between us. All the sex. Are we doing more of that? Or is it a one-and-done scenario?”
One of my cheeks quirk up.
Cade: “I think you mean six and done, baby.”
Willa: “Don’t baby me right now, Eaton. I’m serious.”
Cade: “Me too, Red. Should I pull over? We can make it seven and counting.”
Willa: “I hate you.”
She crosses her arms like she’s pouting. I know better. Willa isn’t a pouter.
Cade: “Right. But you love my dick.”
She sucks in a deep breath and then lets out this adorable frustrated growl.
Willa: “Weeks and weeks of you being a humorless asshole, and all it took was a few orgasms for you to become Mr. Chucklehead. I should have taken one for the team sooner.”
I twist my fingers on the steering wheel, trying to hold back my laughter.
Cade: “I think you should continue to take it for the team.”
Her head whips over to look at me.
Willa: “Yeah?”
I shrug, keeping my eyes on the gravel road ahead of me.
Cade: “Yeah. Definitely.”
Cade: “No, Willa. I like you. I care about you. I didn’t go without sex for years just to start it back up randomly. I had opportunities, and I turned them down because I wasn’t interested. We don’t need to make a show of it, and with Luke around, we probably shouldn’t. But I’m interested in you. I don’t know where that leaves us or what it all means. All I know is that it’s going to fucking wreck me when you leave at the end of this summer, but I’m too far gone to care.”
Willa: Any guesses on whether or not I put panties on this morning?
Cade: I’m sitting with my dad right now. I don’t need a boner.
Willa: No panties. My kitty is too sore from riding your massive pole.
Cade: Woman, are you intentionally ignoring my instructions?
Luke: “Hey, Willa?”
Willa: “Hey, Luke,”
I reply dryly, since the be quiet part obviously didn’t register.
Luke: “Sometimes I wish you were my mom.”
I blink at the boy, too stunned to speak, so he continues.
Luke: “At that birthday party? Where I got held under the water? He told me that even my mom didn’t like me.”
I want to push that kid into the water all over again.
Willa: “Well, I don’t just like you, Luke.”
My voice comes out thick with emotion, but I’m not so sure he picks up on it.
Willa: “I love you.”
Luke: “You do?”
His smile is shy—tentative.
Willa: “Yeah. And that kid is a major shithead.”
His hand slaps over his mouth and his eyes go wide before he whispers,
Luke: “He’s a total shithead and I love you too.”
Luke slaps at his back in breathless hysterics.
Willa: “Let me down!”
Tossed over the opposite shoulder, I reach down farther and slap his ass, which just makes Luke laugh harder.
Luke: “Giddy up, Daddy!”
Luke calls, and Cade’s breath huffs out on my bare thigh.
Cade: “You two are a pain in my ass.”
Willa: “How the hell are you carrying us? This isn’t normal. Put me down.”
Cade: “Woman. I can pick up calves, you two are nothing.”
His finger traces the inside of my thigh, and I squirm.
Harvey: “Looks like you’ve got your hands full, son,”
Harvey calls out, but I can’t see him. I don’t need to see him to hear the smile in his voice.
Harvey: “Why don’t I take the tiny hell-raiser off your hands for a bit longer?”
Luke: “Yes! Save me, Grandpa!”
Luke screams, thrashing wildly, shaking his dad’s body as he does. Cade grunts and sets Luke down instantly.
Cade: “Good plan, Dad. Divide and conquer.”
I hear Luke sprinting across the driveway away from us as I whisper,
Willa: “Cade, put me down. I bet everyone can see my ass.”
Cade: “They can’t,”
he whispers back.
Willa: “How do you know?”
Cade: “Because I checked. I thought the view might be better than it is. Disappointing, to be honest.”
Willa: “Dick. Let me down. I’m not a baby cow.”
Cade just laughs.
Harvey: “You kids have fun!”
Harvey calls, and it strikes me how blatantly obvious it must be that something is going on with us.
Harvey: “I drove past the other day and noticed your lawn. It could really use a good—”
Cade: “Dad, just don’t,”
Cade grumbles and marches over to his truck with me slung over his shoulder like a bag of feed. Or a baby cow.
Summer: I feel like we live on the same piece of land and yet, I haven’t seen you at all.
Willa: Been busy.
Summer: With what?
Willa: Saving horses.
Summer: Oh, yeah?
Willa: Sum, I’ve saved so many I might as well open a rescue.
Summer: Good lord.
Willa: Would it be legal for me to have Cade write me a charitable donation receipt to offset my taxes?
Summer: I think he’s fucked you stupid, bestie.
Cade: “Has anybody ever told you how incredible you are, Willa?”
I swallow.
Cade: “How fun? How smart? How goddamn witty?”
Fuck. His words are like a baseball bat to the chest. Totally out of left field. My lips pop open, and only a small squeaking sound comes out. I try to cover by saying,
Willa: “What about pretty? I get that a lot.”
Because I’m not sure incredible has ever really happened. He shakes his head before stepping into the hot tub, still wearing those lounge pants that skim his body so deliciously. He drops into the water, toned arms gliding him across to me in one smooth movement.
Willa: “You’re still weari—”
Cade: “No. Pretty girls don’t make me feel like this.”
His hand wraps around my calf while the other comes to hold my hand between my legs. He takes control of that hand, making me pump in and out of myself a couple of times.
Cade: “Like what?”
I breathe, head tilted down, eyes fixed on the man submerged between my legs.
Cade: “Totally out of control.”
Rhett: You know Medusa?
Willa: Not personally, no.
Rhett: Remember the part about not looking her in the eyes?
Willa: I’ve always kind of liked Medusa. If I were her, I’d wanna turn men into stone too.
Rhett: Pretend Talia is Medusa. But a version we don’t like.
I give her the fakest smile I can muster as I turn to walk away.
Willa: “I’m not in hell yet, lady. Don’t need to spend my time hanging out with the devil.”
Cade: “What are you looking for, baby? You think I’d stop just because someone walked in?”
His fingers glide down between my legs, and he runs two gentle fingers through my wet folds.
Cade: “Maybe Talia will catch us, and I can make things abundantly clear for both of you. Because I can promise you, I’ve never fucked anyone the way I fuck you.”
I clench and moan.
Cade: “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
His voice is all gravel.
Cade: “I wouldn’t care. You’re mine, Willa. And I don’t give a fuck who knows it.”
His fingers slide in, smooth and slow. One hand presses down on my back as he leans forward to whisper,
Cade: “Is that what you need? You need me to bend you over right here and now, then send you back out there dripping my cum down your pretty little thighs to prove it to you?”
My mind races. Fuck. Is that what I want? I barely need to think about it. I want that so badly I ache with it. The pads of my fingers slide on the counter as I glance over my shoulder and nod.
Cade: “Good,”
he bites out, scrambling with his belt.
Cade: “Because I want that too.”
Cade: “You want it all, Willa? The house? The babies? The ranch?”
I nod again because it’s all I can do. I want all that. With him.
Cade: “You want me, Willa?”
Willa: “Yes.”
I cry out against the soft fabric, nodding frantically as he slams into me. I want him so badly it hurts.
Cade: “Good. Because I’m sick of holding back with you. You’re not going anywhere. You belong here, with me.”
He lifts me, arm wrapped around my stomach as he clutches me to his chest. His stubble rasps against the shell of my ear.
Cade: “Rub your clit while I’m fucking you. Let me tell you how it’s going to be.”
My head falls back against his shoulder as one hand gathers the fabric of my skirt. The opposite one immediately dives between my legs and rubs circles while Cade holds me tight.
Cade: “You’re going to spend as much time as you want at our house,”
he says, while thrusting into me slowly.
Cade: “You’re going to work whatever job you want. Wherever you want. But you’ll always have a place here. A home here. I’ll make you coffee every morning. I’ll leave you all the Post-it notes you want. I’ll cook your dinner every day. I’ll eat your pussy in the hot tub before bed every damn night.”
Cade: Baby, why are you blushing?
Willa: Because I swear people are looking at me like I just got my brains fucked out.
Cade: You did.
Willa: I think these panties are ruined.
Cade: I’ll wash them for you. And then shove them in your mouth again the next time you say something rude.
Willa: Fuck off.
Cade: Careful. They haven’t even been washed yet.
Cade: “I’m—fuck—I’m scared, Willa. I’m scared you’re too young. That you haven’t lived enough. That you’re too far out of my league. I’m scared I won’t be enough for you and you’ll walk away. And I’ll be stuck here in the shambles again. And so will Luke this time.”
His free hand swipes at his hat, shifting it on his head as he looks away again.
Willa: “I’m scared too. But not too scared to try.”
Willa: Why did you leave me a Post-it note saying, No panties today?
Willa: That just ruins the surprise.
Cade: Because I want easy access.
Willa: Cade Eaton. This is a family event.
Cade: Hasn’t stopped you before.
Willa: That was a one-time thing.
Cade: No, it wasn’t. It was a precedent-setter.
Willa: Luke is going to be able to read these soon.
Cade: Did you change the subject because you know I’m right?
Cade: “It was the last batch. I just wanted a beer and a hot tub.”
Rhett: “No problem, bro.”
Rhett slaps me on the shoulder hard enough that my fingers ache.
Rhett: “I’ll grab you one for the road. Also, Summer told me to never go in that hot tub again. The fuck you been doing in there?”
Cade: “Get fucked, Rhett."
I hold the beer up in Willa’s direction.
Cade: “Cheers, baby. You get to play nurse today.”
Willa: “Oh, yeah?”
She draws closer, running a hand over my shoulder and down my arm to hold my hand. As she assesses the quickly darkening digits, she adds,
Willa: “I think I dressed up as that for Halloween one year.”
Jesus. What didn’t this woman dress as for Halloween? I groan and let my eyes flutter shut to the sound of my brothers having a good chuckle around me. The last thing I need is a rock-hard dick to go along with my broken fingers.
My head flops back against the couch, a wry laugh bubbling up out of me.
Cade: “She’s pregnant.”
I can feel my dad’s stare, see him take a thoughtful sip out of the corner of my eye.
Harvey: “Did I let you watch the bulls get turned out with the heifers too much as a child, boy?”
I groan.
Harvey: “You got something against condoms?”
Cade: “Dad.”
Harvey: “Some sort of breeding kink I don’t know about?”
I throw an arm over my eyes.
Cade: “Never talk to me again. That you even know that term is altogether too much information.”
Harvey: “Did you ask her if she feels that way?”
Cade: “No. I just asked over and over again why she had a carrot in her purse like a total dolt.”
Harvey: “Listen, I don’t want to hear about whatever weird shit you kids are into.”
Cade: “Holy shit. Please just kill me before you say something else that makes me want to clean my ears with acid.”
Cade: “I want that. I want it all.”
Harvey: “Then stop Eeyoring around out here with me, you grumpy dumbass. I’m going to bed. Y’all kids exhaust me.”
Willa: “What is it? I don’t even know.”
Summer rubs my back because she is some sort of angel sent to planet Earth. A better person than the vast majority of us.
Summer: “I don’t know what it is. But from where I’m sitting, it’s two smart loving adults who are navigating a curve ball in the best way they know how.”
A sob racks my body.
Summer: “It’s two people who were both a little lost until they ended up on the same path and walked together for a while.”
I drop my head, openly crying now. I think Summer is trying to make me weep.
Summer: “It’s two people who are happier in each other’s company than they are alone.”
Now I can hear the tears in her voice too.
Summer: “Better together than they are apart.”
Luke: “What would you wish for?”
He peeks in again, and I put a hand on his shoulder. Watching him lean over the edge gives me full-blown anxiety. I scrub at my beard with the opposite hand, racking my brain. I can’t remember. That part of my life feels like a lifetime ago. Like another life altogether.
Cade: “Probably candy.”
Luke’s head bobs in approval.
Luke: “Smart. Did your wishes come true?”
My lips quirk at that. He never fails to lift my spirits. Knowing my mom, I’m sure a bunch of our wishes did come true.
Cade: “Usually.”
Willa: How is Cade?
Summer: Full hermit-mode. Back to hating everyone. Please come fix him.
Willa: I’m on my way.
I’m a smart, capable adult. I have family and friends who love me. This is just another opportunity for me to start a new chapter in my life.
I’m a hot fucking mess.
Cade: “My dad knows you’re pregnant.”
Willa: “Okay.”
Cade: “He asked me if I have a breeding kink.”
My hands come up to cover my face and laughter shakes my body.
Willa: “No, he didn’t.”
Cade: “He did.”
Willa: “Jesus.”
I murmur, but it’s still a little thin. A little watery.
Cade: “Forget Jesus. Tell me about the carrot. I’ve been thinking about it for days.”
Willa: “The woman you’ve known for all of two months tells you she accidentally got pregnant and what keeps you up is wondering about the carrot in her purse?”
He chuckles and gives my hair a little tug, tipping my face up to his.
Cade: “Yeah.”
He shrugs.
Cade: “You feel right in my life. In Luke’s life. We just . . . make sense to me somehow. And another little person will too. Nothing about that feels wrong to me. The only thing that doesn’t make sense is that fucking carrot.”
Rhett laughs as his fingers drum on the passenger’s seat door, just above where he’s protectively wedged the poster board Rhett created for my event tomorrow. It’s sparkly and reads: Not bad. For an old guy.
Fucking dick.
Willa: “Dude.”
Willa punches my brother in the shoulder.
Rhett: “Read between the lines here. Stop dicking around and make it so that our kids can grow up as best friends.”
Rhett’s face turns serious, and he shakes his head solemnly—but I see that shit-disturber twitch of his lips. Same one that was a dead giveaway as a child too.
Rhett: “I don’t know what to tell you, Willa. We keep practicing and practicing, and practicing, and nothing ever happens. It’s exhausting, you know? I have to wonder if it’s all the birth control we’re using?”
Cade: “Eat a dick, kid.”
I take my turn, knocking a hand against my little brother’s chest.
Summer: “No, babe,”
Summer pipes up,
Summer: “it’s just that you don’t have a breeding kink.”
She can’t even get the words out without snorting and wheezing.
I squeeze her hand and pull it to my lips, pressing a kiss to the knuckles of the woman I chose—the life I chose.
Rhett: “Jesus. Who even are you?”
Rhett asks, looking a little shocked.
Now it’s Summer’s turn to slap the top of his head.
Summer: “Stop picking on them. It’s sweet.”
Rhett: “Why the fuck is everyone hitting me?”
I chuckle as Summer responds with,
Summer: “Because you deserve it.”
Leaning back away from me, she gives me a playful little smirk. I quirk a brow in her direction.
Cade: “You know the rule, Red?”
Willa: “You wear the hat, you ride the cowboy.”
She winks at me, looking fucking adorable wearing my hat.
Luke: “Do you think it would be okay if I called you mom too?”
I’m far too hormonal for this conversation right now and blink furiously down at the little boy who’s gazing up at me with the widest, sweetest eyes.
Willa: “My dude, you can call me whatever you want. I know I’m not actually your mom, but I love you like one. Did you know I fell in love with you before I fell in love with your dad?”
His eyes light at that.
Luke: “You did?”
I nod, pulling him close with an arm around his shoulders.
Willa: “I did.”
His arms wrap around my middle, or what’s left of it. I feel like I’m just boobs and belly at this point.
Luke: “I love you too, Willa. Even though I think you peed your pants.”
My head shoots down to follow where he’s looking.
Willa: “Alright. It’s time to call your dad.”
Cade: Why is my child’s birth part of a group text?
Summer: Because we’re excited!
Violet: So excited! Send pictures!
Rhett: After though. Not during. I don’t need to know Willa that well.
Summer: Rhett Eaton. I know you are not texting and driving with the daddy-to-be in your car.
Cade: He is.
Rhett: Red light, Princess. And why are you only worried about Cade and not me?
Summer: TODAY ISN’T ABOUT YOU.
Harvey: Y’all kids give me a ducking headache.
Willa: “I’m sorry if the magic is gone after this,”
Cade: “It’s okay, I’ve lived through a lot of calving seasons.”
My hysterical laughter bleeds into a contraction, longer and stronger than any of the others, and when it finally finishes and he’s helping me into bed, I say to him,
Willa: “I know you didn’t just compare me to a cow.”
Cade: “I would never,”
he says with a chuckle.
And as much as I want to punch him in the face for that joke, I also want to hug him.
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