Rein In (Willow Bay Stables #3)(33)

I imagined love would always be somewhat painful for Rhys, and I was okay with that.

He would shoulder that hurt in the shadows, and I would provide enough light for him to see the sun.

It was the way the world would turn, our world.



I stood at the window wearing his dress shirt, watching as the party began to dance.

He’d have to leave soon, but I couldn’t bear to wake him.

My eyes flitted over to the bed where he lay naked, wrapped up in white sheets. His black hair marring the pillowcase was the only thing dark about him in this moment, and it made my chest ache.

Never in twenty-five years had I been made love to and never, not as a man, had Rhys made love to a woman.

This was ours.

His muscles flexed against the bed as he dreamt, and my body sighed in response.

It already missed him and I could still see him.

This was love.

We were in love.

He would have to go soon, it was almost ten.

Leaving the window and his shirt below it, I crawled back into bed and felt his arm slide around my waist.

“Angel.” He whispered faintly in his sleep and I clung to the sound of his voice.

We would have a few more minutes of normalcy, I thought to myself as he pulled me into his front, just a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt.

Just a few more minutes.

I smiled into the open room.

What a wonderful night.



“Good morning, my dear.” Grant beamed as I walked into the kitchen.

It was early, but he’d invited my family over for brunch this morning seeing as they, and many of the other guests, had been put up in a hotel overnight due to the drinking. And I wanted to talk to him before they arrived.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked, sipping his coffee and looking up from his paper.

I stretched, my body sore from last night, and smiled. “Very well, thank you.”

“Wonderful.” He looked back down at his paper.

Twisting my wet hair up in a bun, I hit the button on the teakettle and looked at the clock.

It was nearly nine, which meant that it would not be long before the Daniels zoo invaded Grant’s kitchen.

“Grant?” I asked, waiting for the water to boil.

“Hmm,” he hummed.

“Did you really mean what you said yesterday?” I leaned against the counter. “About Rhys.”

He lifted his head and studied me for a moment. “That I think he’s a good man?”

“Yes.” I nodded.

Resting his paper on the counter, he pulled the reading glasses from his face. “Yes.” He nodded. “Do you believe Rhys is a good man?”

I felt my cheeks eagerly form a smile. “Yes.”

Grant leaned forward onto his elbows. “He loves you.”

“I know.” I smiled.

Grant didn’t say anything.

“Aren’t you going to ask if I love him?”

The older man chuckled. “I know you love him.” Grant smiled.

“Oh,” I whispered.

Just then, there was a knock on the back door.

“If I had to conjure up a guess, my dear, I’d guess that one’s for you.” Grant put his reading glasses back on his nose and picked up his paper.

My bare feet padded through the kitchen, and I peeked out over the patio.

It was Rhys.

God, it was impossible how I already missed him.

Opening the door, I stepped outside. “Hi.”

I let my eyes soak up the look of him in his ripped jeans and those black boots.

“Hi.” He fidgeted a little with his hands before stuffing them in his pockets. “Grant asked me to come for brunch,” he said.

Looking over my shoulder, I saw Grant smiling into his coffee mug.

“I hope that’s okay,” Rhys added.

I’d woken him last night with just enough time to get back to The Shed before curfew. It had been like torture going back to sleep in that empty bed without him.

Standing up on the tips of my toes, I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I could think of nothing better.”

The regular community service work had been suspended at Equine for Hearts today to allow volunteers and staff to recover from the fundraiser the day before.

It would be the first Sunday Rhys and I would have off together.

He pulled me into his arms, burying his face in my neck the way he always did, and we hugged.

“I love you,” he whispered.

Somehow, in the light of day, those three words seemed to be even lovelier.

“I love you, too.” My heart called out to his, and they wrapped up in each other.

I imagined that if there were such a thing as fate, she must have given half of me to him because I only felt whole when he held me.

“Well, good morning to you.”

I heard my sister’s voice come from somewhere on the other side of the patio.

Rhys and I unwound our bodies, but his hand stayed planted at the small of my back as my family walked toward us.

“Morning,” I said.

“You two retired early.” She waggled her eyebrows, adjusting Christopher in her arms, and I felt Rhys muscles flex against my back.

He was nervous, and she made it worse by teasing even though she was trying to help.

“Be quiet,” I hissed.