Hitched(53)

Too bad being sick of Fear isn’t always enough to pry the bastard’s bony fingers from around your throat.

“Let’s just take it one day at a time, like we said,” Blake says softly, as if he senses the war waging inside of me. “I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not in any rush.”

“If every day could be like today, I’d be a very happy woman,” I whisper.

He grins. “Arguments with your cousin and all?”

“Well, you were very heroic during the argument part. It was pretty hot.”

“Yeah?” he asks, his chest puffing up, making me laugh.

“Yes. But now you look like a rooster on the verge of a victory strut.”

“I’ll do that when we get home,” he says, wiggling his brows. “Naked. The way god intended.”

I giggle again. “But seriously. Thank you. For the heroics.”

“No thanks needed. Just doing what I do for the people that I love.”

His words wrap around me like a warm cocoon, and I lay my head on his shoulder for the rest of the trip.

He’s not my father. Nor my mother.

He’s a solid man, with a crazy, loving family, and he knows how to do this right.

All I have to do is trust him to lead the way.

“Maybe I do need an alpha alpaca sometimes,” I sigh beneath my breath.

“What’s that?” Blake asks.

“Nothing,” I say with a smile, because if I tell him he’s my love alpha, he’ll never let me live it down.

When we get back to the farm, we walk Chewpaca back to the barn together. Too-Pac isn’t sleeping yet—he’s waiting for his friend, and the two of them have a short conversation that makes me smile once we get Chewy back in their shared pen.

“You think he’s safe tonight?” Blake asks. “I can take first watch if you think Kyle is still a threat.”

“No, if there’s a problem, the dogs will let us know.” I hook a finger into the collar of his shirt and tug. “Besides, I have other plans for you.”

He growls low in his throat. “Dirty plans, I hope?”

“Filthy,” I assure him.

He puts his arms around me. “Me and you? The empty stall? Five seconds? I’ve always wanted a literal roll in the hay.”

“Right here, where all the baby animals can hear?” I tease. “Dildo Shaggins would never suggest such a thing.”

“Oh, so you think Dildo Shaggins can do for you what I can do for you?” He bends his head, kissing my cheek, my jaw, my neck.

I shiver. “Maybe. I could head back to the house alone and give him a try.”

“I don’t think so, love-muffin. Not unless I can watch, and then prove which one of us is better.”

“You’re awfully confident,” I murmur.

“Cocky, some might say.”

“Very cocky.” I nip at his ear before I add in a whisper, “Take me to bed, Mr. O’Dell. I want to shag you senseless.”

Without another word, he scoops me up in his arms and races for the house.

And it’s not because anyone’s watching.

It’s just because he wants me.

The same way I want him.





Twenty-Two





Blake





* * *



I wake up alone again, but this time I’m in Hope’s bed, with early morning light slowly chasing away the shadows and revealing a note on her pillow.

Blake –

Thank you for an amazing night. I didn’t want to wake you, but needed to feed the animals. Coffee’s prepped and there are cinnamon rolls from the bakery on the table.

xo,

Hope

I sit up slowly and scratch my head, smiling at her handwriting while my mind wanders to the events of last night. The sexy events. And the sweet ones too.

She knows how to do this love thing.

She just doesn’t know that she knows.

But she didn’t run away. She left a note.

I’m still smiling while I throw the covers back and head for the shower. Five minutes later, I’m pulling on clothes and heading off to help my wife.

But I don’t make it all the way down the porch before I see her running down the path from the barn. Sprinting, actually.

She’s definitely not out for a leisurely jog.

Something’s wrong.

“Hope? What—”

“Chewpaca!” she gasps. “Blake, he took Chewpaca!”

“What? Who?” I jog down the last few steps.

“Kyle!” A sob wrenches from her chest. “He’s gone. Kyle must’ve taken him.”

“Hey. Hey.” I pull her into my arms, the hairs on my arms lifting as a buzzy feeling sweeps across my skin. “We’ll get him back. C’mon. I’ll drive. You call the lawyer.”

We hop in my truck, but when I put my key in the ignition, it shocks me hard enough to make me cry out and pull my hand away. When I try again, the engine won’t turn over, and Hope hands me my phone with another ragged sob. “I broke it. I broke it before I could call the lawyer or the sheriff or anyone.”

“Okay. New plan. We, uh… We just—”

Shit.