“Yeah, you do, and from the way he looks at you…” She paused. “Oh, you have to see it. It’s not just want and possession; it’s deeper. Not going to lie, seeing the way he looks at you, I want Liam to look at me like that.”
I knew the look, it was the same quiet, intense one that broke through all of my defenses and claimed me.
“I knew love once.”
Her eyes went wide. “You never mentioned that. Do tell.”
“It’s not a happy story, but I thought what I found with him was all there was. I loved him, mindlessly, senselessly even carelessly. Had things been different, we’d have been very happy. But Killian…it’s more.”
There were tears in her eyes. “You have to tell him that,” she said, then sniffled. “You really have to tell him that.”
I did and would continually.
“I say we get dessert. I think we’ve earned dessert,” Natalie said.
I reached across the table for her hand. “Talk to Liam. Even Killian said it was about time when he saw the two of you at The Rodeo.”
Her eyes went bright. “He did?”
“Yeah. So push, Natalie. Make him talk to you.”
“I will,” she said, looking happier than she had throughout our meal. “I definitely will. Thank you.” We shared a moment, before her hand went up to signal the waiter. “Now, we need sugar.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen sunflowers that tall, and it’s only July,” I said to Maureen, the following day when I stopped over to help her harvest her string beans. She had sunflowers all along the back of her property, and they were at least twelve feet tall.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?”
“Yes, they are.”
“Please try to get Killian over here. It’s been almost a month. I know he’s busy, but I miss him,” she said, as we picked the beans from the vine, the warm summer sun shining down on us. It reminded me of when I used to do the same with my mom, but instead of feeling sad, it made me happy. Life went on.
Cooper and Max were soaking up the rays, occasionally getting up to chase each other.
“I will drag him here if needed,” I offered.
“Thank you.”
“Are you ready for your trip to California?”
“I am. I wasn’t sure, at first, because I’m not really a beach kind of gal, but then I learned about the wine tasting train and that was all I needed to hear.”
“A woman after my own heart.”
“Eating and drinking while riding through the vineyards, say no more.”
“If you need me to look in on the house, water your gardens, I’d be happy to.”
She stopped working. “Thank you, Cedar. That would be very helpful.”
“Consider it done.”
We worked in silence for a little bit before she asked, “So are there grandbabies in my future?”
My head whipped around so fast, I heard a crack. She stared at me. I stared at her, and then we both burst out laughing.
“What’s going on out here?” Jared asked.
“Oh nothing, dear,” Maureen called back.
Jared stopped next to me. “It’s Killian for you,” he said, handing me the phone.
I stood, brushed off my knees. “Thank you.” I walked to the back of the property. “Hey, Sexy.”
“Hey, Baby. You helping Mom?”
“Yes,” I said, paused then added, “She wants to know when she’s getting grandbabies.”
Silence followed. I knew the look my comment brought to his face like I was standing in front of him. I smiled.
“Could already have one baking.”
My mouth opened then closed, my hand moving to my stomach. We hadn’t used protection, and I wasn’t on the pill. It was a testament to the man himself that I hadn’t even thought about protection when it was my first thought with the other men I’d been with. Not that there were many and the last one was years ago.
“You want babies?” he asked.
“I want your babies.”
He growled. “How long you going to be there?”
Chills danced down my arms. “I’ll be leaving in about a half an hour.”
“I got some shit to do, but I’ll be back around six.” Silence before he added, “I want you in my bed tonight so pack a bag.”
I turned from his parents, so they wouldn’t see the heat on my cheeks. “I’ll be ready at six.”
“Good girl. Later, Baby.”
“Later.”
It was five o’clock. I swear the damn clock wasn’t moving at all. I was packed. My bag was by the door. Graham’s team was finishing up. I’d let the dogs out about ten minutes ago so when Killian got here, we could head right to his place.
I puttered in the kitchen, checked my watch, fifteen minutes. They didn’t usually stay out this long. I grabbed my phone and went out to find them. They were a bit of a distance from the house, which was unusual for them.
“Hey guys. Daddy will be home soon. We should get back.”
They didn’t move from their spot, which was weird. Usually, they responded immediately when I called them. I moved closer and saw what had caught their attention. I didn’t, at first, realize what I was looking at, and when I realized, bile rushed up my throat. It was a bear, what was left of one. It looked butchered. The poachers. I looked around, fear creeping up my throat to form a lump in the back of it. I reached for my phone to call Killian, but I didn’t have service. I took a picture then a few of the surrounding area, so we could find it again.
“Let’s go boys.”
We started back for the house. Going the way I came, I noticed the carcass of a squirrel near the rocky cliff. I hadn’t seen it earlier, but then I was looking for the dogs. The squirrel’s neck looked like it had been snapped. Killian said poachers poached rattlesnakes too, the thought coming too late when I heard the rattle. My head swung
