Kadence snatches the bottle from my hand, drains the rest, and places the empty bottle on the counter. “Mind sharing another one?”
I grab a beer from the fridge and open it before handing it to her.
“Mind making some food for us?” I question.
There’s a challenging twinkle in her eye but she nods. “It’s the least I can do with you helping me out.” She points at my jaw. “Need ice for that?”
“I’ve endured worse.” I shrug and grab the beer from her hands to take a few sips, placing it on the counter when I add, “Let’s go outside and grab some tomatoes and some other stuff from the vegetable garden.”
“I can go outside?” There’s vulnerability in her voice and I hate the position this strong woman is placed in.
“Yeah, doll. I have church set tomorrow bright and early to discuss everything. Weston and Roper decided to keep you being here to ourselves. It’s the safest for everyone until we’ve gained some time to take my plan to the next level. And I know you and my sister are close and you’ve helped out with her setting up her business with lunch deliveries, but let her old man help out. For now, you need to focus on yourself. And with my cabin being remote and my Prez and VP making sure no one will come around, I’d say we’re free to do what we please as long as we stay close to home.”
I wrap my fingers around her wrist and pull her along to head out back. One of the things I love about my place is the fact it has a massive garden with a wide range of vegetables. With a large freezer filled with meat I can go weeks without shopping.
While Kadence was here with my sister, I noticed she spent a lot of time in the kitchen. My sister might have been the one with the plan to start a business that delivers lunch packages, but Kadence is a valuable asset. It’s also why I’ve asked her to make dinner; to take her mind off the trouble coming at her at every turn.
“Oh. Wow. He’s gorgeous!” Her eyes bounce from me to Cavier. “Now I know why you’re living here and never let anyone get close. So freaking gorgeous. Look, he’s practically glowing like a pearl or silk or–” Her ramblings stop when she reaches the fence and she holds out her hand.
Cavier might have had a rough past but he’s nicer than me. And it might be the fact that I’m standing right next to her when Cavier immediately moves to get close. But when he skips me to sniff Kadence’s hand, I have to agree with him…I’d much rather have her hands on me too.
“So soft,” she murmurs with awe in her voice. “Can I ride him?”
I can’t help the smile and pride spreading my face. “Yeah. Let me get a bridle.”
It takes a few minutes but when I’m holding the rope and grab Kadence’s ankle to help her onto Cavier’s back, I get to enjoy the best of both worlds when I see my woman riding bareback on my horse.
She’s not by any means an experienced rider, but I intend to change that little fact very soon. And with her showing interest like this? Fucking perfect. And to think she’s only watched the other horses from a distance the time she’s been on the ranch. One glance at my horse changes her mind from watching to actually interacting.
When I glance up at her my chest squeezes at the sight. Her hands are stroking Cavier’s neck, eyes filled with awe, and there’s a huge damn smile on her face letting me know how much she’s enjoying something as simple as a ride on the back of a horse.
It’s similar to a careless moment we shared a few days ago when she was on the back of my bike. She threw her head back and screamed at the wind, relishing in the feel at something so fleeting as a simple ride to enjoy yourself.
It was right before Cannon lead the two rats from their MC right at us, guns blazing and coming for Kadence so they could strike at Rowen by hurting his sister. Yeah, this woman deserves happiness in huge fucking chunks. And I’m dead set to make sure she gets it.
“How old is he? And how long have you had him?” she questions.
I keep leading Cavier around the paddock as I start to tell her a bit about his background. “You might say I saved him. He was two years old and a bundle of fear. He suffered through an accident when he was in a trailer. I caught his bright blue eyes and there was some kind of understanding between us. My head is more fucked-up than his so I knew he just needed time and space to mend his demons, along with a firm but loving hand and lots of fucking patience. He just turned six a few months ago.”
“A firm but loving hand,” she muses.
“Yep, and it’s the exact thing that you need too.” I glance back to shoot her a wink and relish in the way she narrows her eyes at me.
“I’ll show you a firm hand when I get off this horse,” she grumbles.
The corner of my mouth twitches. “Then I’d better keep you on the horse, huh? Needless to say, you missed the loving part. And if I remember correctly…and I sure as fuck do because I can still vividly remember how it felt to have your nipple in my mouth…you liked the loving part.”
She completely ignores me and gives Cavier her full
