Page 9 of Cowboy Daddy
Rhett and Emma wave from near one of the cabins, Emma's laugh bright as she tells me about the latest book she’s reading.Chase and Fiona join us a bit further on, Fiona teasing Harlan about finally having "proper company" in his cabin. Silas and Hannah are out walking hand in hand, their quiet strength matching the mountain perfectly. They both greet me like I’ve always belonged here.
Eli and Daisy catch us near the medical cabin, Daisy pressing a small care package into my hands. "Just some basics for that leg," she says with a kind smile. "And welcome. We take care of our own."
Thorne, Sadie, and Lily appear next, Lily's eyes lighting up when she sees me. "Another girl! Yes! You have to come braid hair and talk about books with me later."
Boyd and Piper are checking fences, Piper's sharp wit making me laugh as Boyd gives Harlan one of those man-nods that says everything without words.
And then there are Wyatt and Junie, walking close together with that newly healed look about them. Junie’s brother, Caleb joins them. Junie pulls me into the warmest hug. "I know what it’s like to show up here running from something," she whispers. "You’re safe. And you’re going to love it here."
By the time we’ve met everyone, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. They’re all so welcoming, this big, messy, wonderful found family that wraps around you like the coziest blanket. Harlan watches me the whole time, his need for me burning in those eyes. Every time our gazes meet, the air crackles. He wants me. Badly. And I want him right back, this grumpy, protective cowboy who makes me feel seen and safe all at once.
As the sun starts to dip, Harlan's hand finds mine. "Main lodge for dinner," he says, voice rough but warm for me. "They’ll all be there."
The main lodge is bustling when we arrive, filled with laughter and the smell of hearty stew and fresh bread. Everyone gathers around the long tables, passing dishes and stories. I sit squeezed between Harlan and Lily, his thigh pressed firmly against mine under the table. The contact sends sparks through me. He leans over once to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering, eyes dark with that barely leashed want.
"You fit here," he mutters close to my ear, breath warm. "With them. With me."
My heart flips behind my ribcage. "I think I do," I whisper back, quirky smile in place even as butterflies dance wildly. "Thank you for bringing me into all this magic, cowboy."
Dinner stretches long into the evening, full of teasing and warmth and the kind of belonging I haven’t felt in years. Harlan stays glued to my side, protective arm occasionally draping across the back of my chair. Every look, every brush of his hand tells me how much he needs me. How deep this fire between us burns.
As we finally walk back to his cabin under the starry sky, snow crunching softly under our boots, I lean into him completely.
"This was the best day," I say, voice soft and full of wonder. "I can’t wait for tomorrow."
Harlan stops, turns me to face him, and cups my face with those big rough hands. His eyes blaze with everything he hasn’t said yet. "You’re staying, Sunny. For good."
The kiss he gives me is slow and deep and full of promise, right there under the mountain stars. Charged. On fire. Exactly like a romcom moment I never want to end. And as we walk the rest of the way home, his arm around me tight and sure, I know I’ve found more than safety here.
I’ve found a home.
SIX
HARLAN
We step inside the cabin and I kick the door shut behind us, the heavy wood thudding solidly into place and sealing out the cold night air. The kiss we started under the stars doesn’t end. I pull Sunny flush against me right there in the entryway, my mouth claiming hers with every bit of pent up hunger I’ve carried since the moment I hauled her off that spooked horse. She tastes like sweet honey and the faint trace of the apple cider from dinner, warm and addictive. Her lips are soft and yielding under mine, parting with a tiny gasp that sends fire racing down my spine. The scent of her fills my lungs, vanilla and wildflowers mixed with the crisp mountain air still clinging to her hair.
I’ve been wanting her for days. Every bright smile, every quirky little comment, every time her body pressed close during the storm has twisted me tighter until I feel raw with need. She’s sunshine wrapped in soft curves and I want to drown in her.
"Harlan," she breathes against my lips, her voice husky and sweet, fingers curling into my flannel shirt like she needs me to stay right here.
I lift her without breaking the kiss, her legs wrapping around my waist as if they were made to fit there. She’s warm and light in my arms, her thighs squeezing my hips, the heat of her core pressing against me through our clothes. I carry her through the cabin to the bedroom, my boots thudding softly on the wooden floor. The one bed waits in the low glow of the bedside lamp, quilts turned back from earlier. I lay her down gently, the mattress dipping under our combined weight as I follow her, covering her body with mine. The feel of her beneath me, soft and willing, makes my cock throb hard against my jeans.
"Been wanting this," I growl against her neck, my voice rough as gravel. I trail open mouthed kisses down the delicate column of her throat, tasting the faint salt of her skin. "Wanting you. So damn bad, Sunny."
She shivers, a full body tremble that I feel everywhere we touch. Her hands roam my back, nails scraping lightly through my shirt. "Then stop waiting, cowboy. I want you too."
My hands move with deliberate slowness, savoring every inch. I push the heavy coat from her shoulders, then my own, the fabric rustling as it hits the floor. The borrowed shirt she wears comes next. I unbutton it one by one, my callused fingertips brushing over the smooth warmth of her skin with each new button. The firelight from the main room flickers across her body as I reveal her, casting golden shadows over her full breasts and the gentle curve of her stomach. She’s breathtaking. Soft and flushed and perfect.
I lower my head and close my mouth over one rosy nipple, sucking gently while my tongue swirls around the tight peak. She arches into me with a breathy moan that goes straight to my groin. The other breast fills my palm, warm and heavy, her skin like silk under my rough hands. I knead and tease while mymouth works her, drawing out those sweet, needy sounds that make my blood roar.
"Harlan... oh, that feels so good." Her voice is breathy and full of wonder, that quirky sparkle turning into something deeper and hotter.
I kiss my way lower, my stubble grazing her sensitive skin and leaving faint pink trails. Her stomach quivers under my lips. I hook my fingers into the waistband of her leggings and slide them down her legs along with her panties, the fabric whispering over her smooth thighs. She lifts her hips to help me, and when she’s finally bare beneath me I sit back on my heels just to drink her in. Golden hair spilled across my pillow like sunlight, skin glowing warm and pink, her blue eyes dark with desire as she watches me.
"Perfect," I mutter, voice thick. "You’re so damn perfect, sunshine."
I settle between her spread thighs, the heat of her radiating against my chest. The scent of her arousal is intoxicating, sweet and musky. I kiss up the inside of one trembling thigh, then the other, my breath hot against her skin. She squirms, fingers threading through my hair, tugging gently. When my mouth finally reaches her center I groan at the first taste of her, rich and wet on my tongue. I lick into her slow and deep, savoring every fold, circling her clit with firm strokes.
