Page 80 of Afterglow

“Really?” Her head rises from where she was watching her fingers trail over the fabric-covered armrests.

“Yeah, blondie. Delia was hoping I could give her your mom’s number, if you think she’d be okay with it?” I ask, treading carefully, not wanting to overwhelm her.

She nods, tears welling up in her eyes again. She waves her hand at me when I start toward her. “I’m fine. Stupid hormones, ugh. I think my mom would love that.”

She’s definitely overwhelmed. I walk over and press a kiss to the top of her head. “Want a minute?” I ask, and she nods. “Why don’t you get settled and I’ll meet you in the living room. Take your time.”

She nods again. I back out of the room and her shoulders relax as she leans her head back and closes her eyes. She carries so much, and I wonder if she’ll ever let me take some of that weight.

I would take it all, even if it crushed me, so she could breathe easier.

In the living room, the fireplace roars to life with the press of a button. While I warm my hands over it, staring into the bright orange and red flames, I wonder if I’m doing this right. Am I doing too much? Is any of this what she wants? Am I what she wants?

“Hey.” Her voice makes me jump. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She sidles up to me, drawn to the warmth of the fire as well.

“Are you hungry?” I ask, my knuckles brushing over her cheekbone.

“You just fed me back at my house.” She’s exasperated with my codling it would seem. “I thought maybe we could take a walk before it gets too dark… I’d like to see the ranch in winter.”

“Are your boots waterproof?”

“Yes, Dad, and I have my hat and gloves,” she says with a roll of her eyes. Definitely exasperated.

I can’t stop my smile though. Even if her calling me “dad” was a joke, it wrecks me in the best way—because it’s a title I will cherish for the rest of my life. I lean down and kiss her brow. “Let’s do it then.”

Ten minutes later, we’re trekking down toward the stables, soft snow and gravel crunching under our feet. Leanne is bundled in a puffer coat that reaches her knees and a wooly hat with a bobble on top. She shoved her gloved hands deep in her pockets when we walked outside and it’s the only thing keeping me from reaching for her.

We walk into the stables, the warmth engulfing us as soon as we’re inside. The smell of hay permeates the space and the whinnying of the horses meets our ears as heads pop out of the stall doors to see who’s come for them.

“Hey, boy,” I say, reaching out to rub my hand over the velvety nose of the nearest gelding. I glance over my shoulder and Leanne is standing a few feet back with a wary look on her face. “Ever ridden a horse?”

She quirks an eyebrow and takes a tentative step toward me. “No, just a cowboy.”

I bark a laugh and go back to that night in the tent—like I have so many times in my dreams—and remember the first laugh she gave me when I said she should tell her family she went for a ride.

“Come here.” I grab her wrist and guide her to my side. Lifting our joined hands, I bring them to the horse’s nose. “He’s a good boy. He won’t bite.”

“How many horses are there?”

“We have five. All family horses. This is Ash. He’s Delia’s.” I release Leanne’s hand and let her continue to stroke the soft nose as I walk farther down the line. “This is Rusty, Alex’s horse. Lady is Becca’s.” I keep moving down the line and as Leanne follows, she gets a little braver with her pets for each horse, a wide smile growing on her face.

At the far end of the stable, in the stalls across from each other, are the last two horses.

“This here is Orion. He’s mine.” I lean my forehead to touch his. “Aren’t you, boy?” I whisper, and he kicks his head back a little until his lips drag against my cheek, leaving a smear of horse saliva behind. “Thanks, bud,” I say sarcastically.

“He’s beautiful,” Leanne states, stepping in close and reaching her hand down his neck under his mane. His head turns toward the attention and he nudges her in the chest with his nose, blowing his lips when he pulls away.

“He likes you,” I say.

“Yeah?” she questions, looking down at the slobber spot on her jacket.

“Definitely, that’s how he shows it.” I smirk, and she shoves my shoulder. It feels natural to be at the ranch with her, showing her my home and the life I live here—parts of me she’s never seen before.

We turn in response to the whinny behind us to look at the beautiful white horse in the last stall. “I’m not ignoring you, girl,” I say, walking over. She neighs again, pulling Leanne’s interest too.

“And who is this beauty?” she asks.