Reece (Stud Ranch 4)

He opened his mouth, and then closed it, and then opened it before closing it one last time. Then he pulled me back into an embrace, looser this time, but no less warm.

His chin notched on the top of my head. His chest rumbled when he spoke. “Look at the pair of us. We both just need to take our own advice. How come we can see the answer so clearly for the other person, but not for ourselves? When I look at your situation, I’m just like, duh, it’s nuts not to see how obviously it’s not your fault and you need to let go any guilt or shame. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

I smiled a little wanly, a little off-kilter, both from the wine and because what he was saying…seemed reasonable. “Yeah. Shit. I must be drunk because you’re making sense.”

He pulled away again, a grin on his face. “I’ll remind you that you said that tomorrow, in case you forget. Or try to pretend you didn’t just say I’m the king of the world who’s always right.”

I choked out a laugh, swiping at tears. “That is so not what I said.”

“Uh, pretty sure that’s what I heard.”

“You fit through the door with that big head?”

He winked at me. “I got my ways, Captain.” Then he looked down at his phone he’d pulled out of his pocket. “Shit, I better be getting you back to bed. It’s almost three in the morning.”

I nodded. I did feel exhausted. The wine, the pills, plus the emotional unloading we’d just done.

I hesitated, though, still afraid of the nightmares that might await me.

“I suppose it’s too much to ask for you to stay the night with me?”

His eyes immediately went round.

“Just like in the barn. Not…doing anything. I know we’re just friends now.” Then I felt my face flame. I waved a hand. “Forget it. It’s stupid. Good night. Friend.” I gave an awkward wave and tried to turn away but his hand caught mine, his fingers interlacing and locking.

“I’d like that,” he said quietly, the levity from moments ago dissolved.

We were quiet, not saying another word as we went back inside, took off our coats, and he trailed me upstairs.

I felt embarrassed for the request I’d made as soon as we both stepped inside my room. But Reece had this way about him that made everything natural, so that within minutes, I wasn’t feeling awkward anymore.

I climbed underneath the covers and he kicked off his boots, then laid on top of them beside me. Still, he curled his strong arm around me and spooned me from behind, knees and thighs notching so naturally behind me.

I immediately felt warm, cozy, and safe. I started drowsing almost instantly.

“Charlotte?” Reece whispered.

“Mmm?”

“I’m so glad the wind blew you this direction and you ended up on this ranch that night.”

I smiled and snuggled back against his warm, solid body. “Me too,” I sighed. “Me too.”

16

I managed to pull myself out of bed the next day by noon. I was startled when I looked at the clock and saw it was so late. Reece wasn’t there, long gone, I imagined. No doubt he’d taken off for morning chores and, if he was smart, been out of my room long before his brother found him in here to avoid a repeat of the stable incident. I hadn’t even thought of it in my wine-addled state last night, but he likely had.

I was embarrassed to be so late getting downstairs, but figured that as far as Ruth and Jeremiah knew, I’d been actually sick yesterday. And well, I had genuinely needed a mental health day, even if I hadn’t used the healthiest coping mechanisms.

I held a hand to my head, still feeling the effects. I went straight for the coffeemaker. The house was so… quiet. It was strange. Usually when I came down, the place was bustling with noise.

One of the things I loved about Ruth was that she was not a quiet person. After a decade of enforced quiet, I loved that she kept the house filled with noise. She always had some story or town gossip to tell, or she was loudly seeking help with her crosswords, or she had music on, or the TV, or she was picking a fight with Jeremiah. I admired her ability to take up space in her own world.

I switched on the radio as I poured myself a cup of black coffee and drank down half of it, then refilled my cup. Out the window, I could see the sky was getting dark, those rolling thunderclouds that were still so strange to a California girl like me. It hadn’t started raining yet, but occasionally I heard thunder in the distance.

Footsteps on the stairs behind me surprised me. I turned to see Ruth herself tromping down them. Instead of her usual jeans, t-shirt, and ponytail, she wore a skirt, heels, and had her hair blown out.