Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 110360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
It was her.
Her head tilted back, eyes on me. Lip caught between her teeth. So much heat in her eyes, I could feel it through the damn screen.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, dragging a hand down my face.
Yeah, I definitely didn’t need to see that.
I also didn’t need to spend the rest of the night staring at it until I eventually wrapped my hand around my cock, imagining what it would be like to strip her naked and bury myself between her thighs.
“You coming?” she called.
My head snapped up to find her standing at the car door, one hand on the handle, the other shielding her eyes from the sun. Those damn overalls had no business being that sexy.
“Yeah,” I replied, shoving my phone back into my pocket.
And a few hours later, still staring at that damn picture in the small barn bathroom, I absolutely was.
13
LOFTON
I had a little extra pep in my step that morning as I headed to the barn, carrying a mug of coffee and a plate of waffles covered in strawberry jam.
And this wasn’t just any jam. This was the recipe for decadence that my mother used to make in enormous pots every summer until her fingers were stained red and the whole house smelled like a candy shop. We had exactly three containers left in the deep freeze from her final batch. I didn’t know why, but it felt like the right time to thaw one out.
I hadn’t seen Devon again since our run-in with Sebastian. When I’d gotten back to the house, Daddy had been out in the barn, fixing a paddock gate with a butter knife. Why a butter knife? No clue. However, Devon had dropped me off and then promptly disappeared. I’d taken dinner out for him, but had to leave it in the barn fridge when I couldn’t find him. I’d even had a glass of wine on the porch, hoping to spot him in the hayloft. He hadn’t been there either.
I considered texting him to see where he was, but technically I didn’t need him for anything. Even if I wanted him.
Heat crept up my neck as I thought about the way Devon held me. His hand at the back of my thigh, warm and possessive. It hadn’t been calculated or part of Bodyguard 101. Marty sure as hell had never touched me like that.
It had been intoxicating, the way his presence anchored me. And then, when I’d moved beside him, his arm falling across my shoulder before sliding to my hip, I’d never felt so safe. Not the kind of safe that came from locks and gates and security systems. I’d had that my whole life with Marty.
This was different. Devon was different. My body had known it before my brain could even catch up. That was the part I couldn’t quite shake.
The way my pulse had spiked.
My skin warming right along with it.
Just for a second, I’d wondered what it would feel like if he had brought his head down only a few inches more and—
I sucked in a breath.
Dammit, Lofton, focus. You’re bringing him breakfast, not your dignity on a silver platter. Appealing as that thought may be.
The barn was alarmingly empty as I walked inside. Devon and I had settled into a rhythm. Every morning, I’d text him before I left the house, and we’d meet up in the barn. He’d already have the feed buckets lined up, I’d trade him for breakfast, and while I took care of the horses, he’d sit on Zoey’s trunk and moan his appreciation with every bite.
It had quickly become my favorite part of the day.
“Devon,” I called.
His footsteps caused hay particles to fall like snow through the wooden slats of the loft above. “Coming down,” he called.
Smiling, I eagerly waited to see what mouthwatering masterpiece the universe had brought me that day. He exited the hay room in another pair of faded jeans and pale-yellow tank top that made his tan skin glow. His shoulders were darker now, bearing a fresh kiss from the sun, and his boots finally looked like they’d seen more than just the inside of a closet.
He came to a hard stop when he saw me, forward momentum rocking him slightly as his feet locked in place. His gaze raked down my body—quick but thorough.
That more than made my three a.m. alarm worth it.
Yes, I was aware that it was ridiculous to do my hair and makeup before feeding the horses. But, maybe for the same reason I’d thawed my mother’s strawberry jam, I’d put a little extra effort into my appearance that day.
Rather than my normal whatever-the-hell-my-hand-touched-in-the-dark attire, I’d gone with a pair of black, high-waist leggings that made my ass look incredible and paired them with a white sports bra—heavy on the bra, less so the sports. I wore a mesh long-sleeved crop over it that did absolutely nothing other than add a layer of sexiness.