DamionAfter getting up way earlier than I would have preferred, Oliver and I were both dragging a little. Thankfully, our bodies were still on east-coast time and it didn’t feel nearly as early as it had been when she’d rumbled the tractor by the window.It was a trick I was familiar with. My grandpa used to do the same damn thing when I would get home late. He hated the idea of sleeping in. He considered seven too late. No matter the day, the man was up and out of bed by five at the latest. Apparently, Alex was the same way.“Okay, are you ready?” I asked Oliver, who was sitting at the kitchen table, just finishing his cereal.He shrugged. “Do I have to?”“Yes, you have to. This school is going to be a lot different than your old school.”He put his bowl in the sink. “Don’t I have to wear my uniform?”I smiled, shaking my head. “Nope. Jeans and whatever shirt you choose is good enough.”“Do they have books?”“Absolutely. Today, we’ll go and just check things out. You don’t have to s
DamionMrs. Peters excused herself before Miss June came to stand beside me. “I’m really glad you’re back. Your grandfather always told us you’d be back one day.”I gulped down the lump in my throat. “I think he wanted me back sooner.”“Oh, don’t be too hard on yourself. He knew you needed to spread your wings and fly. He was so very proud of you. Every time I saw him in town or at one of the football games, he would catch me up on your life. I’m sorry things haven’t been easy for you, but I’m sure glad to finally get to meet that young man. He’s going to be fine here.”I nodded. “I have no doubt in my mind he will. I’m happy you’re still here. You made a huge difference in my life. Oliver is a lot like I was. He needs a lady like you.”“I’m only sorry I only get to have him in class a couple of months. Maybe I’ll hold him back so I can spend more time with him.”I chuckled. “Oliver is a smart kid and I’m not just saying that because I’m a proud daddy. He’s really smart. His last scho
AlexI parked my truck in front of the barn, hopping out with my work gloves in hand. I reminded myself I wasn’t going to make any judgments. I was going to be positive and professional. I could show the man what needed doing without wanting to strangle him. After all, I had survived Deke. I could survive this guy.Patience, I told myself. Lots of patience. I walked into the barn, greeting the horses as I set about tidying the place up. I had left in a hurry yesterday and had left things in a bit of disarray. Obviously, the new owner hadn’t bothered to clean it up. Instead of coming back to the farm, I had gone home and answered a few of the emails I had been putting off. I wasn’t ready to take a new job just yet, but I wanted to make sure I had a job when this one ended.I had a feeling it was going to be ending much sooner than I had initially planned. I was going to play nice, but there was nothing forcing Damion to return the favor. He’d been surly and a little too domineering for
AlexHe shook his head. “I’m afraid.”“You don’t have to be afraid. We’ll do it together. Hold out your hand, nice and flat.” He did as I asked, leaning his head away from his hand as far as his neck would stretch. I put the carrot in his palm. Fiona’s giant lips brushed across his palm as she picked up the carrot. He shrieked, yanking his hand away.“It’s okay,” I said. “Those were her lips. You’re okay.”He looked at his hand and then back at the horse. “I did it!”“Yes, you did. See, it’s not so bad.”“Good girl, Fiona,” he said to the horse.“But here’s the deal. You can never feed the horses by yourself. Not yet. You need to learn how to talk to them, how to touch them, and how to be safe around them. All right?”He nodded. “Okay.”I walked him around the barn, pointing out various tools and educating him about what he could and couldn’t touch. I had worked with kids before. Usually, they were used to the farm life and had a healthy fear of certain things, but with Oliver, it was
DamionI was going to take full advantage of Oliver being in trouble. We had a long talk about safety on the farm and I was confident my message had gotten through. I wasn’t going to hold him back from being a boy, like Alex had accused. She didn’t know me or my son. He wasn’t aware of the dangers. After we talked, he helped me go through more of my grandfather’s things. I had a few boxes of clothing for the donation center and a huge bag of what I was going to classify as rags.He’d gone to his room to read a bit ago. I hadn’t heard a peep from him. I quietly pushed open the bedroom door and saw he had passed out on his bed, his book lying next to him. I smiled as I watched him sleep. I pulled his favorite blanket over him and gently moved the book. I had known he was tired. It had been a busy week. I wouldn’t have minded a nap myself.I went to the living room, peeking out the window to see if Alex was still there. I hadn’t heard her truck start up. I had come inside and managed to
DamionShe grinned. “I’ve only worked for Oliver for a couple of months.”“How long have you been a hand?”She shot me a dirty look. “I’m not a hand,” she said the word as if it had been an insult. “I’m a fixer. People, farm and ranch owners, hire me to fix a farm that isn’t performing like it needs to be. Farms that are losing more money than they make or just need a little help getting things organized, that’s what I do.”“My grandfather was losing money?” I asked with surprise.“No, but things were in a bit of disarray. He’d lost his longtime farmhand and the other guys he had working for him were taking advantage of his kindness. They weren’t doing him any favors. Planting was delayed and things were just kind of a mess. I understand why now, but I didn’t then. I thought it was an old guy losing his steam. I didn’t know he was sick.”“Neither did I,” I told her. “He didn’t tell me he was sick. He showed up at my office out of the blue and I now realize he was saying goodbye. At th
AlexI looked in the rearview mirror, smiling when I saw the little black car eating the dust kicked up from my truck. Damion and Oliver were following behind me. I was looking forward to getting to know them both a little better. I wanted to know who I was leaving the farm to. I wanted to reassure myself it wasn’t going to fall apart the moment I walked away. Once I had that peace of mind, I could move on.I would miss the farm, but it was really Oliver Senior I would miss. He was gone and there was no reason for me to stick around. Oliver wanted his grandson to have the farm. It was my job to make sure Damion didn’t completely screw it all up.I pulled my truck into one of the spots in front of the restaurant and waited on the sidewalk while Damion got Oliver out of the backseat. Oliver was a really cute kid. I could see the intelligence in his blue eyes that were so much like his daddy and granddaddy’s. He even had the same leggy walk, his long arms swinging as he moved in a fluid
AlexHe wiped his mouth before answering. “About thirteen years. I left the summer I graduated.”I quickly did the math and pegged him to be thirty, maybe thirty-one. “College, or did you just leave to leave?”He laughed. “Maybe a little of both. I was born and raised here. Any vacations we took were to local towns. The farm never allowed my grandfather the chance to really get away for a week. The day I graduated, I felt like I sprouted wings. I couldn’t wait to spread them.”“Did you immediately go to New York?” I pressed, realizing I was essentially interviewing him. I told myself it was all part of me assuring he was ready for the farm.“I did. I went to NYU. Took a while but landed the job at the magazine and that’s where I’ve been.”I had to laugh. “So, you flew one coop only to find yourself locked in another?”He grinned. “I suppose that’s accurate, although my coop in New York was a little bigger and a little more eventful. I was young. I needed excitement. I craved the big c
AlexHe winked at me. “I was thinking I might get me a little place in Montana.”I felt tears well in my eyes. I fanned my face. “Wayne, that would be amazing.”“Yes, it would,” Damion chimed in. “We’ll have a house built for you on the farm.”“Damion!” I blurted out.“Oh no, I can’t ask you to do that,” Wayne said.“You didn’t ask. I offered. We would love to have you around. We’ll need a guest house eventually anyway.”I could see the emotion in Wayne’s eyes. “That’s a very kind offer. I’ll think on it. I don’t want to put anyone out.”“Wayne,” I said, reaching across the table and grabbing his hand. “It would be an honor to have you around.”He smiled. “You drive a hard bargain, missy,” he teased.“I certainly do.”“Montana is a great place to live,” Damion said. “I wish I would have realized it earlier. I wasted a lot of time. I don’t intend to do it again.”“Good, because I won’t let you get away from me quite so easily.”“I’m not going anywhere,” he said with a grin. “Montana is
AlexThree months laterI carried the big bowl of homemade potato salad to the back patio and placed it on the table. Betty popped her head up from where she was curled up on her bed in the corner and out of the way. She would get her leftover treats after the dinner, even though I told Wayne he shouldn’t feed her people food. My favorite men in the world were sitting around the table, chatting and talking about the early fall. I smiled at each of them before going back into the kitchen of Wayne’s house to grab the tray of burger toppings.We had driven down to spend the weekend with him before school started and our schedule got a lot less flexible. Damion had offered to buy plane tickets, but I couldn’t do it. I actually liked the drive. We all got to hang out and just talk. There was no escape when you were locked in a car with someone.My life was good. Better than good. The final puzzle pieces of my life had slid into place. I felt settled. I didn’t feel the need to run. I hadn’t
AlexI opened eyes I didn’t realize had been closed. I stared into his light blue gaze as he rose over me. My hands slid up his forearms and over his biceps, rubbing over the skin that was hot under my touch. He was just as affected as I was.His cock slid over my slick pussy before he carefully nudged forward, breaking through the folds and finding home. He pushed once, and our eyes locked as he joined his body with mine. I felt a tear slide down the side of my face as he pushed himself all the way inside my welcoming body.“Oh, Damion,” I breathed his name before my eyes slid closed and my body finally gave in to the need that had been holding me in a firm grip since his kisses started.“That’s it,” he coaxed, kissing the tip of my nose as my body arched and bucked under his. “That’s my girl. All mine. You’re mine.”I opened my eyes and found him staring at me from just a few inches away. He lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me until I could no longer think at all. I only felt. I
AlexI didn’t think I had ever been carried. Not like that anyway. I felt like a precious gift with the way he was looking at me. His gentleness was so much different than our usual way. It was strange and sweet at the same time.I watched as he pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor before stepping out of the shorts he was wearing. I could truly look at the man’s body all day. His thick cock stood loud and proud, promising great things.He was perfect in my eyes. Tall and now very tanned after all our long days working together at the farm. His muscles were more defined than what they were when he first showed up in Geraldine. He had changed. I had changed.“Looking at something?” he asked with a soft smile.“Just admiring the view from down here,” I answered.He reached down, not getting on the bed as he undid the button on my shorts. He pulled them and my panties down my legs before reaching for my arms and pulling me to a sitting position. My shirt was lifted o
DamionI smiled. “I don’t think the money will change me. At least, I hope it doesn’t. It hasn’t so far.”“What do you mean?”“I mean I had the money before I came back.”Her mouth dropped open. “What? You have it? I thought you said you had to wait six months.”I nodded. “I did. Or so I was told. When I went to Harvey to ask about the will and where the farm would go if I turned it down, he told me you and he had talked. He said you told him you were impressed with what I had done and that I was taking it seriously. I told him it didn’t matter and had him draw up the documents to give you the farm. I told him to give the money to charity or whatever. I was in New York when I got the documents in the mail saying the accounts had been transferred to my name. A rather large check was included.”She shook her head. “You turned down the money?”I nodded. “I did.”“But you have it now?”“I do. I’ll admit I bought the SUV with cash. It didn’t make sense to carry a loan and pay interest.”Sh
DamionI heard the knock on the door and walked out of my bedroom to answer it. Sadie was standing on the other side, a soft smile on her face.“Hi,” she greeted.“Hi,” I answered, pulling the door open for her. “I was just folding the last bit of laundry.”“You’re folding your own laundry?” she asked.I groaned. “She told you.”“She did. Of course, she did. There’s a reason I offered to babysit Oliver without you asking. You two need to talk and I’m here to make sure that happens.”“I appreciate it. And yes, I do my own laundry. I also clean toilets and sweep the floors. I’m still the same man I’ve always been.”“I believe you. Now you need to convince her of that.”I shook my head. “You make it sound like it’s easy.”“I think I smoothed the way for you, but if you screw it up, that’s on you.”I laughed. “Good to know. Oliver is in his room. I’m going to toss a load in the washer and then I’ll head out.”“Take your time. My schedule is clear. This could take a while. Don’t give up to
Alex“Sadie, this is real. I’m not kidding. He inherited a fortune. The only reason he is here is to get that fortune.”“Did he say he wanted to leave?”“No, but—”She held up a hand. “Exactly. He came back for you.”I slapped a hand on the table. “This is what I’m trying to explain to you. He didn’t come back for me. He came back for the money.”“Do you honestly think he would jerk his kid back and forth across the country for the money? I don’t know him half as well as you do, but even I know he lives and breathes for that boy. He isn’t going to do anything that would hurt Oliver. He knows Oliver likes it here. Oliver couldn’t stop talking about how much he missed you when they were gone. How much Damion missed you. It’s real, Alex. Very real. Before you push him away, ask yourself if you’re really being rational.”I leaned back in my seat. “You’re being harsh.”“I’m sorry, but I have to be. I can’t let you ruin this. He’s so good for you. You don’t see how different you are with hi
AlexI glanced in the bathroom mirror as I washed my hands and face. I looked like hell. I wasn’t interested in showering. Not yet. I piled my hair on top of my head in a messy bun. Not cute messy but legit messy. I slid my slippered feet along the floor as I made my way to the kitchen. I needed coffee. A lot of coffee. I hadn’t slept much at all. Two nights of no sleep was wreaking havoc on me.There was a knock on my door just as I was starting my coffee. I slowly walked over to see who it was.“I see you,” Sadie called.“You can’t see through wood,” I told her.“Open the door.”“I’m not decent,” I retorted.“No shit. Open it anyway.”I sighed, unlocking the door and pulling it open, expecting the comments about the state of my appearance. “What are you doing here?” I asked.“Wow. This is a bad one. Have you showered this week?” She curled her lip. “I can flip you on your head and mop the floor with all that oil in your hair.”“That’s really not very nice,” I retorted.“You don’t lo
Damion“With that kind of money, I think you can certainly buy love.”“Not real love. I didn’t want some woman faking it.”“Do you think Alex is like that?” he asked, his tone slightly accusing.“Not at all,” I answered. “She’s the real deal. I know she loves Oliver and he loves her.”He was quiet for a few seconds. “Does she know you already have the money?”I shrugged. “I’m not sure. It seemed like she thought I had it or was going to be getting it soon.”“You didn’t tell her you had it before you came back the second time?”I slowly shook my head. “No. It seemed pointless. Alex is stubborn. When she gets something in her head, there’s no dislodging it. I didn’t see any point in arguing. She wasn’t going to believe a word I said. She’s convinced I’ve been lying to her from day one. Anything I said was going to be rejected. I didn’t want to stick around and listen to her insult me or what we had. I didn’t want to get mad and say something I would regret. I left.”“You do that a lot,”