Page 48 of Rain or Shine
Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes are still half closed, and she looks so goddamn beautiful sitting on the tailgate of my truck with the late morning sun cutting across her face that it does something to my chest I still haven't figured out how to name. She all but radiates with the sun beaming down on her, and it has nothing to do with the pregnancy glow people always talk about.
"Okay," she says quietly, and that one word from her does more than she'll ever know.
Last night, she'd given me the answers I wanted her to give willingly. I might have pushed, but it was her choice to trust me with it. I knew I'd somehow earned her trust.
Just as she’s worked her way through my walls. It didn’t take long, and all she’d done was be herself. Show who she really is. There’s not a manipulative bone in her body. It’s clear as day she’s simply just Delaney. A woman who has been hurt by loss and fears for those she could still lose.
I understand it. I felt the fear of losing my son once, and I’m grateful he survived through it.
With all that she’s endured the last several weeks, everything, including me being a total dick toward her, is undeserving. I intend to see that she doesn’t go through more.
She's mine, mine to protect. So are the twins, just as my son is. That's not something I take lightly. Nor will I ever.
"You ready?" I ask her, smoothing my thumb across her cheekbone before I step back and give her room to slide off the tailgate.
"Ready when you are," she says, and there's that smirk again.
I shake my head and whistle over to the guys. "We're heading out. Y’all good from here?"
Grant waves me off without even looking up from where he's crouched at one of the posts we were replacing. "Get out of here. Don't do anything I wouldn't."
"Don't go knocking anyone up," Beau jokes, looking between us. "Wait, you already did that. Go get your girl a milkshake."
"I'm gonna kick his ass for that one," I mutter as Delaney blushes.
"Does he always joke about that?" she asks, her hand resting on her small bump that only I know she sports already.
"Yeah, that’s just Beau being Beau," I tell her and kiss the tip of her nose. "Down you go." I grip her waist and lift her off the tailgate, making sure she is good before letting her go.
I toss all the tools in the tool bag and shove it back enough to close the tailgate. With one hand at Delaney's back, I guide herto the truck and help her in the passenger seat before closing the door for her.
I need to finish the rest of my to-do list so I can be done for the day. As much as I love this job, there’s more to life now than just my son.
I start my truck and put her in gear, doing my best not to leave any ruts in my wake. The last thing we need is to leave potential hazards for the bison.
“You know you didn’t have to bring me along today. I could have found something to do at the house,” Delaney remarks and takes a sip of her water.
“You saying you haven’t had a good day?” I ask in return, cocking a brow in her direction.
“It’s been a great day, but I’m sure it’s not ideal for me to be here with you constantly. You have a lot to do.”
“You’re right, I do. I just don’t want you sitting around bored without anything to do.”
“There’s plenty I can be doing. Your flowerbeds are in much direr need of help. Not to mention the house could use another cleaning.”
“Sweetheart, you’re not going to clean my house top to bottom every damn day.”
“No, I’m not, but I’m just using it as an example. I mean, what I'm saying is I’m not helpless.”
“I know you’re not. And Maddox gave me a suggestion on something you could do to help out. Della’s swamped with all the branding and marketing of the dude ranch. She could probably use some help.”
“I’d love to help her, but only if she actually wants it. I don’t want you throwing me at her as a solution to a problem.”
“I wouldn’t do that to you.” I wouldn’t, but hearing her now, I get where she’s coming from and that maybe I lied a bit to Maddox. She’s got one hell of a steel will of her own.
***
"You didn't tell me you were coming to the arena," Mammon grumbles, talking to his sister, before casting a glower in my direction. The man still isn't thrilled over me getting his little sister pregnant.
