Page 79 of Indigo Ridge (The Edens 1)

As the community migrated off Main and to the fairgrounds, my family managed to get together. We gathered in our family’s regular seats for the rodeo. The coffee shop was closed. So was Knox’s restaurant. Eloise’s staff at the hotel was on duty, so we could come together for a few beers and hot dogs.

The Quincy rodeo was a standing tradition, much like Christmas or Thanksgiving. It was one of the few events we always made sure to attend together, even if that meant closing shop. Except that evening, surrounded by my family, a piece was missing.

I hadn’t realized until late in the evening, when I’d glanced across the arena and found Winn at the fence, that the missing piece was her.

Another shift.

She belonged by my side, not standing alone.

Especially not yesterday.

I wished I had known about her parents. She’d probably worked all day yesterday as a distraction. Today, if all I could do was keep the distractions coming, then I’d bust my ass to make it happen.

“Your hair dryer is nicer than mine. I might have to steal it,” she said, coming down the hallway from the master bedroom.

After we’d come inside from the rocking chair, I’d taken her to the bedroom for a couple of orgasms before hopping into the shower. While I’d dressed and come to the kitchen to brew coffee, she’d gotten ready too.

Normally she went home to shower. Not today. Today, she wasn’t leaving my sight.

“The hair dryer is Talia’s doing.” I chuckled and handed her a steaming mug. “Sometimes my sisters will crash here if we have a family function at the ranch. Saves them from driving into town if they’ve gotten into my parents’ liquor cabinet. Talia decided that since they’re the only people who use the guest bedrooms, they might as well have stuff here to get ready the next morning.”

Winn sipped her coffee. “That’s sweet that you let them stay.”

I shrugged. “I’m a lot like my dad when it comes to my sisters. Twisted around their little fingers.”

“Also sweet.”

“How about eggs for breakfast?” I walked to the fridge. “Bacon or sausage?”

“Either. Can I help?”

I shook my head and took out the sausage. “Have a seat.”

She slid into a stool at the island, watching while I made a quick scramble. With it plated, I sat beside her, the two of us eating quietly. I wasn’t one to talk much when there was food in front of me. I liked that she didn’t either.

Wait. Was this the first meal we’d shared? I stopped chewing and glanced at her profile.

“What?” she asked, grabbing a napkin to wipe her lips.

“We haven’t eaten together before.”

“There was lunch my first day at work.”

“That doesn’t count.”

“Then, no, I guess we haven’t. We usually skip the dinner dates and go straight for the bed.”

Sex had always come first. But it felt like we should have been sharing meals for weeks. That I should have taken her out on a proper date, like dinner at Knox’s restaurant or my favorite steakhouse outside of town. “Maybe we should toss in a dinner date.”

She held my gaze for a minute, like she was trying to decide if I was teasing.

“I’m serious.”

Her eyes softened. “Okay.”

“How about we

do some exploring today?” I asked after we’d both finished eating.