She looked up at me from beneath those long lashes. “Morning.”
I poured myself a cup, standing beside her as she leaned against the cluttered countertop. “What’s on deck for today?”
“Work. My day is slammed with meetings at the courthouse. You?”
“We’re moving cattle today.”
These were usually my favorite days on the ranch, when I was in the saddle all day. I’d be up at dawn, itching to go. But I was already late to get started. The sun was up and I was sure the guys were already at the barn, saddling horses. Meanwhile, I was still in yesterday’s clothes and bare feet. Every morning I lingered here, in Winn’s kitchen, for just a bit longer than the previous day.
“What are you doing this weekend?” I sipped from my mug.
“I’ll probably go and spend some time with Pops. Maybe do some work, and hopefully a piece of furniture or two will show up today.”
This was how our mornings for the past week had gone. We’d wake up early and she’d come out here and make a pot of coffee while I rinsed off the scent of sex with a quick shower. Then we’d stand in the kitchen, talking about our upcoming days, delaying the inevitable exit when I went my way and she went hers.
We had an unspoken understanding. She had her plans. I had mine. But later, we’d come together.
“I ran into Frank yesterday at the grocery store,” she said, glancing up.
“And what did the asshole have to say?”
“Be nice.” She elbowed my ribs. “He was not overly happy to hear that we were sleeping together.”
“People are talking.” Just like I’d expected they would. Whether it came from Emily or someone else, it had only been a matter of time. “You good?”
“I’m good.” She nodded. “He asked if we were a couple. I reminded him that I was an adult, it was none of his business, and I could make my own decisions.”
I grinned and took another sip, wishing I could have seen Frank’s face when she told him to butt the fuck out. She might be one of the few people in this town not rattled by gossip.
Eventually it might wear on her. I’d dealt with it my whole life, but this was new to Winn.
“I’m not big on labels, but if you need one, if that would make it easier to field questions . . .”
She lifted a shoulder. “I just got out of an eight-year relationship. I think the only label I need right now is single.”
“Fair enough.” I’d gladly enjoy the hell out of the sex.
“But maybe we should put a limit on it. Just to keep the boundaries in place. Keep talk to a minimum.”
A limit? I hated this idea already. “To what?”
“I don’t know. Once a week?”
I scoffed and took a drink. “How about you come out to the ranch tonight? There’s a lot less traffic going past my house than there is yours.”
“So that’s a no on the limit.”
I set my mug down, took hers from her hand and picked her up, earning a little gasp as I set her on the counter. Her legs were bare and the sleepshirt she’d pulled on this morning rode up those lean thighs.
“That’s a hard no.” I pressed in close, dragging my hands up her legs before pushing them apart so I could settle between them. My cock, in a constant state of arousal when it came to her, strained against the zipper of my jeans.
“What time do you have to leave?” She brought her hands to my cheeks, pulling my lips to hers.
“Later,” I murmured, letting her control this kiss.
Yes, I was busy. But somehow there always seemed time for this.
Her tongue dragged across my lower lip. Her taste, infused with coffee, broke on my tongue when she slid hers past my teeth.
My hands left her legs to unfasten my jeans. Then I pushed her panties to the side and drove into her tight body. “So. Damn. Good.”
Winn wrapped her arms around my shoulders and raised her legs, her heels digging into the small of my back. She clung to me as I drove into her again, skin slapping skin the only sound other than our ragged breaths.
We went for it. Hard. Whenever I thought to ease up, her heels would dig in deeper, urging me on. A whimper escaped her lips before her inner walls fluttered. Then she came on a cry, pulse after pulse, her orgasm triggering my own, and we flew over the edge together.
I held her in my arms as the rush subsided, my nose buried in her hair. Her scent clung to my skin, and for a moment, I forgot what life had been like before this.
The sex. The heat. The woman.
Maybe we did need a limit. Every time we were together, I wanted two more. And one day, I was going to have to cut this off. Before feelings got tangled and we had a mess to unravel.
Maybe it was too late to avoid the mess.
I pulled free and tucked myself away, and this time when I met her brilliant blue eyes, I didn’t let myself lean in to kiss her goodbye. “Tonight.”
“Bye.” She shoved a lock of hair out of her face as she hopped off the counter.
I showed myself out of the house and the cool morning air felt crisp against my overheated skin. The drive home was quiet, the streets mostly deserted at this early hour. But when I got to the ranch, there was a bustle of activity waiting.
Five vehicles were parked in front of my house. Four belonged to hired men. One was my mother’s Cadillac.
I parked and hustled to the front door. The smell of coffee greeted me from inside, and I followed my nose to the kitchen, where Mom was staring out the window that overlooked the backyard.
“Morning, Mom.” I put my arm around her for a sideways hug.
“You smell like a woman.”
“Because I was with a woman.”
She sighed. “From what your father says, Winslow Covington is a good cop and is good for Quincy.”
“I would agree.” I let Mom go and moved to the cupboard to pull out my own coffee mug and fill it from the pot.
“Are you—” She held up a hand before she could finish her question. “Actually, never mind. I don’t really want to know. I promised myself when you kids graduated from high school that I’d stay out of your love lives. And frankly, I prefer it that way.”
I chuckled. “What are you up to today?”
“Hiding.”
“From?”
“Your father. He’s mad at me.” She blew out a deep breath. “We got into a fight about Briggs.”
“Uh-oh. What happened?”
“I went up to the cabin yesterday afternoon. I made a couple of pies and thought he’d like one. Griffin . . .” She shook her head. “When you told us about him, I believed you, but I didn’t think it had gotten that bad. I knocked on his door and he had no clue who I was. Not a damn clue.”
“Shit. Sorry, Mom.”
She sniffled and dabbed at the corner of her eye. “He’s my brother too. Has been since I married your father. Seeing him like that is heartbreaking.”
“I know.” I pulled her into my side.
“Don’t take your mind for granted, Griffin. Or your heart. They are your gifts. And they are not guaranteed from one day to the next.” She sniffled again, then held up her chin. Because that was my mother. She walked through life with her chin held high. “Your dad is in denial. When I told him what happened with Briggs, he didn’t believe me. He made an excuse that since I had my hair up, I looked different.”