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I lay back down, pulling her close again, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. "One step at a time," I echoed, kissing her forehead softly.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Heather
The first touch of morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. I stirred, the warmth of Danny’s arms around me guarding me against the chill of the morning air that slipped under the slightly open window. For a moment, I simply allowed myself to enjoy the comfort of his embrace, the memory of last night’s passion still vivid in my mind. Yet, as the reality of our situation crept in, a tinge of concern knotted in my stomach.
Gently disentangling myself from his arms, I slipped out of bed, throwing on a robe as I glanced back to see Danny still sleeping, his face relaxed. The sight brought a fleeting smile to my face, but the weight of what lay ahead pressed heavily on me. I padded quietly into the kitchen, setting about making breakfast. The clatter of pans and the sizzle of bacon soon filled the air, grounding me in the routine and pushing the complexity of our relationship to the back of my mind.
As the coffee brewed, I turned as Danny entered the kitchen, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Morning," he said, his voice rough with sleep. He moved to the counter, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"Morning," I replied, focusing on flipping a pancake. "Sleep well?"
"Best I've had in a while," he said, the hint of a deeper meaning in his words not lost on me. He leaned against the counter, watching me for a moment. "Smells good."
"Thanks," I said, offering a quick smile before sliding the pancakes onto a plate. I set them on the table along with the bacon and eggs, then sat opposite him.
As we ate, the silence was comfortable, but it was clear we had things to discuss. "So, about the investigation," I started, breaking the silence. "What’s our next move?"
Danny took a sip of his coffee, his gaze thoughtful. "We need to follow up on the information from that informant. If what he says pans out, it could lead us to the higher-ups in the operation."
I nodded, pushing around a piece of bacon on my plate. "And the employees named in the files... should we bring them in for questioning?"
"Not yet," he said carefully. "We need more evidence before we can make a move. We don’t want to tip anyone off."
"Right," I agreed. "We need to be careful, make sure we’re thorough."
Danny’s eyes met mine. "We will be. We’ll do this right, Heather."
The conversation shifted then to lighter topics—plans for the ranch, the daily chores, anything but the tension that lingered over us.
He stood, collecting the dishes. "Thanks for breakfast," he said, his voice carrying a hint of the intimacy from last night.
"Just... thank you, Danny. For being here," I said, my voice softer than I intended.
He nodded, a complex emotion flickering across his face. "I’ll head back to the station, see if I can dig up more on those names."
As he left, I stood at the window, watching him drive away. The ranch stretched out before me, peaceful and unsuspecting. A part of me longed to go back to before all this, but another part was awakened, alert and engaged. Whatever lay ahead, I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but at least now, I wasn’t facing it alone.
The morning air was crisp, with a hint of the coming change in seasons, as I stepped onto the porch. The tranquility of the ranch was disturbed by Tyler's voice calling out, sharp against the calm. I turned, my heart tightening a notch at his expression—hard, guarded.
"What's up?" I asked, trying to sound casual, but my voice betrayed a hint of apprehension.
Tyler stopped a few feet away, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans, his gaze fixed somewhere near my feet before meeting my eyes. "I need to take that horse back to the ranch in Wisconsin," he said, his tone flat. "I'll be leaving tomorrow morning."
The news hit me with mixed emotions. Part of me was sad, realizing that whatever undefined thing was growing between us would be paused, maybe indefinitely. Another part, a more rational side, felt a wave of relief. With Tyler gone, I could sort through the tangled emotions that last night with Danny had complicated further.
"That's sudden, isn't it?" I managed, forcing a lightness I didn't feel.
Tyler shrugged, a shadow passing over his face. "It's just the timing of things. They need him back, and I'm the only one free to do it."
I nodded, understanding the unspoken words between us. His glance back at the house, possibly catching the last of Danny's departure, wasn't lost on me. "I'm going to miss you," I said honestly, allowing the truth of that statement to hang between us.
"Yeah," he replied, his voice softening just a touch. "Me too."
The silence that followed was thick, filled with all the things we weren't saying. Tyler finally broke it, stepping a bit closer. "Heather, I know things are... complicated with you and Danny." His use of Danny's name was reluctant, a clear sign of his feelings. "Just be careful, okay? I don't trust that guy."
I felt a sting at his words, not because they were cruel but because they came from a place of concern. "I know you don't, but Danny's helping with a lot right now. And last night..." I paused, unsure how much to reveal.
