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Shit.
Before I could reply, the heavy tread of footsteps in the hallway signaled a visitor. A moment later, Bowen appeared, with his hat in his hand.
“My apologies for interrupting like this, sir,” he said. Then he nodded at Avery. “Mornin’, Miss Avery.”
“Hey, Bowen,” Avery replied, with a sudden hint of pink in her cheeks. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Would you like some coffee?”
“No, thank you. I came to talk to your father.” Bowen shifted his attention to me. “A mountain lion stampeded the cattle last night in the north pasture. Busted a fence. I’ve got Beau, Cody, and a few other ranch hands rounding up the missing cattle in the woods. I came back for supplies to mend the fence and I’m heading out there now.”
I scrubbed a hand over my mouth and set aside my mug, coffee forgotten as I switched into business mode.
“I’ll ride out with you.”
Bowen swept his gaze over me, assessing the same way Avery did a minute ago. I was unkempt, half-dressed, and nowhere near prepared to face the day. He was a wise man though, and decided to hold his tongue instead of cracking a wise-ass remark about the boss sleeping in when there was work to be done. With a firm nod, he placed his hat back on his head, and walked out.
When I returned to my bedroom, Birdie sat up, rubbing her eyes. I grabbed my boots, cursing myself that I didn’t bring a cup of coffee back with me at least.
“I have to go,” I said. “Mountain lion in the area. Cattle got out. Some of them might be injured or dead. Could you—?”
I broke off when I realized what I was about to say.
Could you see yourself out?
God, that was absolutely not how I wanted to end the night we’d shared together. But it was too late. Birdie must have sensed something had changed because she turned away, hugging the sheets protectively around her body when she hadn’t been that modest earlier.
“It’s all right,” she said. “I get it.”
I stood there like an idiot as Birdie disappeared into the adjoining bathroom. When she shut the door behind her, I cursed myself for ruining the mood.
I’d make it up to her later.
After I was dressed, I approached the bathroom door and rapped on it with two knuckles.
“Birdie? I’m heading out. I’ll call you tonight, okay?”
No response.
“Birdie?”
“That’s fine.”
I hesitated at the tightness of her tone. This is how it started before, with my ex-wife.
You’re always obsessed with those damn cattle! Why didn’t you marry one of them instead?
I gritted my teeth, torn between my livelihood—the thing I knew best—and the woman I loved. In the end, it was really no contest. Birdie won by a landslide. She always would. And that’s why I needed to work. To build a life for her—for us—that would bring her comfort and everything she ever wanted. So she didn’t have to work another day in her life if she didn’t want to. So I could wake her up with my hands and my tongue and my cock every morning.
“I promise I will call,” I said, one final, desperate attempt to reach her.
Birdie said nothing.
Damn it. How could I make a mess of all this in such a short amount of time?
Reluctantly, I left the house. Bowen had my horse saddled by the barn, ready and waiting as he presented the reins to me. I took them, grateful for the familiar smoothness of worn leather in my grip.
The slam of a door caught my attention.
I looked up to see Birdie hurrying toward her truck. She didn’t look my way.
