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“That’s a good man you got there.” Mama hugs me.
“I know, Mama. He has no idea about all of this,” I wave my hand around, “and yet, he’s jumping in to help me get the stalls cleaned, asking questions. It makes my heart melt.”
“Well, if he didn’t do any of that, your dad would have run him off long ago.” She laughs.
“Ugh, Dad’s not taking him out there to give him the ‘I can put your body somewhere they’ll never find you’ is he?”
“I doubt it since they’ve already had that man-to-man talk the first time y’all were here.”
“Mama!”
She grins and tugs me around to the side of the house. “Don’t be surprised.”
“Admittedly, I’m not.” It’s my turn to laugh. I know my dad, after all.
Chapter 8
Dean
I’ve never been so glad for fall break before. A week of waking up when I want, with my girl in my arms. It sounds like heaven.
I walk into the house, put my keys on the hook in the closet, and drop my bag to the floor before shutting the door. I spot Stanley lying along the entry tabletop. I scrub my fingers through his fur. “Where is Ness, huh?” He grabs my arm, his paws holding it where he can try to bite me. I flick him on the head. “No biting, you asshole.” I rub his neck, and his teeth disappear. I chuckle at his antics.
A few minutes later, he tries to bite again, so I pull my hand back and walk away. Climbing the stairs, the bedroom my goal destination, I pull my tie loose and undo the cuffs of my shirt. It’s almost seven, the sun has been down for a bit, and truthfully, I think I just want a nap.
I had to be at the college early this morning for a staff meeting, then held three classes. I had meetings in my office with a few of my struggling newbies. They’ll get it, it’s just taking some extra time for them to grasp it all.
I make it into the bedroom and start stripping. Ness walks out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.
“Well, hello, gorgeous.” I move closer, pulling her against my chest. My mouth claims hers in a heated kiss.
“I am so glad the next week is just you, me, and the bed.”
“Hmm, is that a promise?”
“Of course, it is.” I lift her up, walk her to the bed, and use two fingers to undo the towel holding her body hostage from me. “Perfection.”
“You should have seen me thirty minutes ago. Sweaty, covered in barn yuck, and panting like a marathon runner. Hay bales are heavy.”
“How about a massage?”
“Oh, yes, please. That sounds heavenly.”
“Climb up and lay on your stomach. I’ll be right back.”
She does as I ask while I go into the bathroom to grab what I need. I light a few candles and place them in safe places around the room. I strip to my boxers, grab a bottle of oil and a warm washcloth. I climb up onto the bed, straddling her legs. I lay the folded cloth on the back of her neck before I put some of the oil in my palm and rub my hands together, letting my body heat warm the oil.
My hands go to her back, running up and down, the heel of my hands rubbing the tightness there, in those overworked muscles. Her soft groans make me smile. I keep my movements steady. The heel of my hands running along her spine now.
“God bless you…” she groans out.
Chuckling, I put more pressure into my hand movements. “What were you doing out in the barn?”
“Mucking stalls, filling feed buckets, you know, the usual.” I hit a spot in her shoulders that’s tight; I work it, keeping the movements hard but not enough to hurt her. “Please don’t stop…that feels amazing.”
I do just as she asks, I keep going, working her muscles until she’s a limp noodle under me. Then I move to her legs, massaging her thighs, working the tired, sore muscles. I slide off of her and pat her backside. “Roll over.”
“The oil.”
