Chapter 13

Ashlynn

I was heading to my loft to shower and change, the exhaustion of a days hard work settling into my bones. Dawson grabbed me by the hand as I was about to enter the breezeway to my stairs. "Hey Ash, want to come to my place after you shower? I've got a beer with your name on it. I was also thinking, unless you have other plans, I have a couple steaks I can throw on, and some sides." I smiled up at him.

"Sounds great. Thirty minutes work for you?" I asked. He nodded yes. "Great see you then." I pulled my hand from his and ran up the stairs to shower and change. I really wanted to get the grime of the day off my body and feel clean, before anything else.

I showered, brushed out my hair and threw on a sundress and sandals. I needed to feel like a girl, even if it was just for a few hours. I rarely wore sundresses, but I was so over feeling hot and sticky, and this felt light and cool. I decided to just leave my hair down, my long waves tumbling down my back. It was getting pretty long, nearing my waist. I decided I should probably think about going into town and finding a salon to get it cut before I was sitting on it.

I made my way across the yard to Dawson's, saying a quick hello to Buck and Bailey before going out to the back of the barn and climbing the steps to his door. As I went to knock, the door flew open and he pulled me inside and slammed the door shut. "What the heck.." I couldn't even finish my sentence before his lips were on mine and he had pulled me close to him. He was barefoot, in a pair of dark Levi's and a black t-shirt that hugged all of his muscles, leaving little to my imagination. As he pulled me tight against him, my whole body felt flush and tingles raced all over.

Dawson's hands were roaming all over my back, one slipped down and pulled my hips into his. I could feel his erection between the thin material of my dress. I didn't pull away, I pushed my hips into his more, feeling intensely turned on by his demanding kiss and the feel of our bodies rubbing against one another. I heard a low growl from his throat, and then he pulled away, a grin on his face. "I don't suppose we will be eating dinner if we keep that up," and he moved away from me to walk into his kitchen. I had to catch my breath, and I immediately clenched my thighs together, hoping he didn't notice my arousal.

I walked around his living room, and it was decorated like you'd expect a mans place to look. He had a dark leather sofa and wood coffee table. A big double arm chair and a large flat screen tv hanging on the wall. There were various family photos on the wall and a large painting of a horse running across a prairie over his couch. It was nice, understated and clean.

I took a seat on the couch, tucking my legs up under me. I saw the slider was open to his balcony and there was a grill out there heating up. Dawson came out of the kitchen with a tray of steaks and a beer in his hand. He handed me the beer, then made his way out to the balcony. I watched him work, putting the steaks on the grill after he made sure the grill was hot. He came back inside and went back to the kitchen. A couple seconds later he walked into the living room with his own beer. "So what do you think of my place? Not as big and posh as yours."

I took a sip of my beer, looking up at him from under my lashes. "It's cozy. Very masculine, as I'd expect."

He tilted his head towards the slider, "Care to sit on the balcony with me? The sun will be setting soon and it's a great view of it from here." That sounded amazing to me, so I climbed off the sofa and followed him out to his balcony. He had two adirondack chairs and a little table between them. He motioned for me to sit and I did. He took up the seat next to me that was closest to the grill, so he could keep an eye on the steaks.

"So how long have you worked here?" I asked him.

He shrugged, "Since I was 18. My father used to be the ranch foreman. He trained me to take over when he was ready to retire. I was still part of my Mom's pack, I hadn't quite pledged to this one. The Alpha saw me handle horses at a trade show in Montana, and he gave my father the go-ahead to retire. He and my Mom have a little house there, just right for them. They also spend time at my Mom's pack in Idaho, more there than here. Dad still works a little over at the ranch supply store, but otherwise he's pretty much retired."

I smiled at that. It must be nice to feel so grounded. "That sounds pretty great. This ranch is beautiful. It must have been something to grow up here."

"It's a great place to raise a family," Dawson is searching my face and I get the impression that there is more meaning behind that statement. I just raise my eyebrow at him and take a sip of my beer.

We sit in silence for a little while. It's never really awkward with us. I always feel like we can sit and say nothing, but still value the moments we are sitting together. It's calming to be around Dawson. My wolf sighs in my head like a love sick puppy.

"I'd like you to meet them," Dawson pulls me out of my thoughts.

"Umm I'm sorry, what?" I wasn't expecting that, so he definitely caught me by surprise.

Dawson stands up to flip the steaks on the grill, then plops back into the chair next to me. "My parents. I'd like you to meet them. They would love you." He's grinning ear to ear. I can't help but think about how his smiling makes me catch my breath. How could a man be so beautiful, yet so rugged at the same time.

"Oh, I didn't realize we were at that point yet Dawson. I mean we haven't even been on a real date," I'm joking with him. We both work to much for dates, aside from this little dinner right here.

"I guess we haven't," he says with a pensive look on his face. "I'm going to have to rectify that I suppose."

"Hmmm, are you now?" I'm teasing him now, but he's taking it seriously.

"Would you go out with me Saturday night? Dinner in town. Maybe we can find something fun to do after that. A movie or a walk around the lake?" He's got a hopeful look on his face and I can't say no to that.

"I'd love to Dawson, thank you. " I feel warm and happy. "There's nothing I'd like more than to spend an evening with you."

"It's a date then," he smacks his hand on his thigh, then hops up to pull the steaks off the grill. He turns to me with a smile, "dinners ready, let's go inside and eat."

We sit at his little table for two. He's managed to pull out some coleslaw, a pan of baked beans and rolls from the kitchen and sets them on the table. "Oh you've been busy, " I exclaim.

We settle into our food, and as simple as it is, it's delicious. "It's really good Dawson, did you make all this yourself?"

"I did. My Mom taught me how to cook. She said no son of hers would be eating microwave meals and that I shouldn't depend on the pack house cooks all the time. Gotta be self sufficient and all." He says it with pride, puffing out his chest like he just beat the biggest wolf in a fight.

"I think that's a very nice quality. I could get used to this, you can cook for me anytime," I wink at him. "You want to be my man maid?" The look on his face has me cracking up.

"Woman, I won't be your maid, but I will sure be your man." He stands from the table and takes my hand. "Come on, the sun is setting, let's go watch it." As we walk out to his balcony, his sits on the first chair and pulls me into his lap. And he's right, The sunset is amazing. The sky is a mesh of pinks and oranges, the sun's ball of fire setting over the mountain range. The ridge line is dotted with trees that fade into the majestic hues of the suns dying light. It was breathtaking. I let out a sigh and snuggled myself against Dawson's chest. I felt content. I felt peace. It was something I hadn't known since I was a child. This was where I was meant to be.