Chapter Fourteen—Swayze

She woke the next morning, realizing first that everything that had played in her dreams wasn’t a dream. The night before had happened, and every move she made, she could still feel his weight against her. And those soft whispers well into midnight.

Bringing her fingers to her mouth, she could feel the bruised skin, loving that he’d kissed her until she became handsy, not being able to take another minute of the torture.

Swayze smiled, sitting up to inspect the damage of her bunched-up dress when she heard arguing and the sound of flesh hitting flesh.

Scurrying upward, she wrapped one of the comforters around her shoulders, peeking around the corner to see a rumble of two men fighting on the ground.

What in the…

Swayze turned the corner to face them, watching as the two brothers went at it like teenagers. She felt the need to stop them, but looking at the hulking cowboys, she knew better.

So, she walked toward the side of the barn where a water hose was hooked to a faucet that ran from the side. Grabbing the hose, she dropped the comforter and dragged the hose close enough to spray them.

Kaden yelled first, jumping up from the ground where he’d been trying to put Mont into a choke hold, his shirt stuck to him like glue.

Mont didn’t move from the ground but kept his palms behind him, looking up at Swayze through his wetted hair.

“It’s too early for this,” Swayze shouted, pinching the hose to stop the water flow. “Y’all both need to grow the hell up!”

Montgomery, despite the wet look that reminded her of a GQ photoshoot, grinned up at her.

“Stop smiling,” she said, letting the hose loose to spray them one more good time.

“Knock it off!” Kaden shouted, jumping behind the barn door.

“No, you knock it off. Both of you. I’m sick to death of your stupid, little fight.”

She tossed the water hose down and picked up her comforter to walk toward the ranch. She’d had enough of their horseshit.

Kaden mumbled something as she walked off that she couldn’t decipher.

“Nah, I like her. She gets shit done,” Mont said.

Knowing he couldn’t see her, she smiled.

***

Abigail stood at the stove, a white robe wrapped around her, and her hair twisted into a towel.

“Good morning,” she said.

Swayze walked toward her, pulling her comforter close to her chest.

Abigail laughed when she noticed her. “Wild night?”

Swayze felt her blush grow up her neck to her cheeks. “Not really. Wild morning. Your husband and Mont were just fighting in the back field.”

Abigail turned to look at her, both hands on her hips. “This is ridiculous,” she said. “I wish Kaden could forgive Mont and just get over it.”

“What will it take?” Swayze asked. “You’re his wife; you know him better. What will it take for them to be brothers again?”

Abigail shrugged. “I don’t know. Kaden is hardheaded. I think time will do it, but we shouldn’t all have to struggle because they can’t get along until then.”

Swayze nodded. She couldn’t think of anything that would help Kaden move past it, but something needed to be done because they were family. If you don’t have family, what do you have?

Swayze’s attention drew to the tapping of little feet running down the hallway.

“Momma!” Ryker yelled.

Swayze bent down to pick him up, tugging the top to his Paw Patrol pajamas down his tummy. “I missed you,” she whispered.

Ryker nuzzled his face into her neck. “I want a bite.”

“On the table,” Abigail said. “Can you go get Kathryn so she can eat?”

Ryker nodded his head as Swayze put him down.

Swayze looked up at the clock on the kitchen wall. “You wouldn’t happen to have some clothes I could borrow, do you? I’d have Montgomery take me home, but I really don’t want to talk to him right now.”

Abigail laughed. “Yeah, girl. Let me get you some.”

Swayze walked toward the den to start the computer and get her email pulled up for the ranch when Abigail brought her some workout leggings and an LSU sweatshirt.

Once Swayze had changed in the bathroom, she pulled her hair into a bun on top of her head. She didn’t look the best, but considering where she slept the night before, she thought she looked decent.

Ryker and Kathryn sat at the dining room table when she passed through, their feet swinging from their chairs, not a care in the world.

Swayze felt thankful for the night out and the relief of knowing her son had a friend.

Sitting down at her desk, she began to go through the emails, scheduling pickups for feed runs and a new saddle for the boys. Kaden hardly spoke to her directly; he asked through Mont, or he left her a sticky note.

She wasn’t complaining because avoiding Kaden and his scowl always helped her breathe a little easier.

Once she finished her emails, she noticed a sticky note peeking out from underneath a notebook that read they needed some folders, a certain kind she’d never heard of, for their taxes.

Swayze grabbed some petty cash from the bottom drawer and went to find Mont to ask if she could use his truck. She found him in the back field on a tractor bush hogging. Growing up, the country boy vibe never really attracted her, but there was something about Montgomery King that stripped her of all her insecurities and made her feel wanted.

Special.

Needed.

Beautiful.

It was something in his smile and that laid-back demeanor that never changed, unless to kiss her until her mind turned to mush. She couldn’t imagine what it’d be like for her if she was able to let go with him. Tell him everything that’d been on her tongue since the moment she realized she liked more than the way he looked.

Speaking of, he looked like some country GQ model on that tractor. When he noticed her, he grinned, pulling to a stop to jump off. It almost seemed like a slow-motion scene from any romantic comedy, where the guy strips out of his shirt, and does that slow walk toward you, running his fingers through his unruly hair, and tosses a come and get me smile your way.

Except Mont ran his thumb against his lower lip, watching Swayze like she was the one shirtless and looked good enough to eat.

Heat crawled up her body like a slow snake, and she felt that fifteen-year-old girl freeze up inside of her. What had she done in her life to not only marry a great man, but meet one as a widow that wanted her the way he did?

Swayze cleared her throat as he neared her, trying her damnedest to not look at how his tanned skin stretched over his lean muscles, or the dip of his obliques that disappeared into a pair of low-rise jeans that had her mind wandering.

“I had to toss my shirt this morning after you soaked us. Kaden was not appreciative,” he laughed. “I didn’t mind that much. I like seeing you flustered.”

“Not surprising,” she said. “I didn’t appreciate being woken up to a couple of grown men fighting like kids, but who asked me?”

Mont grinned, leaning down to kiss her cheek. “That’s why I like ya,” he said.

“Why were you two fighting?” she asked.

Mont sighed. “Kaden was pissed that we slept out here. Some bullshit, that’s none of his business. It’s nothing to do with us and everything to do with me. But, anyway, what can I do for you?” he asked.

“I need to go into town for Kaden. He needs some things for the office. Could I borrow your truck?”

Mont tugged his work gloves off of his hands and shoved them into his pocket. “Dang, girl, I take you on one date and you’re already trying to steal my truck?”

Swayze couldn’t help her grin. “If you’re good, I won’t run the gas out, or take it mudding.”

His dug his keys from the depth of his pocket. “Here ya go.”

She went to grab the keys, but he pulled his hand back, causing her to stumble against his chest. Heat made a straight shot between her legs, but Mont didn’t let her back away. He pulled her even closer to his sweaty chest.

“You always fall for that,” he whispered, trailing his fingers underneath the hem of Abigail’s LSU sweatshirt. “I had a hell of a good time last night.”

Swayze let herself relax, trailing her palms up his firm chest, feeling out of control on the inside. She’d never touched him this way before, without clothing, and it loosened her give a shit what other people think meter.

Hell, it had flown out of the window days before.

“I did too,” she whispered. “Thank you again.”

Montgomery lowered his mouth to hers, adding fuel to the fire growing inside of her. His rough palms against her back lowered to cup the bottom of her backside, causing her to lift onto her tiptoes.

Damn, he’s good at this.

A low groan left his throat, and he lifted her up to his hips, in the middle of the field. One hand left her bottom, and he curled his palm around the back of her neck, keeping her steady as he kissed her senseless.

It’d felt like hours before she whimpered into his mouth, causing him to tighten his palm against her.

What she’d do to have him take her behind that old barn and knock boots until she felt senseless and so sore, she couldn’t think about moving. Heat curled in her lower stomach, and she found herself moving her hips against his. Montgomery tossed his cowboy hat to the ground and kissed her deeper.

“You taste so sweet,” he whispered.

Someone cleared their throat, and Swayze pulled away to yelp and maneuver her way off his hips.

Mont caught her waist so she wouldn’t fall and laughed. “Always falling over me,” he said.

Kaden stood behind them, a scowl on his face, light remains of the water she’d drowned them in still on his shirt.

“What is it?” Mont finally asked.

“I was coming to see if breakfast was ready, when I noticed you two making out like teenagers. Didn’t I leave you a note to go to the store for me?”

Mont stepped in front of Swayze, definitely noticing the hostile tone in Kaden’s voice. “Drop it. She was borrowing my truck. I couldn’t help it and had to kiss that pretty mouth again.”

Kaden took off his dark cowboy hat and gave Mont a look. “Y’all need to get to work.”

Swayze watched Kaden stalk toward the house and pretended to kick him once his back was turned. Mont howled with laughter. “Tell me about it. I guess I better get back to work.”

Swayze nodded. “I guess so.”

Mont pulled her back once more, lowering his mouth just over hers. “I like you, Sways. I hope you know it.”

And when he kissed her again…she could feel it.

***

Once she pulled away from Mont, she walked toward his truck with wobbly knees and started toward town. She’d be lying if she said it didn’t make her feel special driving Mont’s big Ford, turning heads as she made it past the square to the small drug store.

Getting out, she locked the doors and walked into the small building. The young girl behind the counter gave her a small smile and went back to scrolling her phone beneath the counter.

The envelopes were with the office supplies, and she spotted them quickly. Part of her wanted to hurry and get back to the ranch. Maybe she could sneak some glances out of the window at Mont, or better yet, let him pull her down to his house and finally have his way with her.

It had been in the back of her mind for weeks. What would it be like? Would those rough hands drive her crazy? Or maybe he’d use that slick tongue to—

“Swayze?”

She turned to look at Oscar, who stood at the other end of the aisle. “Oscar! How are you?”

He walked over, leaning in to give her a hug. “Good. You?”

Swayze nodded. “Working at the King Ranch. I’m running an errand now.”

Never being the big talker, Oscar nodded. “You and Montgomery?”

Swayze’s cheeks turned bright red. “Uh…yeah?”

Oscar gave her a thumbs up.

“Hey, you’ve lived here a while, huh?”

Oscar nodded. “Since I was a teenager, yeah.”

Swayze looked over her shoulder, making sure there were no listening ears. “Do you know a woman named Kathy Jo?”

“Oh, yeah. Yeah. Kaden King, he dated her.”

“What about Mont? Did you hear anything about that?”

Oscar stroked his chin. “She was crazy,” he said. “Obsessive over the Kings. She moved long time ago though.”

So, he hadn’t heard about Kathy wanting Mont instead of Kaden. But she was crazy? Good thing she was gone. She just needed to figure out how to get Kaden to pull the stick out of his butt and forgive Montgomery for that and leaving.

“I had heard about her, just wondering,” she finally said.

Oscar nodded. “It was good to see you. I have to get to the restaurant. I’m working with Tonya today.”

“I’ll pray for you.”

“I need it. See you around. I’m happy for you.”

Swayze felt happy for herself for the first time in years. She went to the register and checked her folders out, completely giddy while walking back to the truck.

The carefree feeling that slowly filled her made her move to this one-horse town worth it. Getting inside, she started the truck, noticing something purple underneath the windshield wiper.

Swayze opened the door to look over to the windshield, and her blood ran cold. A single flower had been placed beneath the wiper blade. It hadn’t been there before she went into the store. Surely, she would have noticed it.

Swallowing the fear in her throat, she grabbed the flower and tossed it onto the ground, sitting back down to lock the doors. It could have been a coincidence, but as she left, she checked the other two vehicles parked in the lot, and neither of them had a flower.

Swayze was good at jumping to conclusions, so she sank into Mont’s seat and took an easy breath.

It had to have fallen there. Or gotten stuck before and she hadn’t noticed it.

She hoped.

***

Mont stood outside of the ranch house, a shirt on, with Ryker on his shoulders and Kathryn hanging on his leg. Both kids squealed as she pulled up and parked Mont’s truck.

“Looks like someone has warmed up to you,” she said to Mont.

Kathryn’s lopsided smile was the cutest thing Swayze had ever seen. “Momma!” Ryker yelled, wiggling to get down.

Mont tossed him into the air and caught him just in time.

“Nobody beats Momma, obviously,” Mont said, watching Ryker run to her.

“You okay?” Mont asked.

Swayze lifted Ryker up to her hip and smiled when he placed his head on her shoulder.

“Yeah, why?”

Mont watched her silently for a moment. “You seem off.”

Did she? Her plan to keep the flower from Mont would be hard if he paid attention to her every little move. “I saw Oscar at the store.”

“You here to tell me that you’re leaving me for him?”

“Leaving you? We’d have to be together for me to leave you.”

Swayze felt a shiver run down her spine when Mont looked up from Kathryn on the ground to her, those light eyes lingering on her face beneath the rim of his cowboy hat.

“Oh, Sways. You’re mine, darlin’. You signed a contract when you let me kiss your mouth.”

Swayze, being prideful, refused to look away, which made Mont’s smile grow. “Back to Oscar,” she whispered. “I asked him about something.”

Mont swung Kathryn from the ground and onto his shoulders. “About what?”

“Kathy Jo St. Claire,” she said.

Mont looked over at Swayze, putting Kathryn down. “Why would you do that? That was years ago.”

Swayze dropped her gaze, suddenly feeling like a fifteen-year-old digging around for her boyfriend’s exes. “Kaden seems to really worry about it. Y’all were fighting this morning, Mont. It’s not healthy.”

Mont turned his head to the side, rubbing his palm down the length of his jaw. “It’s more than Kathy Jo. It’s me leaving. Don’t worry about Kaden.”

“I do,” Swayze said. “I worry that you’ll both miss out on the important parts of each other’s lives. I don’t want that for you.”

He sighed and took two small steps to reach her, wrapping an arm around her small waist. “Look, if it will make you feel better, I’ll try harder with Kaden, but only if you promise to stop worrying.”

She glanced up at him, the shadow of his hat highlighting the sharp edges and corners of his face. She had no other option but to believe him. “I promise.”