Bouquets and Buckles: An Age Gap, Snowed In, Cowboy Romance (Crimson Ridge)

“Don’t act like it’s the end of the world, Tessie-girl.”

She nudges my shoulder and nibbles the collar of my jacket with a snort as I give her breakfast.

We’re all creatures of routine, and the horses have all looked at me with big, dewy eyes as if I have three heads for being out here so early this morning.

It’s still dark out, the freezing air crisp, and I’ve left a gorgeous girl sleeping in my bed after the hottest night of my life.

However, a ranch doesn’t wait, or give a shit about my sex life—or lack thereof the majority of the time—so I’m rushing around with a flashlight in the dark and trudging through snow.

All so I can get back to her at the earliest opportunity.

Munching noises and gentle huffing sounds follow me as I check on all the stalls and make sure everyone is warm and comfortable after last night’s storm.

The familiar scent of wood, leather, and hay surrounds me. Smells that feel embedded in my very bones after so many years running this ranch. There are plenty of jobs I’ll have to get to later today, but mucking out stalls can wait.

I’ve got somewhere else I need to be.

My phone vibrates in my coat pocket, and I scrunch my brows as I dig it out. It doesn’t matter that it’s Christmas morning; I don’t know anyone who would be messaging me at this time of the day.

Brad:

Merry Christmas, old man.

Guilt immediately floods me at the sight of Brad’s name. Does my son have fucking sixth sense or what?

You’re up early.

Oh, good. You’re as pleasant over text as you are in person at this time of day.

Repeat after me… “Merry Christmas, my son, the light of my life. I hope you and Flinn have a wonderful day and enjoy the thousands of dollars I just deposited in your bank account.”

Go on. Try it.

Fuck off.

Merry Christmas.

There we go.

Not so hard, was it?

Doesn’t answer my question. Why are you texting me at this time of the morning?

Jesus. I’ll warn Sky you’re in particularly good spirits for Christmas Day.

In case it’s escaped your notice, ranch life has ruined mornings for both me and Flinn.

Even when it’s a day off, we can’t enjoy sleeping in anymore.

More dots bounce on the screen.

Please, can you at least not be all ‘grumpy asshole’ today.

Treat my best friend nicely… you know, be good to her when she gets up.

Oh. I’ve got plans to treat her extremely well, but my son doesn’t need to know any of that.

I readjust my hat with my free hand, staring at my phone glowing in the dark, contemplating what to write in reply. God, I feel like no matter what I say, it’ll sound suspiciously like I know exactly how Skylar Addams feels when she grips my cock so hard I nearly lose my goddamn mind. If I try to say anything, it’ll reveal that I know the exact way her eyes roll back and how her little moans sound as she falls apart.

I figure saying less is always going to be the best option.

Of course.

Love you, Dad.

Give the horses a big hug for me.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

I’m about to tuck my phone away when I see more dots bouncing.

Keep an eye on Sky, would you?

She might say she’s doing ok, but she found out her piece of shit boyfriend was cheating on her last night.

My hand scrubs over my jaw as I see my son’s next messages arrive. Ones that leave me with a hundred conflicting emotions about who my son thinks I am as a good father, and who I am underneath as the man who wants to savor every second I have left in secret with this girl.

Not to mention the extreme need I’m battling… the urge to go beat the hell out of whoever this asshole is. The mere sight of those words on screen has me seeing red.

Except, Brad’s next message arrives and reminds me that I don’t need to go over there and acquaint my fist with the fucker’s jaw. Because I have her.

I have her.

Even if it’s just temporarily.

Thanks for being there when I couldn’t be.

I’m just glad she’s safe with you.