Chapter 26

Callum

Shep: Are you ever coming back to work, Callum?

Paxton: For Cal to miss work things must be getting intense on the farm.

It’s a ranch, jackass, and yes I’ll be coming in today.

Violet: *giggles*

Anya: Wow, I never thought I’d see the day when Callum’s missed all this work.

A water main broke. It’s not like I took a week off to go beach hopping in California.

Anya: That was one summer years ago. And totally worth it.

Willow: We need to plan a family getaway again! I loved camping!!

Hartford: And our plan worked *evil laugh*

What plan?

Violet: Plan?

Minutes tick by as I wait for somebody to answer me.

Oh what the chat goes silent? WHAT PLAN?

Anya: …

I knew you all were trying to get me and Violet together. Meet us at the waterfall. *rolls eyes*

Hartford: Yeah, but it worked. And we’ve never seen you so happy.

Callum has left the chat. Paxton has added Callum back into the chat. Callum has left the chat. Hartford has added Callum back to the chat.

Griffin: Don’t mind Callum, he loves his family.

Anya: You’re such a cinnamon roll, Griff. I love you!

Griffin: A cinnamon what?

Willow: It means you’re a softie!!

Anya: And all warm and gooey inside.

Griffin: Um, thanks. Is this a compliment?

Anya: YES!

Willow: Yes!

Millie: It definitely is!

Hartford: Paxton is a puff pastry. Delicate and full of many layers.

Paxton: You think I’m flaky?

Hartford: Nooooooo.

Brock: You’re definitely flaky. You break plans all the time to spend more time with Hartford.

Paxton: Do you really blame me? Have you seen her?

Hartford: *blushes*

Anya: It’s what we all do. Look, it’s what Cal’s doing now. He just wants to spend more time with Violet.

I shut off my phone with a sigh, deciding I don’t want to deal with my family anymore today. Anya’s latest text is still flashing on the screen, and I’ve reread it at least five times now. Standing in the bathroom, waiting for the water to heat up for my shower, my mind keeps drifting back to yesterday with Violet.

It was... fun. More fun than I’ve had in a long time. Way better than that time Anya convinced Griffin and me to go ax-throwing with her. Sure, she and Griffin had the time of their lives, but I was bored out of my mind. Yesterday, though? Boredom was the last thing on my mind. Being out at the ranch with Violet, seeing her in her element, made me feel... proud. Proud to be part of something bigger, something she’s poured years of hard work into.

This ranch is more than just land to her—it’s her life. The sweat, the hard days, the endless hours—it shows in every corner of the place. And she trusted me enough to share it with me, to let me see the side of her that’s vulnerable and strong all at once. That impressed me more than I thought it would. She’s tough, but there’s something so real about her connection to this place, and for her to let me into that world? It meant something.

After the water finally heats up, I take my shower, letting the thoughts of yesterday roll over me as the steam fills the bathroom. By the time I’m dressed for work, I feel a strange mixture of excitement and longing, like I want to get back to that place with her. To see what else there is between us, beyond the initial spark.

When I walk into the kitchen, Violet’s already there. Her jeans are dusted with dirt, her boots muddy from mucking out the stalls. She’s got a smudge of dirt on her cheek, and her hair is a little wild, catching the morning light streaming through the window. She looks incredible—raw, real, and completely at home in this life she’s built.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” she says with a teasing smile, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

I lean against the counter, grinning at her. “I would’ve helped with the stalls, you know.”

She shakes her head. “No need,” she says with a soft smile. “I know you’ve got to get to work today.”

I slide a mug out of the cupboard and move closer to the coffee maker, which brings me right next to her. There’s an easy comfort in the way we move around each other, like we’ve been doing this for longer than we have. As I pour myself a cup of coffee, I glance over at her. An idea suddenly hits me, and I can’t help but suggest it. “You should come with me,” I say, my voice low but hopeful. “You showed me your work yesterday. Let me show you what I do all day.”

Violet’s face lights up, her smile spreading wide, and it makes my chest tighten in the best way. “I’d love that,” she says, her blue eyes gleaming with curiosity and excitement.

In that moment, I feel a rush of something—something I haven’t felt in a long time. Sharing this part of my life with her feels important, like a step forward. And I can’t wait to show her my world, just like she showed me hers.

“Hey, didn’t think I’d see you today,” Shep says, clapping a hand on my back as I walk past him. His usual grin is in place, but I can tell he’s a bit surprised to see me. Maybe I haven’t been working too much lately.

“I told everyone I was coming in today,” I reply, brushing past him as I guide Violet down to the brewery floor. The place isn’t open to the public yet, so it’s quiet except for the low hum of prep work. A few servers are setting up tables for lunch service, moving efficiently around the room, while Trudi is behind the bar, wiping it down in smooth strokes, getting everything ready for the lunch rush that’ll hit soon enough.

Violet walks beside me, taking it all in, and I can’t help but feel a sense of pride as I show her around. This place—Atta Boy Brewery—it’s more than just a job. It’s like home. The smell of hops, the clank of kegs being moved around, the quiet buzz of early morning prep—it’s where I feel in control, where everything has a place.

“How’re things?” I ask Brock when we make our way downstairs, stepping into the heart of the operation. The brewery floor is our playground, a mix of shiny steel tanks, fermenters, and the comforting smell of yeast working its magic.

Brock looks up from the control panel, wiping his hands on a rag. He flashes a friendly smile at Violet first. “Hey, Violet. Good to see you here.” Then he turns to me, clearly pleased with whatever he’s got going on. “Making a new batch of something special. Can’t wait for everyone to try it.”

I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. The pride I feel for this place always hits me hard, but seeing Brock excited about a new brew, it’s like seeing all the hard work pay off. "That’s great news," I say, feeling a surge of satisfaction. It’s moments like these that remind me why I love this place.

Violet looks around, her blue eyes wide as she takes in the massive tanks and the industrial feel of the space. I can see she’s intrigued, and that only makes me feel prouder. I glance over at her, watching her take it all in, and it hits me that bringing her here, letting her into my world, feels right in a way I didn’t expect.

“This place is amazing,” Violet says, her voice full of genuine admiration. She runs a hand lightly over one of the tanks, the cool metal reflecting the soft lighting. “You’ve built something really special here.”

“Thanks,” I say, feeling a warmth in my chest. “It’s been a lot of work, but it’s worth it.”

"Where’s your office, Mr. Bossman?" Violet teases, waggling her eyebrows at me with that playful glint in her eyes. I can’t help but chuckle, the sound rolling through me as she leans into the teasing.

I slide my hands onto her hips, gently guiding her back with me as I start leading her toward my office. "You like being married to the boss, huh?" I say, my voice low as I pull her closer.

"Oh yeah," she replies, her tone dripping with mock-seriousness, though the heat in her gaze is anything but playful. "It’s unbelievably sexy."

I raise an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. "Sexy, huh?" I repeat, enjoying the way she’s playing into this.

She nods, her teeth grazing her bottom lip, before she licks them in that slow, deliberate way that drives me crazy. "Yeah," she breathes out, the single word carrying so much weight, so much desire.

I can’t take it anymore. The way she’s looking at me, the subtle rise and fall of her chest, the way she fits so perfectly against me—it’s too much. Before I even think about where we are, I close the distance between us and kiss her. Right here on the brewery floor, in the middle of my domain, with the faint scent of hops and fermentation lingering in the air. The kiss is urgent, fueled by the tension that's been building between us since this morning. I know I’d normally hate this kind of PDA—I'd possibly kill one of my siblings if they did something like this at work—but right now? I couldn’t care less.

Her lips are soft, warm, and they part easily for me. The taste of her, the heat between us… it’s intoxicating. My hands grip her hips tighter, pulling her closer, and she melts into me like she’s been waiting for this just as much as I have. I can feel her fingers weaving into my hair, tugging me closer, deepening the kiss. It’s like the rest of the world falls away, and it’s just us.

When I finally pull back, we’re both breathless, our foreheads pressed together. The soft hum of the brewery feels miles away now, like an afterthought. I look down at her, her lips slightly swollen from the kiss, her eyes heavy with desire, and I know if we stay out here any longer, I won’t be able to stop myself.

Without another word, I take her hand and lead her into my office. The door clicks shut behind us, and I make sure to lock it, sealing us in together. The moment feels charged, like we’re about to cross into something deeper, something more than just a stolen kiss on the brewery floor.

"Now," I murmur, backing her against the desk, "let’s see how much you really like being married to the boss."

She giggles and the soft sound fills the office. “What are you doing?”

“What I’ve been wanting to do all morning long.” I push her to where she’s sitting on my desk, and I step between her legs. I kiss the fuck out of my wife, needing her in this moment so badly.

I’ve never been this turned on in my life.

What am I doing? This is reckless. This isn’t like me at all . However, I can’t help myself. If I don’t get inside my wife, I may not survive.

I keep kissing her, my tongue driving the kiss, making it much more intense than it’s ever been before. She moans against me, her legs encasing me, her fingers pulling through my hair.

“What if we get caught?” she asks, breaking the kiss.

“I guess the boss will have to punish us.”

She smiles wide. “How?”

I glance up at the ceiling, like I’m pretending to think of a punishment, but then I gaze at her, smiling. “Maybe he’d spank you for being so naughty.”

Her eyes light up. “Oh, really?”

I nod. “Definitely.” I move away from her, sitting in my chair. “Come here,” I tell her.

She walks over to me, and I spin her around, to where her ass is in my face. I pull her across my lap, running my fingers over the swell of her ass.

“Apologize,” I tell her.

Her head turns, her eyes snapping up to meet mine. “Apologize for what?”

“For turning the boss on while he’s at work.” I slide my hand under her long, flowy dress. My hand feels good against her soft skin. I massage her ass, feeling the silkiness of her skin beneath my palm. “Or else you’re going to get spanked.”

She smiles, and says, “I’m not sorry for kissing my husband. He’s so sexy.”

My dick goes from barely hard to rock solid in a second. “Fuck me,” I grit out. “You’re killing me, Vi. I don’t know how I’m not going to be able to fuck you here while I’m at work.” I’ve never in my life thought I’d ever do this before, but here I am…doing it. And I can’t stop myself.

I’m addicted to her. To my wife. There’s something about her that keeps me wanting more and more. I don’t care that I’m here at work. I couldn’t give two flying fucks. I need this woman. Now.