Chapter 5

FIVE

Silas

"What made you want to be a doctor?" Britt asks when we get our appetizers and start digging in.

This is an event I hate talking about, but if I want to build trust with her, it has to be done. "I'm older than you, and I'm assuming we went to separate high schools?"

"Go Hornets." She laughs as she holds up two fingers like horns.

Sitting back in my chair, I playfully glare at her. "Mortal. Enemies. Go Cougars."

"Well, we would not have dated in high school. I was a cheerleader, and couldn't be seen with you."

"I was a soccer player and wouldn't want to be seen with you, so we're even." I give her a wink. "Either way, one summer between my junior and senior year, I was helping a neighboring farm and some of their workers cut hay. I was saving money for a truck. There was an accident. I won't get into what happened; it was brutal. The worker didn't make it." I clear my throat. "After that, I wanted to make sure I would know what to do in an emergency. I didn't want to be the person standing around, looking to someone else for help."

Her eyes are bright, and her throat sounds tight when she speaks again. "I'm sorry you went through that, but I'm glad you're a doctor. I'm one of those people you've helped."

"We won't get into the ethics of me being that person, and then going on a few dates with you, but I'm glad I could."

She takes a drink of her wine before answering with a big smile. "I am, too."

An hour later we're rolling around on the bed, and kissing like teenagers who are trying to get it on before their parents come home. We've already had the protection conversation, and now I'm ready to get down to business.

"Are we really doing this?" She questions, her eyes bright with excitement.

"Yeah, well unless you want to stop. If you want to stop, we stop, no questions asked."

"I don't want to. I just can't believe it. At least there are no cops here." She teases. "But I must tell you that it's been a while for me, and if I think about it too much, I'm going to psych myself out. What I want is you to take care of this for me."

"I'll do whatever you need me to." Dropping my mouth to hers, I steal another kiss and go about divesting both of us of our clothing. I slow it down, instead of a mad rush to the finish line, I decide to take my time. Digging my fingers into her hair, I tilt her head back, cupping it with my palms. Going to work at her neck, I plan to leave a mark, so that anyone who sees her knows she's spoken for. I've never been the type of guy who got super caught up in others knowing who my lady is, but her? I want anyone who sees her to know she has someone at home.

"Silas, are you giving me a hickey?" She pulls at my hair, trying to knock the suction off her skin.

"Mmm hmmm." I groan deep in my throat, but pull away when she yanks a little harder.

"Do you know what it will look like if I go to work with a love bite on my neck? Do you know what I'll have to explain to my dad?"

I push myself up on my forearms, holding over her body. I smirk down at her, licking my lips. "You have a child, Britt. I'm pretty sure your father knows you've done this before."

She presses against my chest. "You know what I mean."

I do, but I enjoy seeing the annoyance spread across her face. Pink patches form on her cheeks, and it makes her look five years younger. Gone is the stress that's almost constantly visible, and I imagine this is the Britt before Dakota broke her heart. "I think you know what I mean."

I carefully slide into her, both of us groaning as I swing my hips back and forth. "Silas, don't stop..."

That's one thing I'm never going to do.

We're cuddling in the aftermath of the most passionate encounter I've ever had with another person. "What are your plans tomorrow?" I speak softly, trailing my fingers up and down her back.

"I'm off tomorrow. The law office I work at is closed on Thursdays."

"Four-day work week, huh? Must be nice." I tease.

She laughs deep in her throat, rolling her eyes up toward the ceiling. "Everyone says that, but I'm thankful. We work nine hours a day, four days a week and they pay me for a full forty. It's a blessing with Karli being as young as she is, and the benefits are great. I've worked there since I found out I was pregnant with her. Thursday's are laundry day... unless I'm picking up a shift at the daycare. I work there part time when they need someone."

Part of me wonders if I'm asking this too soon. Am I getting involved too quickly? Jumping in with ten toes down isn't how I've navigated my love life previously, but here we are. "Wanna skip laundry day and come out to the farm with me?"

She lifts her head off the pillow, her brows pulled together. "Wait, are you serious about being a farm kid?"

"Yes. What the fuck, Britt. I told you why I became a doctor."

"No, I get that, but I thought you were exaggerating your parents so that we'd have more in common. My dad's a farrier."

Reaching up to grab her around the jaw, I pull her in for a kiss. It's long, slow, and deep. Her eyes are dazed when we separate. "Sorry to break it to you, cutie, but you just did the dirty with a real, live farm kid. I even have a pair of Wrangler's that are about to fall apart, and I'll wear my worst lookin' shit kickers just for you. Might even throw on my old FFA hat, and I didn't know that about your dad. I just met him for a few minutes prior to you going for surgery."

She kicks her feet.

"What are you doing?" I chuckle, putting a little of space between our bodies.

"I always wanted to date a hot country boy. I'm kicking my feet in excitement. Thanks for making a dream come true. I'd love to go to your parents' tomorrow."

Little does she know I'd like to make all her dreams come true.