18. Dalton

CHAPTER 18

I'm sitting on the back deck, replaying the conversation in my head. Gianna and the boys are back from their fishing expedition. They stayed out late because she wanted to make sure they both caught a fish, and when they came home, they were all smiles. The boys insisted on her helping them get ready for bed, so I've been down here, sitting on the back porch since they went upstairs. All I can think about is what Gianna said. If I watched her videos, I didn't watch them close enough.

I open the app and go to her page. I go to the videos that she posted since she left here and watch the first one.

"I'm here with Hope Ford, and we're talking about her book, Protective Cowboy. I read this last night, and it is so good. I love that Natalie is a strong woman but King showed her that she didn't have to do it all by herself. There is nothing like a protective cowboy, and this book was five stars."

The next video, she's standing with another woman, holding up another book. "I'm here with Matilda Martel, and we're talking about her book, Big Bad Daddy. He's a grumpy mafia man, and she's twenty years younger. There is nothing… I mean nothing, like a good age gap story, and this is one of the best."

I run my hand through my beard. So protective cowboy and age gap.

I watch the next video, and Gia smiles into the camera. "Ooh, I have a treat for you on this one. I'm here with Elyse Kelly, and we're talking about her superhot book, Sentinel. They fall fast, and it is insta everything. Instant love, instant lust, and instant big "o's," if you know what I mean. Go get this five star read from Elyse Kelly."

Is this another clue? Protective cowboy, age gap, and instant love.

I click on the next video, and Gia is waving her hand in front of her face like she's overheated. "Y'all!!! I'm here with Eve London, and we're talking about Tempting the Tight End, and it is oh so tempting. Holt hires a nanny for his daughter, and even though it's a little forbidden, he can't resist her. Who doesn't love a story where the man falls for the nanny? Super hot!"

I stare at the phone and begin to wonder how I missed it all. Protective cowboy, age gap, instant love, and a boss/nanny romance. She's talking about us. Even with her gone, away from me, the ranch and the boys, she's talking about me.

I push the button to play the very last video she posted, and it's her at a gas station, putting gas into my truck. She talks about the event she just left and apologizes to everyone for leaving early, but she's excited to get home. She looks up at the sky and then back at the camera. "I'm missing starry skies, holding hands, hugs that leave you sticky, brown eyes that you can get lost in, and kisses that make your toes curl and make you think about the future." She trembles, and her smile gets even bigger. "I'm signing off, friends. I'll see you in a few days."

I sit back in shock, staring open-mouthed at the phone. Every video was meant for me. She wanted me to know that she missed me, the boys, and the ranch.

I walk toward her room, knock on the door, and push it open before she can answer.

She sits up, wiping at her eyes. It's obvious she's been crying, and the sight guts me. I did this to her.

"What is it? Are you okay?"

I don't answer. I should have planned this out a little better. I stare at her.

She wipes her eyes again. "Dalton, are the boys okay?"

"Yeah, I'm the one that's not okay."

She sniffs. "Are you sick?"

I nod and take a step toward the bed. "Yeah, but it's a different kind of sick."

She looks concerned, and it kills me that I treated her the way I did. "What's wrong?"

I move to the bed and stand next to her. I put my hand to my heart. "I hurt right here."

She gets out of the bed. "Dalton, are you okay? Sit down and I'll call for help."

She puts her hands on my shoulders, trying to push me to the bed, but I stay where I am and put my hands on her waist. "You want to help me?"

She nods. "Of course."

I pull her to me. "Then don't leave tomorrow. If you do, you'll be taking a part of my heart with you."

Her mouth falls open, and she squeaks, "What?"

"While you were gone, everything fell apart. I saw your videos and saw how happy you were, and I knew that when you came, I needed to push you away. You needed to get as far from me as you could—"

"Why?" she asks, shaking her head in confusion.

"Because you deserve more than this," I tell her, waving my hand around.

Her forehead creases. "What exactly do you mean, Dalton? Do I deserve more than a handsome, caring cowboy… or more than two of the cutest, sweetest boys I've ever been around? Or more than open skies, sweet kisses, knowing that I have someone in this world to spend my life with… what do I deserve more than because I don't understand."

"Ranching is hard, Gia. Some years are worse than others. There's always something that breaks down on this ranch. Traveling is hard, I can't remember the last vacation I went on. I have two boys that I have to think about, and—"

She pushes out of my arms. "And you think, what? That I just want to vacation, eat bon bons and—"

"No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying you deserve to live the life you want to live and—"

She cuts me off. "And when I left here, if someone had asked, I would have told them that this is my dream life. I've never felt like this about a man, his kids, and his ranch. I finally felt like I could possibly belong somewhere, and you pushed me away."

"I don't want to push you away. I want you to be happy."

She reaches up, putting her hands on each side of my neck. "And what if you make me happy? What if being here with you makes me happy? Being with your boys, seeing their excited faces when I come home, spending time with them, makes me happy?"

I put my hands at her waist and let them slide around her, palming her ass and pulling her flush against my body. Her chin rests on my chest, and she looks up at me. "Do I make you happy, Gia?"

She laughs. "Yeah, when you're not being a dense ass."

I nod. "I deserve that. I'm sorry, Gia. I thought I was doing the right thing by you."

"The right thing is asking me to stay here with you for the summer."

My fingers dig into her ass. "Just the summer?"

"For starters, yes. We'll see if you want to keep me after that."

"I'm thinking forever won't be long enough, Gia."

She goes to her tiptoes and presses her lips to mine. "Forever sounds pretty good."

I groan as she leans into me. "I'm sorry for hurting you, Gia."

She pulls at the hem of my shirt. "That's okay. I'm sure you can find a way to make it up to me."

I stall her hands and pull out of her arms. "In my bed. I'll make it up to you in my bed. And that's where you're going to stay from now on."

"But the boys…" she starts, and I kiss her silent.

"The boys will be fine. We'll talk to them. Don't worry about anything. We'll take it a day at a time."

"Okay."

I laugh as we walk up the stairs. "Okay? I expected more of a fight."

She crowds against me and whispers, "I missed you, Dalton and we're about to have make-up sex. I'm not going to argue with you right now."

I chuckle, and when we get to the top of the stairs, I scoop her up in my arms. "Make-up sex? Sounds good to me."

She laughs the rest of the way to my bedroom, and I love it when her laugh turns to moans. I'll be happy if I spend the rest of my life listening to her.