Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

HAYES

Having just six hours of sleep means the extra-large sugar-filled coffee is justified regardless of the wide-eyed look from Cam when he made it for me. Logically, it would make more sense to head out to Mom’s tomorrow, after I’ve had a full day’s rest and a proper night’s sleep. In my defense, I’m a little eager to spend time with Sully.

He worked the past couple of days, so I saw him at the firehouse. That we finally exchanged cell numbers and I spent both evenings chatting to him by text, well, that’s no one’s business but ours.

And today I promised him a trip to my mom’s to check out the animals, and I didn’t want to wait a second longer than necessary.

I pull up outside Abigail’s at 2:00 p.m. on the dot. I woke up just a half hour ago— yes, spending time with Sully is one heck of a motivator in my getting my ass moving—and I’ve finally stopped yawning, so it’s definitely safe for me to drive. It’ll mean heading home in the dark tonight, but I promised Mom and Stephanie we’d stay for dinner, so we’d be sticking around even if we’d left this morning.

My gaze immediately lands on Sully. He’s outside, looking far too fucking sexy wearing my purple hat and scarf. His smile is a little crooked, showing just a hint of his teeth. It’s curious how he dances between a little shy and coy to pretty damn confident.

I like that he’s not predictable. It makes me feel less under the spotlight when I go off on a tangent, which I’ve done at least a couple of times since being around him.

He tugs open the door. “Hey.”

As he settles at my side, I grin, saying, “Hey. Good day so far?” I pull away as soon as he’s buckled in. He had the day off and will be back on shift in a couple of days. That his schedule aligns with mine makes me seriously happy.

“If you can call a lazy day good, then absolutely.” He flashes me a smile, his gaze roaming my features. “How’d you sleep?’

“Not too bad.” I bob my head as I pull off his street and head north. “I managed about six hours.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see him glance at me again. “Is that enough? That doesn’t sound like a lot to me.”

My lips curve high, and I risk a small glance, noticing his concerned expression. “It’s plenty. We had one late-night callout, but nothing serious. I think I slept at the station for about four hours after one o’clock this morning. When you put it all together, it’s a decent sleep.”

He hums a little before asking, “Is that something you get used to?”

“Definitely. It’s shit when you’re up all night on an emergency and running on fumes, but I think every firefighter I know has learned to adapt and sleep where they’re standing.”

“I don’t know how you do it, but it’s impressive that you can. Heck, the last time I went without sleep, I was good for nothing and barely a walking, talking zombie until I got caught up.”

I chuckle, imagining Sully being a little grumpy when he’s tired. I bet he’s adorable.

After a few beats of quiet, we’re almost at the outskirts of town when he says, “So your mom’s place—you said it’s out of town, right?”

“Yeah, not too far. There are several small-acreage properties scattered around Collier’s Creek, but the farther out you go, the larger the properties until you get a little closer to a new town.”

Sully glances out the window as we reach the town line. “You know, I’ve never been further north than this point right here.”

“No shit? Not even Canada?”

“Nope. It’s on my bucket list. Have you?”

I nod. “Yeah, just once, and I definitely want to go back. I barely saw any of it.”

We continue driving, the landscape opening up before us. There are a few heavyset clouds around, but the weather forecast didn’t say there would be much happening today.

The farther out we go, the flat plains slowly give way to rolling hills, and in the distance, the jagged peaks of the mountain range become more pronounced against the sky. The distant mountains are draped in a fresh layer of snow that glistens under the pale sunlight filtering through the clouds. The snowcapped ridges are a deep, frosty white contrasting sharply with the dark evergreen forests clinging to their lower slopes.

“It’s beautiful out here.”

I glance at Sully before turning my focus ahead and answering, “It is. It was no hardship coming home. SoCal was liberating in a way Wyoming can never truly be, but just look at this place.” I love it here.

The sky above is all muted grays and soft blues, with the heavyset clouds hanging low, creating a dramatic backdrop for the rugged mountains. Honestly, as the winter sets in, it can be pretty isolating and unforgiving. This time of year, though, before winter’s truly taken root, it’s freakin’ awe-inspiring or something.

I point into the distance about twenty-five minutes out of town where there’s a collection of trees. “My mom’s place is just over there.”

“Are those willows?”

“Yeah. There’s a large stream running west of their property. The willows love it.”

“How big did you say their place was?”

“A hundred acres.”

“What?” He sits up straight and looks my way. “I thought you said small.”

I chuckle when I take in his wide eyes. “For around here, it is small.”

“Jesus, we’ve got very different ideas of what constitutes small and gigantic as fuck.”

My laughter bursts free, and a beautiful smile settles on his lips when he looks my way. “Go big or go home, right?” I tease, adding in an eyebrow bounce for good measure.

“You’re incorrigible.”

I shrug as he continues to grin at me.

“So other than the animal shelter, what else do they do with their property?”

“They have cattle. Steph grew up out here but on a much bigger scale. Ranching is all she’s ever known. I’m pretty sure she puts up with Mom’s animal-rescue obsession to keep her off the tractor and away from the herd.” I chuckle, thinking about Mom’s good heart but what a shit farmer she makes. “Mom’s a vegetarian. They have beef cattle, so she’s all about balance and making their life as stress free as possible before they’re sold.”

“No shit? That must be interesting.”

I snort. “It has been. Mom doesn’t preach or any of that shit. She’s more focused on her health and animal welfare. But she’s been known to drive Steph to distraction a time or twenty.”

I turn off onto a smaller road leading to several properties stacked against one another. Mom and Stephanie’s ranch is the sixth along, so we’re not too far away. It’s just enough time to tell Sully about the infamous “Winter Cow Roundup” a few years back.

“So, Mom’s a bit of a character.”

We make eye contact, and I swear his gaze softens. “She already sounds awesome, and having a personality is what it’s all about, right?”

“Oh, you have no idea,” I say, chuckling. “Okay, so it’s a freezing February morning—snow on the ground, wind screaming like it’s trying to rip the barn doors off. Mom decides she needs to check on the cattle, make sure they’re doing okay in the cold.”

“Doesn’t sound so bad.” Sully shrugs.

“Except, like I told you, Mom’s a vegetarian and barely tolerates the idea of raising cattle for beef. Her heart’s in the right place, but… well, she’s not exactly a rancher. That’s Steph’s territory. Anyway, Steph told her the cows were fine, but you know how people get these ideas in their heads?”

He nods, amusement crossing his features as he looks at me.

I turn back to the road, seeing their property up ahead. “Mom was convinced they were freezing or starving or something.”

“So what happened?”

“Well, I’m inside, enjoying my coffee. I can’t remember why I was there. Maybe for Mom’s birthday. Or it could have been something else.” I pause, trying to think of why I was there that morning. Maybe I’d stayed overnight for some?—

Sully’s gentle “So I’m assuming they weren’t freezing or starving” reminds me to get back on track.

“Right, so I see Mom out there, bundled up like a marshmallow, scarf practically swallowing her face, and she’s heading into the pasture with a bag of feed—like she’s about to save the day.”

Sully raises an eyebrow. I quickly glance away. He’s so easy to look at and has the best facial expressions.

“I’m watching from the window, and Steph’s out there, too, waving her arms, trying to get Mom to stop. But Mom, she’s on a mission. Doesn’t listen. Next thing you know, she’s right in the middle of the herd. Now, Mom might know how to handle stray cats and dogs and even the occasional fox or moose—well, sort of. I’ll tell you about Fred the moose sometime—but forty head of cattle? Not so much.”

Sully laughs. “Oh shit. So, it didn’t go as planned?”

“Not even close,” I say, grinning. “The cows all come toward her like she’s some kind of feed goddess. And Mom, in her finite wisdom—I think that’s what Steph called it—decides to dump the entire bag on the ground in one big heap.”

Sully is cracking up now. “You’re kidding? That sounds kind of dangerous.”

“I wish I was, and it definitely is dangerous. Even I know that. Seriously, there’s a reason why my favorite cow is a big-ass medium-rare fillet. Anyhow, feed went everywhere. The cows, all forty of them, start charging for the food. Mom’s right in the middle, dodging hooves, dancing around so she doesn’t get trampled. Meanwhile, Steph’s standing there, ready to lose it, yelling for Mom to get out of there.”

“What did your mom do?” Sully asks, barely containing his laughter.

“She starts laughing —like, this pure, fucking epic laugh—as the cows are circling her like she’s some kind of snow queen with a magical bag of feed. Steph had to wade through the snow to pull Mom out of the mess, and by the end of it, Mom’s still giggling, convinced she made a ‘special connection’ with the cows.”

Sully’s laughter is deep and loud. “Sounds like your mom’s a handful.”

I smile, warmth flooding my belly. “She is, but you’ll love her. She’s got a big heart. And now you’ll see why Steph keeps her as far away from the cattle as possible.”

At that, we reach the gate to their property.

“Is this it?”

“Sure is,” I answer. I love this place. Not that I’d want to live this far out of town or spend time ranching, but I can appreciate how beautiful it is.

The cattle grid rumbles under my tires as we cross it. I follow the gravel driveway up to their small ranch. It’s a cute thing, not too big. It’s not a sprawling ranch or anything. They do have a small cabin that I tend to stay in on the odd occasion I sleep over. It’s set up for the times they get a worker in for a few weeks, usually when calving or they’ve got a big fencing job or something.

My grin is instant when my gaze falls on Mom. “There she is.” She’s practically buried in an oversized coat, but it’s the bright yellow woolly hat that makes me snicker. It was the first thing I knitted, and it didn’t go exactly as planned. Mom insisted on keeping it and loves it still.

A few years in, the thing hasn’t unraveled, so I can’t have done too bad of a job, despite its flaws.

I push open the truck door, but before I barrel out, I stop in my tracks, remembering this is one of the times I need to step up and not get distracted. Immediately, I check on Sully.

The smile he’s aimed at me is reassuring.

“You okay?” I need to be certain. My mind-reading skills are for shit.

“Yeah.” He flicks a glance at Mom, a thick swallow following. As he does so, my eyes widen as awareness slams into me.

Sully is meeting my mom and stepmom.

That’s some next-level serious shit right here. That I didn’t even realize the significance before doesn’t even surprise me.

Before I can part my lips to reassure Sully that there’s no pressure and we really are here to see the cute fox, a double “oh shit” whammy smacks me right between the eyes.

Here’s the thing…. I’m close with my folks—my mom especially. Over the years she’s helped me through practically every crisis I’ve had. We’re also a family of oversharers.

“So I might have told my mom that we hooked up and who you are and that we’re working together.” The words spill out of me at warp speed. I’ve never been good at holding myself back or hiding what’s on my mind.

That’s a good thing. Or I thought it was until Sully chokes on nothing—air, I suspect, going down the wrong tube—and splutters, his face turning the same shade as the jersey my favorite football team wears.

“Uhm… shit.” I lift my arm, about to pat his back, but Sully waves me off. “Okay, as long as you’re not going to die on me.”

He drags in a lungful of air, finally getting his breathing under control. Watery eyes peer over at me as he says, “I’m fine. Honest, I’m fine.” The wheezing makes me suspect he’s exaggerating, but he’s speaking, so I’m not as worried.

“You sure?”

“Uh-huh.” A shuddery exhale follows, and Sully’s gaze is back on me. “Just warn a guy next time. Abigail’s always going on about the likelihood of me having a heart attack.”

I blanch. “You’re high-risk for a heart attack?” Shit, does he take pills or something? That’s a detail I should know, right? Or maybe not. Fuck, I don’t know.

“No, Hayes. Shit, no. I’m not high-risk or anything.” He gives a reassuring squeeze of my forearm, and I relax into his touch. “The only thing I’m at risk of is having a big sister who nags and reminds me how important it is to exercise. And maybe choking on nothing is a risk factor.” Another squeeze of my arm and he smiles.

The panic on his face has completely cleared, and my pulse is calming, thank fuck.

“Okay.” I nod, easing out a breath while shifting my arm so I’m holding his hand instead. Sully’s eyes widen a fraction, but he doesn’t let go.

“So you told your folks about me?” He angles his head and flicks his gaze out of the window before looking back at me.

Right—Mom.

She’s used to having to wait for me to get myself together. She’ll be fine for a couple more minutes. She won’t even think this is strange, me sitting here talking to Sully despite having spent the car ride together.

I bob my head. “I did.”

His brows lift, and he stares at me silently. After a beat, I figure he’s expecting more.

“Right, so, yeah. I told Mom about you. She’s looking forward to meeting you.” I hesitate, but fuck it. I really like Sully, seriously like him like him.

After witnessing my parents’ divorce and the secret Mom held back, I decided a long time ago that if I met someone, I’d be honest to a fault. I have no idea what “to a fault” actually means, but I’ve heard it said a few times about me, and only a handful of those were with a wince. I figure it can’t be a completely bad thing.

“The fox is super cute, and I thought you might like to cuddle it,” I start, thinking about the photos Mom has texted me. “But you meeting Mom and Steph is great too. I like us spending time together. I like it just as much as us hooking up, and I’m definitely open to more of that.”

His eyes widen, but he still doesn’t pull away.

“Often. Regularly,” I clarify. Double fuck it. “Exclusively.” I lift my right shoulder, trying to fend off the bubble of embarrassment starting to grow in my gut.

If Sully only wants to be friends—work colleagues won’t cut it—I’ll find a way to make peace with that. But after two weeks of spending time with him, getting to know him, I’m already thinking about the what-ifs and sunshine and rainbows and possibilities of us together. Plus, our one hot night together is wedged in my mind, refusing to fade away.

Everyone knows my addiction is sugar. Sully, though? Man, he tastes like sugar. No. Better than sugar. Who the fuck would have thought that was possible?

Sully shifts his gaze away from me and to the front window. My gut clenches. Is that his answer? His response? Is he simply dismissing?—

“It’s snowing.”

“What?” I shake my head and follow his gaze, my eyes widening in surprise. “No shit. It is snowing.” That wasn’t in the forecast. I jerk my head around, remembering Mom is still outside. “Shit, we better go in before Mom turns into a snowwoman.”

With a nod of agreement, Sully releases my hand. I don’t like it, but it is what it is. What I like even less is that he never said anything after I spilled what’s in my heart. Not that he really had much of a chance.

But why didn’t he say anything? I can’t shake the doubt creeping in. I know he’s not the type to shy away from a conversation. Maybe he’s just as surprised by what I said as I am. Or maybe he’s still processing what Hayes told him. I can’t help but wonder if he’s thinking about that conversation and if it’s lingering in his mind, the same way it is in mine.

Plus, I think as I jump out of the truck, grabbing my coat as I do, it’s likely I blindsided him. Which I’m pretty sure is a football term. It came from that movie with Quinton Aaron and Sandra Bullock.

Maybe. Who knows?

But yeah, I think I surprised him.

I check on Sully before darting to greet Mom. He closes the truck door, tugs on his coat, still wearing the hat and scarf I gifted him, and makes his way around the hood to me.

“Hurry your asses up. It’s colder than a witch’s tit out here!” Mom hollers.

I snicker, my chest warming when Sully huffs out a laugh beside me.

We pick up the pace and reach Mom, who wraps me in a hug. Her embrace is firm and familiar, but I pull away quicker than normal, not wanting Sully to be out in the snow that’s already covering his shoulders.

“Let’s get inside so you can meet Sully properly,” I say.

Mom’s eyes widen a little, and I roll mine. What, I can’t be thoughtful?

“Come on in. The fire’s going and the coffee’s hot,” Steph says from the open doorway. Her grin is wide.

I smile back before reaching out to Sully, putting my palm on the small of his back as we head up the few steps onto the porch. Once under the porch roof, I untie my boots, and Sully does the same.

“Where should I put these?” he asks, indicating his boots.

“Let me.” I take them off him and store them away in the shoe cabinet Mom and Steph keep out here.

“Thanks.”

“Coffee, then fox cuddles?” I ask with a smile. Mom’s already inside with Steph, leaving the two of us alone.

He smiles back, eagerness in his expression. It’s good to see the uncertainty gone. “Definitely.”

I hesitate, wanting desperately to take his hand. Being a bit much, a little full-on is kind of my thing. Or so I’ve been told. That awareness makes me keep my hands to myself. My fingers twitch, but I double on down with my self-control.

With a nod, I indicate for Sully to get out of the cold. He does so, and I close the door behind us. Heat immediately envelops us, so I make quick work of stowing away our coats, hats, and scarves before leading him into the kitchen, following the scent of coffee.