Faithful: Age Gap Small Town Romance (Whiskey Run Book 1)

by Hope Ford

  I can feel his cheek move into a smile. “Yeah, and you smell good. A cross between sunshine and honeysuckles.”

  Man, how can I have only met this man a few days ago and already he’s got me so turned upside down I can’t stand it? “So I have an idea.”

  “I’ll do it,” he says without hesitation.

  I pull back enough to look up at him. “You don’t even know what it is.”

  “Fine. If it involves me and you, possibly sitting in a dark room, then I’m in.”

  He’s smiling, but I can see the pain on his face. He’s tried his best to hide it. I pat him on the chest. “Fine, let’s go.” I reach for his hand and thread our fingers together and give him a little tug.

  He falls into step beside me. “So do I get to pick what we do in the dark room?”

  I laugh out loud. “Don’t hold your breath there, stud.”

  He wraps his arm around my shoulder, and we’re both smiling as we walk up the steps to my house.

  Austin

  “Oh good heavens, he’s smiling.” Carrie, my housekeeper, says as we walk in the front door. Carrie’s been with my family for what seems like forever. She’s more like family than anything. I thought for sure she’d leave me when my parents passed away, but she didn’t. She stayed right here with me.

  “Har, har,” I say before turning to Millie. “Honey, this is Carrie. She takes care of the house and me half the time.”

  Carrie tucks a few gray strands of hair behind her ear. “Yep, so now I won’t have to quit, it seems. Your girl’s here now, so I’m hoping you’re going to be a little nicer to be around.” Her smile deepens as she looks at Millie, and I can tell she already likes her. “All I can say is good luck.”

  Millie laughs, and I can already tell that these two are going to be thick as thieves together. “I haven’t been that bad.”

  “Ha!” Carrie spits out and starts laughing. “I love you like a son, and I quit my job five times today. Yes, you’ve been that bad.”

  I shake my head. It’s all a joke, but honestly I don’t know what I’d do without Carrie. “You wouldn’t ever leave me. You love me.”

  “I just said I did,” she deadpans with an eyeroll at Millie. “That concussion’s got him messed up more than he’s letting on. I’m going to go back to my room for the night. I know Millie came straight from work, so I’ve left you some dinner on the counter. Just call me if you need anything.”

  “Thanks, Carrie,” Millie says to the retreating woman.

  “Sure thing, honey. I’m hoping to see more of you.”

  Millie blushes when she looks at me, as if she’s trying to gauge my reaction to Carrie putting us together. The fact is, I’m hoping for the same thing. I want Millie around. More than I should probably admit for only knowing her a short time. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “So what do you think? We eat, then find a television somewhere in this big house and maybe turn the lights down real low –”

  “And you’ll let me hold you while we pretend to watch television.” Even I can hear the hope in my voice.

  She lifts her shoulders in defeat. “Sure. If it will get you to rest, I’m game.”

  Because I can’t resist a minute longer, I kiss her. It’s a brief kiss. One that reminds me of exactly how explosive we can be together. I pull away and show her to the kitchen. Picking up the plates, I ask her to grab two drinks out of the refrigerator.

  “What do you want?” she asks.

  “I’m good with water.”

  She grabs two waters. “Me too.”

  “Follow me.” I lead her into the living room, and she gasps behind me. No doubt because of the room. I get this reaction a lot.

  “This is your living room?”

  I set the plates on the coffee table and grab a remote that lifts the top up to the perfect height to eat from. “Yep. Have a seat.”

  She’s looking all around the room, her mouth hanging open. “This is, wow, this is amazing.”

  I try to look at it from her perspective. The floor is carpeted in a thick ivory beige, which Carrie hates. She has to have the cleaners come at least once a month to clean it. The furniture is big, dark chocolate wood. The couch is huge and takes up most of the room. The wall hangings are ones that I had specially painted of my favorite spots on my ranch. But probably the centerpiece of the whole room is the big screen television hanging from the ceiling. I spared no expense on this room because it’s where I am most of the time when I’m home. “Thanks, sugar. I’m glad you like it.”

  She sits down on the couch and starts to fidget. “Austin, what am I doing here?”

  I sit down next to her and wrap my hand around her knee. “I was sort of hoping you’re here because you wanted to be here.”

  “I do. I mean, I wanted to make sure you were all right. I should go.”

  I laugh and put my hands on her waist when she tries to get up. She falls back to the couch in a huff. “This is crazy. I don’t belong here.”

  “I say you do.” I give her one of my charming smiles, but she’s still stubbed up and looking uncomfortable.

  “Look, I’m going crazy here. My doctor says to rest, and I’m willing to do that since you’re here with me. We’ll eat. We’ll watch some TV. We’ll get to know each other.”

  I try to adjust how I’m sitting and wince as I feel my ribs catch. I suck in a deep breath of air and try to readjust. “Are you okay?” she asks worriedly.

  “Yeah. I’m fine,” I tell her with bated breath. I try to smile, but I know it’s only a grimace that appears on my face.

  The only saving grace for being in pain is the fact that it looks like I might get some sympathy from Millie. She grabs my plate off the coffee table and holds it out to me. “Here you go. Eat.”

  I take the plate, and she picks up the remote and turns the television on. “What do you want to watch?”

  “I don’t care,” I tell her, staring at her from the side. I want to reach out and push the hair behind her ear. I want her eyes on me, but I know I need to work up to it.

  She laughs. “I’ve never known a man not to care what’s on TV. As a matter of fact, I’m surprised you even let me hold the remote.”

  I’m torn. I want to ask her about the other men in her life but just the same, I don’t want to know either. “Things like that don’t matter to me. Plus, I’d rather watch you than the television.”

  She jerks her head toward me, and the surprise that lights up her face is evident. She’s blushing, and in this moment, I know she’s the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen. “Get your food and eat.”

  She grabs her plate, and instead of eating on the coffee table, she sits back and holds it in her lap. We’re right next to each other. I can feel the warmth of her thigh pressed against my leg, and a calm comes over me. The last few days have been filled with stress, from blurry vision, headaches, my ribs and knee, I’ve been a downright asshole. But now that she’s here, it’s like everything is right in the world.

  She eats slowly while I scarf down the sandwich, chips, and apple slices. When I’m done, I set the plate on the table and lean back with my water. She seems self-conscious, so I try to act like I’m watching television instead of completely aware of everything she’s doing.

  When she finishes, she stands up and grabs our plates. “No, it’s fine. Leave them.”

  She walks a few steps. “Give me just a few minutes, and I’ll be right back.”

  She isn’t gone long, and when she comes back she sits at the far end of the couch. I laugh.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You. Really, you think putting space between us is going to stop what’s happening between us?”

  She lifts her chin. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  I slide across the cushions and trap her into the arm of the couch. “Yes, you do. For whatever reason, you’re questioning all of this. Why I want you here. If you should trust me. And well, I’m glad you’re asking those questions because jus
t the fact that you’re wondering about them tells me that there’s hope for me. I’m not going to let you down, sugar.”

  She rolls her eyes. “There’s that name again.”

  I put my finger under her chin and bring her head up. “You like it. You know you do.”

  Her gaze holds such intensity, it’s almost vibrating off her. “I do like it, Austin. I like it when you call me sugar, honey, baby, all of it. But I don’t want to be hurt by you, and even though we just met, I know you could destroy me.”

  “But I’m not going to.”

  She looks as if she may argue with me, but she stops. “Forget it.”

  “No, obviously this is something we need to talk about.”

  She nods. “Yeah, we probably should. But not now. Not when you feel the way you do. Let’s just sit here and enjoy the movie and rest.”

  I put my arm around her shoulder and bring her into my side. Luckily, she doesn’t stiffen. She melts against me, and I lean my chin against her head. We watch television for I don’t know how long before I can feel my eyes getting really heavy. With her heat against me, I fall into the best sleep I’ve had in a long time.

  5

  Millie

  I fell asleep. It’s morning, but the sun hasn’t come up yet. I’m tucked against Austin, his arm around my waist as we lie with my back to his front. I can feel the steady rhythm of his breathing all around me, and I bask in the safety I feel in his arms. It would be way too easy to get used to this.

  I slide from his arms and onto the floor. On my knees, I look at him. Me getting up didn’t even faze him. He’s still sleeping. I look at the soft expression on his face, and I’m glad to see that he was able to sleep so well.

  I tiptoe out of the room. Luckily, I have some things in the truck, so I go and grab them and freshen up. When I come out of the bathroom, Carrie is in the kitchen. She’s cooking breakfast, and I debate on whether I should leave or not. “I got a late start this morning. Breakfast will be ready in a little while.”

  “Oh, I think I’m going to head out—"

  But before I can even finish, she points the spatula she’s holding at me. “Don’t think you can just leave while he’s sleeping, honey. Knowing him, he’d just drive into town and follow you, and he’s not supposed to be driving for a week.”

  “Okay, do you think he’d mind if I walked around the ranch? It’s so beautiful, I’d love to see it at sunrise.”

  “He wouldn’t mind. Just stick close to the barn.”

  I nod and head out the front door. There’s already a number of people out, and it looks like they are feeding the animals. I walk around, taking in the horses whinnying, the talking and laughter of the men as they work, and the hay being thrown from the hay loft. I take a deep breath, and the smell of dust, dirt, and horse hide fills the air around me. I couldn’t stop the smile that overcomes me if I wanted to. My family’s ranch and this one may be very different, but the feel and smells are the same.

  I walk over to the corral and see the lone horse trotting around. She whinnies every now and then. I cluck my tongue, and the horse freezes. She holds steady and very slowly swings her head toward me. She twists and turns her head before slowly walking toward me. When she gets close enough to the fence, I climb up and sit on the edge with my hand held out. She breathes in my scent and moves closer, rubbing her head along my jean-clad thigh. I walk down the side of the fence and land in the dirt with my hand still on her velvet hide.

  Running my hand along her mane, I ask her, “How are you doing, pretty girl? Why are you out here by yourself?”

  I hear an intake of breath behind me, and I turn, expecting to see Austin but instead, Carter the foreman is standing there staring at me with his mouth hanging open.

  The horse instantly starts to back up, and I start cooing to her to settle her. With one hand on her bridle, I stroke her nose with the other, all the time talking to her in a low encouraging voice.

  “Well, I’ll be damned.”

  “What was that, Carter?”

  “Uh, sorry, ma’am. It’s just no one on the ranch has been able to do anything with her since Austin saved her from the slaughterhouse. Each day we get a little step closer, but she about bit the man that put the bridle on her this morning. She’s the one that threw Austin, too.”

  “What? But you’re so sweet,” I tell the horse, instead of answering Carter.

  He snorts behind me.

  “Can I ride her?”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Austin probably wouldn’t be happy about it.”

  I look at him pleadingly. “Carter, I was raised on a ranch. I know about horses, and this one wants to go on a run. Just around the corral.”

  “She won’t let you saddle her.”

  If that wasn’t a challenge I’ve never heard one. I spot a saddle hanging over the fence and go to grab it. I approach the beautiful white horse, and she stands completely still as I saddle her and doesn’t even seem upset when I tighten the belt around her stomach. “You’re a good girl, aren’t you?” I look at Carter. “What’s her name?”

  “I don’t think the boss has named her yet. We were waiting for her to name herself. Ornery comes to mind.”

  “Bite your tongue. I’m thinking Patches. She looks like a Patches to me.” She’s white with brown fur in patches down her back.

  I grab the reins and pull myself up on the horse. She tussles around, but doesn’t seem to object to me sitting astride her. I give her a small kick with my heel and cluck my tongue, and she starts to move. I start off slow, but it doesn’t seem either of us is happy with that. We take a few turns in the corral before I let her loose. We gallop around, and even though I have almost all the cowboys standing at the fence, all of them staring in amazement, I’m laughing and happy. It seems I’ve made a new friend.

  Austin

  I wake up, and before I get too far off the couch, Carrie lets me know that Millie is outside at the barn. I rub my hands across my face and go upstairs to shower real fast and go outside to find her. There are flutters in my stomach just at the thought of seeing her again. I woke up a few times in the night, and every time we had our arms wrapped around each other. Now, in the light of the day, I have all kinds of thoughts in my head. I’m attracted to Millie. I was the first time I saw her, and even though I knew I wanted to date her, I know I won’t just settle for a date or two. The way she is, her kind heart and loving way about her makes me start to imagine all kinds of things. The fact that she came when she knew I was hurt and stayed the night with me tells me that she likes me and gives me a little hope.

  As soon as I step off the porch, I notice there’s a gathering at the corral. It seems everyone is goofing off this morning instead of working. That is until I spot Millie on the back of the unruly horse that threw me yesterday. I have to fight the urge to run toward her and save her. The only thing that stops me is the big smile on her face. Her long black hair is blowing in the wind, and she seems happy and at home. She’s something else up there, and I’m not the only one that is noticing. All my men are smiling at her; it’s as if her carefree happy attitude is drawing them all in. I could stand here and watch her all morning, but worry fills me. No one has been able to do anything with this horse. I don’t even know how this happened.

  I get to the fence, next to my foreman. “Carter, what is she doing out there?”

  “Boss, she obviously knows her way around horses. Look at her.”

  “I am looking. You need to quit looking.” I address the rest of the men. “All of you need to quit looking – get to work.”

  They all give me a smirk. I know what it looks like. I’ve just met the woman and already I’m going crazy over her, but I don’t care. I want to be the one that looks at her.

  She spots me, and her whole face transforms. She looks worried and rides over toward me. “You’re supposed to be resting.”

  I hear the snickers of the men walking away, and obviously she does too.

  She
blushes prettily. “I mean, since you’re not feeling well, you should be in bed.”

  It’s killing me to have her up on the back of the wild horse, but I don’t want to make any sudden moves. The closer she gets to me, the more skittish the horse seems to get. “I’m more worried about you. That horse...”

  “Is the sweetest horse I’ve ever met.” She slides down, and only when her feet hit the dirt am I able to breathe easier. She grabs the lead and walks, petting the horse’s mane. “From what Carter said, I’m thinking she had a male owner, and he wasn’t very nice. I mean, he made it sound like Patches doesn’t like men, but what do I know? I mean, there could be women on this ranch all the time.”

  She won’t look at me. I know what she’s asking without actually asking me. “Honey, there’s not any women that come here. Carrie stays in the house or in the garden, but she doesn’t ever come down to the barn. You’re the only woman that’s been here in a very, very long time.”

  She smiles but tries to stop herself by biting her lip. Clearing her throat, she shrugs. “Well, then maybe my theory is right.”

  “So, Patches, huh?”

  She starts to stutter. “I mean, that’s just what I called her when I was talking to her. I’m not trying to name your horse or anything. You should pick out her name.”

  I take a step closer to her, real slow like. When Patches doesn’t seem to mind, I take another step. “Sounds to me like she’s your horse now.”

  “I can’t take your horse.”

  I reach up and brush the hair off her face. “She’s yours. But you’ll have to come here and see her.”

  She puts her hand on her hip. “You don’t just give people horses, Austin.”