I took a big bite from my burger and saw the wrought-iron sign sticking up from near the mailbox. Welcome to Finlay Ridge.
Good name, because there was a big ridge behind the house, stretching as far and wide as I could see in the dark, covered in tall trees.
“I didn’t know you were a farmer, Sir.”
He chuckled and joined me, opening the gate. “I don’t grow enough crops to feed a family yet, but I have high hopes for next season.” He gestured for me to enter, so I walked forward and took in my surroundings. I freaking loved this. I’d been promised dogs too. Archie had told me they had six of them. Six rescue dogs.
I loved dogs.
“One day, I want a dog and a pig,” I said. “And a couple bunnies. Possibly a goat.”
“Yeah?” He smiled. “You know those teacup pigs get big, right?”
“I know,” I replied flippantly. That was the whole thing. “You can get a free pig in some places, and most of them come from people who fell for the lies of mini pigs. I want a chonky thing.”
He grinned at me.
“Chunky or chonky?” Archie asked, visibly confused.
“Chonky.” Because that’s what I said.
“Internet speak,” Sloan supplied helpfully. “Jason’s made me fluent in meme vernacular.” To me, he added, “My eldest.”
Ah.
“Today I learned,” Archie mused, heading toward the house. Greer jogged after him. They’d already finished their food.
I hung back and took another bite of my burger. “How many kids do you have, Sir?”
Sloan smiled politely and stuck his hands into his pockets. “Four.”
Yowza.
“Jason’s eleven,” he said. “Jamie’s eight, Emma-Jo is four, and Loki recently turned three.”
“Hot damn,” I said around a mouthful of food. “You don’t look old enough to have that many kids.”
He smirked and quirked a brow. “How old do you think I am?”
I shrugged. “Maybe thirty-five?” And I was under the impression that each kid aged a parent ten years.
“Bless you,” he chuckled. “I’m gonna ask you to repeat that in front of Greer. I’m thirty-eight.”
A couple years older than Marcus, then. It was possible I had a thing for older men…
“How old is Greer?” I wondered. It was better to ask than guess. Guesses could get me into trouble!
“Forty-five.” Sloan gestured for me to head up the porch steps, making me realize I’d slowed down. “Before you ask, Archer is thirty-three.”
Yeah, that was a sexy span. Forty-five for Greer. Oof. That made him over twenty years my senior. How hot was that?
It was a shame my Daddy wasn’t into group play or open relationships. That was certainly one compromise I’d made for his sake. I was only allowed to be sexual with Marcus.
On the other hand, I wasn’t sure I was very open either. I just thought…one was a very tiny number. What was wrong with two or three?
I reached the top step of the porch and frowned to myself.
“I’m a little mad my Daddy can have other Littles but I can’t play with other Doms.”
Yes, dammit, I said it out loud.
“Hold that thought, sweetheart.” Sloan gestured to the seating area to my left and the door. “Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”
O…kay.
Cramming the last of my burger into my mouth, I crumpled the wrapping in my hand and walked over to have a seat in one of the chairs. They’d forgotten to take in the cushions for the day. Even though we were under a roof, they could totally get wet. But it worked for me! I plopped down and reached for a blanket, this one much itchier than the one I’d had wrapped around me earlier, but at least I had a tee on now.
I blew out a breath and coughed a little. My throat didn’t hurt or anything, but it tickled every now and then, and I’d been told that was normal.
What a craptastic day. As soon as I thought about the fire, I wanted to cry. And at the same time, I felt weirdly upbeat. Even though I’d cried in the truck and was completely wrung out.
It’d been a pretty long ride too. We were on the wrong side of Winchester, so it took, like, an hour and a half to get to DC from here. But yeah, right now? I felt fine. Mildly annoyed with Marcus.
I should savor the moment. First time in so long that I didn’t feel super guilty.
Perhaps the location played a part. I felt removed from reality out here in the nothingness. Like I was a world away from my own life, and it was true in a way.
For crying out loud, I heard cows in the distance. And I’d seen horses on the way out here. Greer’s neighbor had a horse ranch, he’d told me.
Sloan returned mere seconds later, and he’d brought a blanket and drinks. Water, soda—oh, Mountain Dew! And snacks. Grapes, Pringles, and a Three Musketeers bar. Yum.