I take a deep breath and open the door and jump down from my seat. Holding my hand up to shade my eyes, I look at him smiling back at me. “Hey, Austin. I heard you had a run-in with a horse.”
He waves his hand. “I’m fine. Better now that you’re here.”
“I have your order. Let me know where you want it, and I’ll unload it.”
“Carter!” he hollers and instantly winces. Even yelling is hurting his head. “Can you unload this?” he asks the man as he comes walking up to us.
“Sure thing, boss,” the man named Carter says as he stops beside us. “So you must be Millie?”
I look between Austin and the man named Carter, a little surprised that he knows my name. “I am. I’m from the Whiskey Run Farmers Co-Op.” I hold my hand out to him, and I swear I hear Austin growl. He must really be hurting. Carter squeezes my hand and smiles at me.
“And she’s taken,” Austin snarls.
My eyes snap to Austin, and a tremble shoots down my back. His heated glance is trained on me, and my nipples harden at the rough sound of his voice. “I, uh...”
Carter laughs. “Trust me. I could have guessed that for how much you talked about her today.” He rolls his eyes and walks to the bed of my truck. “I hope since you’re here you can get him inside where he’s supposed to be.”
“Really, Carter. This is my ranch. It’s my name on the gate at the end of the driveway... I’m pretty sure if I want to stand outside on my ranch I can do it.”
Obviously, Austin is not a good patient. I point to the load in my truck. “Carter, do you want my help unloading...”
“You’re not unloading shit. I’ll be damned if I’m going to have my woman unload my order...”
The way he says “my woman” sends a little thrill through me, but his words still agitate me. I cock my hip out and put my hand on it. “I’ll have you know that I can do anything a man can. As a matter of fact, I can usually do it better.” I turn to Carter. “No offense, Carter.”
Carter hollers from the back of my truck, “None taken.”
When I turn back around, Austin is standing toe to toe with me. He puts one hand on my cheek and the other one at my waist. “I have no doubt about that. The fact is, I don’t want you to. Not when you’ve got me right here to share the load.”
“Austin, you’re hurting. You hide it well, but I can see it on your face. You can’t be lifting things. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to be resting your ribs and sitting in a dark room for your concussion.”
Carter walks by with a load in his hands. “Good luck with that. I’ve tried all morning to get him inside.”
I shake my head. I had a clear plan in my head. I was going to be in and out. But now I can see that I may really be needed here. He’s obviously not taking care of himself. Austin’s hand moves around my back and pulls me in. His cheek is resting against the top of my head, and I swear I hear him sniffing. “Are you smelling me?”
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 his house.
Chapter8
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.