Sawyer (Lucky River Ranch, #3)

by Jessica Peterson

“Aw, baby, you got me.” He kicks the door shut behind us as he leans down to suck on my nipple through my shirt. “Anytime. For as long as you’ll let me stay.” Straightening, he looks me in the eye. “ ’Cause I wanna stay, pretty girl.” My throat swells with emotion. I drape my arms over his shoulders. “I know you do.”

“Let me,” he murmurs, kissing my mouth. “Let me, Ava.” He kisses one cheek, then the other. “Please let me stay.” I close my eyes, the burn there almost unbearable. I think I’m in love with you, I want to say. I’m scared out of my mind, but I’m thinking about it, Sawyer. I’m thinking about letting you stay.

“That’s a good boy,” I pant. “You’re so good at this, honey.” Sawyer bites my palm. At the same time, he presses his thumb, hard, against my clit.

“You can’t tell me you don’t.” He paints my nipple with his cum. “I wanna be everywhere, Ava. All over you, every morning and every night. Once a day ain’t nearly enough.” I swallow, hard. “It’s not.” “So let me have you, pretty girl.” He leans in to kiss my mouth. “I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Hey, princess! Oh, I’ve missed you. We get the whole weekend together. We’re going to have fun, aren’t we?” “The most fun,” June replies. “Can Mommy come though?” The feeling in my chest twists tighter. “Aw, Bug, you and daddy are going to have special time together, remember? I’ll be waiting for you right here when he drops you back off tomorrow.”

“But I want you both to be with me today.” “Well, your mommy made that call.” Dan pinches her cheek. “We can’t all be together anymore.” “Hey,” I fire back. “What? You’re the one who wanted it this way.”

“Clearly she knows this isn’t normal.” He puts June down, and she immediately wraps herself around my legs. I pat her back soothingly. “It’s all right, Bug. Mommy and Daddy are just having a little disagreement.” I give him a look. “Do you not want to take her? Because I’m more than happy⁠—” “Of course I want to take my daughter. I just hate when she’s all bummed out like this.” “She’ll be fine once she’s in your car. Isn’t that right, June? I packed her tablet and it’s fully charged. We downloaded Rapunzel⁠—” “Mr. Sawyer helped me do it!” June announces proudly. “He’s so nice. He’s always helping me and Mommy.”

“Fine,” he clips at last. “But you best believe if I hear a whisper of this man hurtin’ our little girl, we’re gonna have a problem.” I’m so angry and embarrassed and sad that I’m shaking. I still manage to bite out, “You’re the problem. You always have been. You’re the one who hurt me by not trusting me. By forcing me to bury who I really am. And you’re the one who hurt our little girl by not showing up the way we needed you to.” A tear leaks out of my eye. I quickly wipe it away. “Get out. Now.” “Whatever.” Dan rolls his eyes, throwing up his hands. “You’re crazy.”

laugh. It’s more of a cackle, really, the kind that scorches the back of my throat. “What?” Dan asks. I shake my head. “It’s just funny. Men love to call women ‘crazy,’ but y’all are the crazy ones thinking we’d ever settle for your bullshit.” “Fuck you,” he spits. “Get. Out.” I nod at the door. “And if I so much as hear a whisper about you putting bad thoughts or ideas into our little girl’s head, you best believe we’re gonna have a problem.”

“Listen. We all want a guarantee that things will work out and we’ll be okay. Truth is, nobody gets a guarantee. You take risks and hope they work out, and that’s all you can do.”

Seeing her face, I immediately draw up short. An ugly feeling cuts through my center as I take in her swollen, bloodshot eyes. Hell, her whole face is swollen, like she’s been crying for hours. I hold my beer in a death grip. Jesus fucking Christ. Jesus fucking Christ, what did that asshole do?

“I’m—” She clears her throat. “Sorry I’m so late. It was—I’ve had a day⁠—” “Who?” I bite out the word. My pulse jumps, palms tingling. I feel my brothers watching us. Ava blinks, her throat working as she swallows. “What do⁠—” “Who did this to you?” I gesture to her face. She looks up at me. “What do you mean?”

“Who made you cry? Who hurt you? Please tell me, Ava.”

don’t love fighting. But if someone hurt my girl⁠— Yeah, he’s gonna have a date with my right fist.

She’s trembling. I curse, pulling her closer. Something bad definitely happened, and I’m definitely going to crack some skulls if that something was her asshole ex putting his hands on her or being abusive in any other way. What kind of man makes somebody cry hard enough that her eyes swell up like this?

“You get to decide these things, Ava,” I reply, my pulse skidding at the idea that she wants to tell her ex about me. That feels like a big step. “This is your life, not his. You tell him when you’re ready.” Ava’s eyes are glassy when they meet mine. “But it’s all our lives, isn’t it? Because you’re a part of June’s life now, Sawyer.” She squeezes my hand. “I hope a big part. And I should’ve told Dan about us, because he’s going to be seeing a lot of you.” Holy. Shit.

“Thank you. For turning a really bad day into a really good one.” My turn to squeeze her hand. “That’s kind of my job as your boyfriend.” “That makes me your girlfriend, huh?” “I ain’t sharing if that’s what you’re asking.”

“He’s coming back to bring Junie home tomorrow, right?” Ava nods. “You wanna meet him?” “I do.” “Leave the gun at home.” “Ava, I’m not gonna shoot the guy,” I say with a chuckle. “I may give him a black eye⁠—” “Don’t.” “Kidding. I’m not one to start a fight.”

“I’m fine. Really. He did apologize over text this morning, which is better than nothing.” What a coward, saying he’s sorry in a text. If I had my way, I’d grab Junie, bring her inside, and then chase this motherfucker away with my rifle. But my mama raised me better than that.

wait until he and I are standing beside his truck to speak. I keep my voice low, tone even. Cool as a cucumber. “So, hey,” I begin, looking him square in the eye. “I’m gonna be nice to you in front of Ava and Junie, because they really do mean the world to me.” Dan peers at me from the corner of his eye. He’s gripping the door handle of his truck like a lifeline. “Okay.” “But you ever make my girl cry again, I won’t be this nice. Understood?” His eyes narrow, flashing with anger. I notice his grip on the door loosens.

Everything inside me heaves as my truck skids across the pavement, the tires making this terrible screeching sound. The mother—I think it’s the mother—darts out into the street too. Oh God oh God this can’t be happening again. Mom and Dad. The car not stopping. Is this what they felt when they realized it was too late? My tires catch on the curb, and my stomach lurches into my throat as the truck goes airborne. Please, God, don’t let me die now. Not when shit’s just getting good. There’s a scream. Then everything goes black.

Our little family. I love us, and I will forever be pissed at God or the universe or whoever is in charge if I’m taken away from them. A tingling sensation works its way down my spine and through the rest of my body. The pain in my head and side lessens. The song and the dreams stop. But the warmth in my hands—that stays.

“He’s doing great, Ava. And so are you.” “Coffee is my new best friend,” she says with a laugh. You’re my best friend, I try to say. Instead, I make this weird rasping sound that scrapes the sides of my throat raw. “Sawyer? Sawyer, honey, are you awake?” God, I love it when she calls me honey.

like the idea of your mom and dad visiting you, though. That’d mean the whole crew was here—your brothers, your parents. Even Sally and Mollie were here. I mean, the kids weren’t, obviously, because they had to go to bed. But you had a whole crowd here rooting for you, Sawyer.”

look at her through a film of tears. “And you’re the one who stayed.” She takes my hands again and gives them a squeeze. “I sure as hell ain’t leaving you.”

“Are you kidding? It was an absolute pleasure to travel with Wheeler. Most fun I’ve had in fuckin’ forever,” he continues. “But since we got back to Texas, we haven’t hung out much. I …” He sighs. “I guess I just miss her.” Cash rides up on the other side of Duke, clearing his throat. “You try talkin’ to her?” “Of course I’ve tried. She won’t return my calls or my texts. Haven’t seen her at any meals. I get the feeling she’s avoiding me. And you know, I accept the fact that she doesn’t want to see me again. I just can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong.”

Cash clears his throat again. “You chokin’?” I ask. He shakes his head. “Duke, you gotta talk to her.” “What?” Duke pulls on his reins, slowing his horse. “Do you know something I don’t?” Cash looks away. His posture is stiff. “Talk to her,” he repeats. “How can I do that if she won’t pick up my calls? If you know something, Cash, I need you to tell me.”

Duke grabs Cash’s arm, his eyes wide. “Tell me. I’m begging you. She okay?” “She’s fine. Well, not fine, but⁠—” “Jesus Christ.” I look at my brother, shell-shocked as the pieces suddenly click into place. “She’s pregnant, isn’t she?” I glance at Duke. Duke glances at Cash, panic written clear as day on his face. “Fuck.” Cash closes his eyes. “I didn’t say that.” “Is it true?” Duke’s voice is barely above a whisper. “Is Wheeler pregnant?” Cash opens his eyes. They’re wet. “Yes, Duke. Wheeler is pregnant.”