"Anyone ever tell you that you have a great ass?"
"Mostly men." She gulped down some tea then laughed. "From behind."
"Dax!" I splashed her and she grinned.
"Willa Dean Hart." I swung around when I heard my sister's voice echo between the house and patio. "I understand you're in a relationship, but does that mean you have to ditch your sister?"
"You're in trouble." Dax laughed at me as Sage appeared beside the pool after worming her way through the fence. I swatted her leg.
"Auntie Will!" Macie burst through, shoving Sage out of the way as she tore off toward the pool at full throttle. Dax started, gripping the edge of the pool as she watched in horror.
"Macie!" scolded Sage, but it was too late.
Shoes, dress, and all, Macie took a running leap into the deep end of the pool. I cracked up at the joy that lit up her face while Sage's hands flew to her head. Dax, however, dove head first into the water in Macie's direction.
The two of them surfaced, with Macie giggling up a storm, and Dax in complete panic. She gasped for breath, holding Macie on her hip while she tread water. I met them in the middle and Dax choked on her emotions.
"She's okay." I touched Dax's face at the same time that I placed my hand on Macie's head. "She can swim."
"I can swim!" Macie sputtered. "But I lost my shoes."
"Oh my God, Macie." Sage crouched beside the pool, waving her over. "You gave us a heart attack!"
"So! My heart wanted to swim." Macie wiggled free from the two of us and swam over to the edge like a professional.
I grabbed Dax who just hugged me while she took a breath. "I panicked."
"I noticed. Thank you for caring about my niece enough to panic." I smooched her cheek and we swam to the edge.
"Mom," Macie whined when Sage fished her out of the pool.
"Oh, Macie." Sage sighed, tugging the kid out of her dress. "Sometimes I wonder what goes through your head."
"Not much." Macie shrugged and wiggled free. "Socks." She kicked up her soggy feet and Sage struggled to free her feet.
"Willa Dean, I swear you birthed this child." Sage removed her socks and left Macie in just her underwear.
"Willa Dean." Dax snickered and I swatted her.
"Why are you getting salty at me?" I laughed at Sage while Macie grinned like a happy little fiend. "She's your kid."
"Because she acts like you more than anyone," Sage said, huffing after.
"Dax, can we play with that?" Macie pointed at the pool noodle floating in the water.
"Sure, kid. Ask your mom."
"Can we, Mom?" Macie giggled up at her mother. "Dax'll watch me."
"You sure about that?" Sage looked to Dax, her brow crinkled.
"She seems fun." Dax waved her hand to Macie who didn't waste a second diving in the pool. The two of them swam off while I leaned myself on the edge, kicking my feet.
"You look tired, sissy." I patted Sage's bare knee. "Put your feet in."
She shifted, taking her flip-flops off to dangle her feet in the water. "It's chilly."
"Feels good though." I rested my chin on her knee. "You hunted me down and called me by my middle name twice. What's wrong?"
"Macie's worn me out. Jake's worked all weekend, Mom's been with her friends working on the Lavender Festival stuff, and I'm chasing a six-year-old by myself." She ran her fingers through my hair that I had in a bun to prevent from getting wet after the recent dye job. "Your hair is different."
"Got it done yesterday. Macie doesn't usually wear you out this easily. You sure that's all?"
"I'm lonely because my sister abandoned me." She pouted at me and I squeezed her arm.
"I'm sorry, Sage. I don't mean to do that. Things are just...new. I'm not used to balancing."
"Mostly, I'm busting your chops." She smiled when she said it. "I've grown used to having you all to myself these past two years."
"Because you've never known me in an actual relationship," I said, leaning my head on her knee again while we watched Dax with Macie. The two of them played equally rough with each other now that Dax was secure in Macie's swimming ability.
"I haven't." She continued to toy with the fringes of my hair. "You're happy with Dax."
"Very." I nodded, smiling at how easily Dax fit in with us. "She makes me happy every day, even if it's a hard day."
"You both deserve it." Sage chuckled when Dax dunked Macie after she splashed her. "She's great with kids. Have you guys talked about having kids?"
"Not interested. We're happy to look after yours and a bunch of animals." I shook my head, cringing at the idea of birthing a baby. "I've never wanted it."
"I know. How about Dax?"
"She's said the same."
"As long as you're happy." Sage's voice faded as she gazed around the property and I focused my attention on the two splashers. "It's really beautiful here."
"I know. I love it. There's a lake and dock that way." I pointed behind us. "A few acres out past the trees."
"Where are the goats and horses?" she asked.
"Grazing in the pastures. The goats have their own paddock with places to climb and such. It's fenced in sort of high so it keeps predators out." I nodded to the west. "That way."
"Macie will want to see them."
"We'll take her. I'm glad you came out here."
"I was partially worried when you didn't answer your phone," she said.
"It's somewhere on the porch."
"Glad you've divorced yourself from it." She gave my arm a swat. "Hiring Doctor Harmon seems worth it."
"It is. He does the in-house stuff, I do the community stuff. Having two technicians now as well, it's fully functioning with less of a burden on me," I said, allowing my legs to float up in the water when I relaxed against the edge of the pool. "Not like it was on Dad."
"He refused help except from Nellie for reception. Everything was always on him."
"And all it got him was a heart attack in his sixties."
"I know, sissy." She leaned down to hug me. "Are you pulling a profit running it this way?"
"Yeah. Definitely. It's more efficient, more patients. Money doesn't drive me though."
"We know." She laughed at that. "We all know, Willa. It never has."
"It's part of why Dax and I get along, I think. We don't care about stuff like that. Just...simple things. Spending time together, sharing meals, working on the farm. I like that about our life together," I said, watching Dax as she and Macie set up a volleyball net across the water. Dax tossed me a smile, her expression bright across her sun-kissed cheeks. I blew her a kiss and she winked at me.
"Those are the important things, Will. Jake and I never had anything big. Jake grew up kind of poor; he's always worked. You and I never knew about Mom and Dad's finances. We grew up just the same. It wasn't until later did we realize that we could go to school, get degrees, change things," she said, her voice reflective. "And not have to struggle for it."
"True. Things are fine now. Balanced."
"They are." She patted my arms and the water made a slapping sound. "I should've dropped Macie with the two of you earlier. She's having fun."
"Dax is entertaining." I laughed at her willingness to ditch her kid. "Need a nap, sissy?"
"Yes." She pouted. "Babysit, would you?"
"Done." I gave her a small splash as I pushed myself back into the water. "We'll tire her out."
"Good." Sage pretended to faint. "G'night."
"Drama queen." I made my way back to Dax and Macie, joining them in a fresh game of pool volleyball.
Sage and Macie hung out with us all afternoon. We ended our day by playing with the fruit basket of goats, and letting Macie ride Carol with Dax's support. At around five, Dax received a dreaded work call about picking up a warrant, at which she frowned.
I saw her off, nearly pouting as our weekend came to an abrupt close, then ended up joining Sage at her house for Sunday dinner. Despite my protest, Dax wouldn't let me go wit
h her to work and I wondered just what kind of job she was headed into.
"Little girl, you're daydreaming," Mom called out as I stood in the kitchen, watching as she wrapped up some leftovers while I poked at the salad.
"I am. I don't like when Dax has to rush off," I said, helping myself to a cucumber. "Or if I have to."
"The beginnings of relationships are always lovely. Never wanting to be apart. The love and lust. Comforts," she said, smiling through it as she handed me a cucumber before securing the lid on the bowl.
"Exactly." I accepted her offering and smirked. "Now I feel pouty."
"She'll be back soon." Mom crossed the kitchen to store the bowl in the fridge. "Sage told me what happened when Rowan visited."
"She's a miserable woman, Mom. She treats Dax terribly. Dismissive and cold." The memory of Dax's mother rekindled the anger that I harbored toward her.
"I also heard what you happened to call her." Mom chuckled, coming to stand beside me. "An accurate analysis."
"How were you ever friends with her?"
"Rowan changed over the years, darlin'. She wasn't always cold and money-hungry."
"What could make someone treat their kid that way?" I asked as Sage joined us in the kitchen. She swatted my ponytail on her way to the fridge and I gnashed my teeth at her. It made her snicker.
"I'm not sure of that." Mom came to stand in front of me, while plucking at strands of my hair. "As a parent, I may not always understand my children's choices, but I will always love and support them."
"I know, Ma." I smiled at her as I pulled her into a hug. She kissed my cheek after, then leaned me back. "We would really like it if you went fishing with us…"
"Perhaps next time, darlin'." She offered me a small smile and I nodded.
I made it back to my place that night, tired and a little lonely. It took me some time to straighten up the things I'd neglected over the past few weeks, before heading off for a shower and bed.
Dax texted me right when I pulled the blankets to my chin and it made me smile. Naked yet?
And thinking of you, I replied.
Damn right.
Only you.
Don't like having to leave abruptly like that.
I know, honey. Where are you tonight?
Down near Tacoma. Might be awhile…
It's okay. Is it different?
Fugitive warrant. Seattle PD Detectives with me, she explained.
Do you normally get that kind?
Rarely. Especially not now.
Be careful...I love you.
I love you back, baby. Text me when you wake up. Also—show me your tits.
I laughed aloud, grinning at her silly way of lifting the seriousness. Dax!
:)
I sent her a topless selfie anyway.
***
The next morning brought in a riot of Monday appointments. Both Doctor Harmon and I were back to back all day. I dropped Dax a text before work, but didn't have a chance to even look at my phone until well-after lunch.
"What a day," said Nellie at around five-thirty when the last of the emergency visits left. "But a good day."
"Good summation, Nell." I laughed as I jotted notes in the patient chart.
Doctor Harmon emerged from the back room, and hopped up to sit on the desk. "Pickle pooped out the LEGO."
"Our day is now complete." I grinned as I set my pen down.
Joanna joined us, letting out a sigh. "I'm pooped. Are there any overnight patients tonight?"
"Nope." I shook my head. "Thursday we have two neuterings though. I keep them overnight for safety and it's less stress on the families."
"That's my night. Becky will take the next." Joanna yawned and leaned her chin on her hand while gazing down at Nellie. "Anyone want to head to Rooney's?"
"No thanks," I said, pulling out my phone to see a text from Dax.
"I'm in," said Harmon. "By the smile on Willa's face, her girl must be home."
"You think you're funny, do you?" I narrowed my eyes at him and he laughed. "She'll be home around seven."
"Are you going to cook her up a fancy dinner to come home to? One where dessert is you in lingerie?" Nellie wagged her brows and I laughed, though paused when the idea came to fruition in my brain.
"You know, Nell, you might be on to something." I grinned and pocketed my phone. "Night, folks. I'm out."
"Later, Doc." Joanna waved and I hurried out to my car.
By six-thirty, I had successfully broken into Dax's house after a quick trip to the grocery, had a shower, and started on dinner while waiting for her to return. While the beef tenderloin cooked, I headed off to the guest room to see what progress she'd made on turning it into a full bedroom. Unlike last time, fresh carpeting covered the floor in soft plush beige. Three white walls surrounded the single green accent wall, textured with paneling. Sconces hung on either side of the king size bed that wasn't yet made up. The bulbs in the lights gave it an oil lamp feel. I admired the new headboard, and smiled at the freshly washed sheets strewn over a gray accent chair. Dax had been working in here, and she was only partly done.
On my way out, I noted the rolled up fringe carpet in the corner beside packages of curtains with rods to span the vast window that overlooked the expanse of the property. From the window, the sun set behind the mountains, and the trees reached around the edges of the lake. The landscape, with the rolling greens adjacent to the lavender fields, nearly stole the air from my lungs. No wonder Dax loved it here. Every window seemed to hold a different view.
I returned to the kitchen when the timer went off, and got to work on the pomegranate and cauliflower salad. My thoughts wandered to how much my life had changed in just a few short months. Could I live here with Dax in the future? Would she even want me to? Was she as serious about me as I was about her? For years I'd avoided relationships for various reasons and now, here I stood, in a woman's kitchen, cooking for her on the sneak while awaiting her return home. My insides smoldered with untethered want and my heart thumped at the excitement of surprising her.
Rudy yowled and thrust himself against my shins, distracting me from my thoughts.
"Oh there you are." I reached down to stroke his back. "And hungry. As always." He grumbled at me before I reached up to grab his food. The minute it hit the bowl, he forgot I existed again.
As if the cat had some sort of extra sense that picked up on Dax's presence, his appearance marked the minute or so before the crunch of her tires on the gravel broke the quiet. I removed the roast from the oven, and set everything out on the dining room table before she made it into the house.
Her boots thudded on the wooden porch, at a faster pace than usual and I greeted her in the hall, a smile plastered on my face that I couldn't wipe off. She pulled her sunglasses off first, her eyes lighting up the second they landed on me. In her usual work outfit, black jeans and a T-shirt with her badge around her neck, the vision of her set my heart to fluttering the same way it had the first time I met her.
"Hi," I said, my voice softer than I intended.
"Hi, baby." She set her glasses and keys on the table by the door then swept over to me. "What have you done?"
"Cooked for you." I chuckled when she grabbed me into a rough embrace. She kissed me, lifting me to my toes. "Yum."
"You're amazing," she said, nibbling my bottom lip. Her warm body pressed against mine as her arms encircled my waist. "And I like you in my floppy sweatpants."
"Not exactly what I intended, but turns out neither of us own anything silk." I grinned, toying with the hair at the base of her neck. "I'm not wearing a bra under this T-shirt if that helps."
"It does." She kissed me again and I all but melted into her. We hugged each other, my lips against her neck as she rubbed my back after falling into a moment of quiet. This happened often when we greeted each other—the heaviness of an emotion-filled reunion embrace.
"I have good news and bad news," she said, and I leaned back to meet her gaze.
&nb
sp; "Tell me good first."
"The good news is that I'm home for the night." She rubbed her hands up and down my sides.
"And the bad?" I nearly pouted when I asked.
"I have to work tomorrow again," she said, poking my bottom lip. "But not far from here."
"Well, it's Tuesday so I have to work as well." I laughed softly and it made her smile. "So technically, all good news."
"Well, there we have it. Also, I'm starving."
"Good, because I made a lot." I took her hand and urged her into the dining room. The whole way, she never stopped touching or kissing me. She'd changed so much since we first met that I reveled in every moment.
"Wow, Willa," she said, stopping at the chair when I pulled it out for her. "You didn't have to do this…"
"I really wanted to." I kissed her cheek when she sat. "Besides, it was very simple. And it makes up for breaking into your house."
"I made you a key. I forgot to give it to you." She smiled at me when we sat, her eyes twinkling in the light reflected from the window beside us. "Thank you for dinner."
"Thank me after you've tried it. I have a key for you to my apartment, too." I leaned across the table to kiss her. "Even though I never lock the door."
"Lock your damn door." She laughed and set her napkin in her lap. The two of us fell into unusual etiquette practices despite the fact that this wasn't a fancy meal at all. The special nature of it changed the tone, however.
"I know. I know." I slid a cut of beef onto her dish while she scooped the salad for us. "Do you want wine, honey, or something else? I wasn't sure."
"Iced tea is fine. I've been avoiding alcohol," she said, then I filled our glasses. "Thanks."
"I've noticed that." I lifted my utensils at the same time as Dax and we slid into dinner with ease. "Any particular reason?"
"I make bad choices when I drink too much," she said, then took a bite of food. "Wow."
"Good?" My brows flicked upward as my heart skipped a beat. I tasted it and smiled at the rich flavors I'd managed to create.
"Oh yeah."
"Hooray for internet recipes." I raised my fork in the air and she chuckled. We tucked into dinner, eating our first few bites in a moment of quiet though our gazes remained on each other, perpetuating the connection.
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