Wherever the Wind Blows - Montana Taylor

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CHARLIE

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"I seriously think a mudroom connecting from the garage is essential in a house plan. Everyone can benefit from it," I tell Warren as we debate our newest home plan.

He rolls his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Why can't they just put their shit in the garage like normal people?"

I stand up straight and cross my arms. Men. They do not think about anything else but themselves. "Well, just hear me out. You're going to walk your dog, but it is cold out. You grab a jacket off the hook, put it on as you walk in the door, and take it off when you return. Add a washer and dryer in there; then my boyfriend won't bring his dirty ass clothes into the house, leaving dirt everywhere."

"It's a waste of space. We could add more room to the living area instead."

I groan, "Okay, I'm done for today. You are impossible, Warren." I loved Warren as a person. But I hate him as a coworker. He will never listen to Denise or me, and I think I'm starting to grow gray hair. "I just think that people who are buying farmhouses have women. And women like mud rooms." With that, I leave, returning to my office and packing my bag to head home. It was almost five, and Warren and I had been bickering since about two.

I had a surprise for Colt today. I brought a bunch of my clothes to move into his house. I didn't tell him because I wanted to see his reaction when he opened the trunk of my Jeep.

Sure, that's not half of it, but I'm only bringing clothes and essentials now. He already has the furniture, and of course, I loved it all; I did pick it out after all.

My birthday was also tomorrow. I'd be turning a bright twenty-two-year-old on July 31st. I wasn't sure if Colt remembered or if he even knew. I had missed Colt's birthday this year, which was in March when we still weren't speaking. I'd be sure to get him a great gift next year when he turned twenty-five.

I pulled into the designated spot in Colt's garage, which he insisted I use whenever I was here. It was only because his truck wouldn't fit in there, but he'd never admit it.

The house was quiet when I walked inside; Colt wasn't in sight. Lucky sat on the couch in his spot, taking a nap, stretching when he saw me. "Colt?" I yell, seeing if he is in the house.

He must be in the barn. Lucky follows me back to the door to exit the house. I walked into the barn and yelled once again, "Colt?"

He exits one of the empty stalls, shirtless, with his baseball camp on backward. My eyes immediately fall to his sweaty abdomen as he walks towards me. "Hey, baby," he cooed, grabbing my face and kissing me, "How was work?"

I roll my eyes, thinking about the stubborn ass I work with. "Fine. Warren was being a dick about a mudroom in our next plan."

"Bummer. Wanna see something I got today?" I raise my eyebrows, wondering what he possibly could have bought today. Two weeks ago, it was two of the biggest bulls I'd ever seen. Last week, it was two baby goats. It wouldn't surprise me if he bought a damn giraffe. After he won the Birmingham rodeo, he had too much money to play with.

Suddenly, something stuck its head out of the empty stall that was definitely not empty anymore. I smile, walking up to it and touching his face. "Another horse?"

He laughs, "Yeah, well, she's older. I promised your brother I'd give him lessons, but I think the three I have to choose from are a little too much for him. This way, now we have a little lesson horse."

"What's her name?"

"Seven." I peek into the stall to see her entire body. She was gorgeous. She was a pinto with brown and white fur. "She's a mustang." I suddenly see the brand on her neck underneath her forelock. I move her hair to see it, but it's unreadable. "It's just her information. The state, birth year, and number."

I nod, smiling to Colt, "she's beautiful."

"That she is. She was just rottin' away at one of the ranches nearby. Figured she may like a job."

I look at his bicep, and I finally get it. "Did you name her?"

He smirks, understanding exactly why I asked that question. The tattoo of his lucky number seven. "Nope, total coincidence, which is exactly why she is here."

"A beautiful coincidence." My stomach began to growl as it was past the usual time we ate, "Do you have anything for dinner?"

His eyes widen, "Shit, no, I don't even know what time it is." He then sets the tools he has attached to his body down on the table, "Let's order a pizza, come on."

We walk back inside the house, and I order a pizza while Colt showers. Lucky sits on the rug in the living room, destroying one of the new toys I had bought him recently. His favorite new thing is to pull every bit of stuffing out of the toy.

Colt finishes his shower and joins us on the couch, pulling me into his lap, "Come and love on me, please."

I rub my hand against the stubble on his face and slowly kiss him before standing up, "can you help me get something out of my car?"

He groans, standing up, "What did you buy today, Charlie?"

I don't reply but smile and walk towards my car. I open the trunk and wait for him to round the corner. He lets out a gasp when he sees my trunk, "no way."

I bite my lip and nod, "If it's okay with you still."

He engulfs me in a hug, kissing the top of my head, "Of course it's okay, my love." He hadn't said the L word to me since he's been back. Was that a hint?

"I just realized I don't sleep as well as when you're next to me."

"Charlie, you just made me the happiest man in the world, and it's not even my birthday." Damn it.

I pull away from his hug to look at him, "You remembered." I was smiling so hard I thought my mouth was going to fall off.

He rolled his eyes, ruffling my hair, " Of course I remember your birthday. I am your boyfriend", he pauses, "I can't wait to give you your twenty-two spankings." He then smacks my butt, making me jump.

I grab a bag of clothes to bring inside, Colt following me with another. It takes almost thirty minutes to unload my car, the pizza man pulling up as soon as we clothes the trunk of my car. I take two slices and eat as I stuff clothes into the drawers Colt emptied for me as he stood and watched by the bed.

As soon as I close the drawer, he picks me off the floor and throws me on the bed, climbing on top of me. "Enough moving in for today."

I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck, "Are you gonna be sad about losing your space?"

"Please, I haven't had space since the day I moved here and you showed up." I bite my lip, hiding my smile, and he adds, "But, I don't need space."