MARE
They love the idea.
CADE
Of course they do. It’s our story. It’s perfect.
CADE
Dolly has become an escape artist in your absence. I think she’s throwing a fit that you’ve left.
MARE
That’s my girl!
I really do miss Sutten.
CADE
Sutten misses you.
I miss you.
But I’m so proud of you.
CADE
Checking in to make sure you’ve eaten.
Goldie?
I know you’re writing, but I want to make sure you’re taken care of.
If you don’t answer me in the next ten minutes I’m going to order food to be delivered to your door.
I told the delivery driver to knock and hand it to you. You’re going to have to take ten minutes to eat.
MARE
I’m sending a photo of me and the pizza for proof of eating. The food is delicious, and the book is coming along. I love you ❤️
MARE
I wish I didn’t suck at being productive during the day. I feel like we’re on opposite schedules, and I miss you.
CADE
I’m still here Goldie. ☀️
MARE
Tell me your favorite part of your day.
CADE
In about five seconds.
MY HEAD COCKS to the side. Before I can question what he means, his picture pops up on my phone. I swipe to answer immediately, comforted by seeing him.
Cade smiles. “There’s my girl.”
I tuck my feet underneath me, snuggling deeper into my writing chair as I hold the phone out in front of me. “You’re up late.”
As if on cue, he yawns. “To you it’s early.”
“I’m trying to write two chapters tonight so I’ll probably be up until you wake up for chores in the morning.”
“How’s it coming?” His voice sounds tired and his eyelids are heavy. I pick up my glass of wine with my free hand, taking a sip as I appreciate the man on the other side of the screen.
Even though I know he’d typically be asleep by now, he’s staying up just to talk to me. To see my face. My heart thumps in my chest with love. I can’t believe he’s mine.
“I’m so happy with the direction of the story. I think people will love it.”
“Of course they will.” His voice is sleepy. His eyes get heavier and heavier with each minute that passes by.
“How’s everything on the ranch?”
He pulls the blanket close to his face, getting more comfortable. “Busy. So busy.”
This time when his eyes drift shut, they don’t open again. His breaths even out, and he’s fallen asleep. I watch him for a few moments, wishing I was lying in bed next to him. I wish I could reach out and play with his overgrown hair. That I could feel the scratch of his facial hair against my palm.
“I love you,” I whisper. He doesn’t respond but he doesn’t have to. I can feel his love. I feel it all the time, even though we aren’t with each other.
Sighing, I end the call. I want to rifle through my suitcase that I still haven’t unpacked from Sutten and pull out one of his shirts I stole and brought home. I packed as many as possible, wanting to have things that smell like him while we were apart.
Tonight, as I write, it hits a little harder that I’m not with him. I use the pain of missing him to my advantage. I write three chapters quickly, knowing the more I can give to my editor, the closer I am to finishing the book—which means the closer I am to seeing him.
CADE
Sending a picture of your marigolds.
They look beautiful this morning.
MARE
I wish I were there with you.
CADE
I love you.
MARE
I love you, too.
MARE
You haven’t answered me all day, and I know you’re busy getting ready for the fall.
Send me a picture of you all sweaty from working outside. Don’t be shy, get that marigold in there. 😉
CADE
I’ll send you a picture of whatever you want, Goldie.
But fair is fair.
I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.
MARE
This book is officially halfway done!
CADE
Proud of you baby!
I love you.
MARE
I love you, Cade Jennings.
MARE
If I wasn’t writing all night and sleeping and attending meetings all day I’d be a little offended that both you and Pippa aren’t answering my calls…
“Hi, Goldie.” Cade’s voice is raspy. Even through the phone screen I can tell that he’s sunburnt.
“Finally,” I tease, snuggling into my bed. It feels cold and lonely without him next to me. I wish I could finish the book in Sutten, but I have meeting after meeting with people at my publishing house about this book. We have movie deals in the works and all these things where they want me here until the conclusion of the duet.
I like being here, but I hate being away from him.
Cade sets the phone down on his bathroom counter. I smirk when he steps away and I can see every perfect inch of the top half of his body.
“I see you staring,” he says.
“I wasn’t trying to hide it.”
I bite my lip, suddenly turned on by watching the ripple of his abs. If only I could reach out and run my hands along them, feeling them harden underneath my touch.
“If you keep looking at me like that, I’ll be late to morning debrief with our employees.”
I smile, despite how exhausted I am. “You can’t be late,” I tease, letting my eyes roam over him. Despite the summer months turning to fall, he still has a perfect, golden tan to his skin. It’s all the long days he’s been putting in at the ranch.
Cade groans. It’s sexy and rough. His forearms find the counter as he stares down at the phone. “I’ll call you before I go to bed tonight? I want to talk more but I can’t be late this morning…” His words drift as he looks back at me, a heated look to his eyes.
“Of course. I should be up. Hey, have you talked to Pippa recently?”
Cade shrugs. “Here and there obviously but I’ve barely had time to think for myself recently I’ve been so busy. Why?” He turns his back to me as he reaches inside his shower and turns it on.
“I just haven’t really heard from her much, that’s all.”
Cade pushes his pajama pants down, stripping to everything but his boxer briefs. “Dad is keeping everyone busy, and the cafe has been packed recently too, so maybe that’s why?”
I chew on my lip a little. It isn’t like Pippa to not be good about responding, but I don’t say anything else.
“Guess what?” I ask.
“What?”
“They’ve loved everything up to the halfway mark. I don’t have to do any rewrites which means I can start writing the second half.”
“Maybe it’s time I try to come out there soon?” he offers. “Once things die down a little bit here and I can give Dad a break, I’ll come see you. It’s been too fucking long.”
I nod. The longer I’m here, the more I realize that I want to be able to write books, but I’m not sure I always want to write them here. “I’d love to have you come visit. I’d love to just see you. It’s been almost two months.”
“I’ll be there,” he says, with conviction in his voice.
“Guess what?” he asks, repeating the question I just asked him.
“What?”
“I love you. Nothing will change that. No matter how much I miss you.”
“I love you, too.”
