Love Under the Western Skies

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴡᴇʟᴠᴇ

ᴍᴀᴅɪꜱᴏɴ/ꜱᴛᴇᴠᴇ
*ꜱᴍᴜᴛ*

➵➵➵➵➵➵➵❂➵➵➵➵➵➵➵

ᴍᴀᴅɪꜱᴏɴ

Gravel crunched under the tires and when the Mercedes pulled into the driveway I let out a sigh.

Steve was on his way home from Billings, an early morning meeting with the CEO of Ariat, and with Rhett napping I was sitting out on the porch, the baby monitor in my hand while I pushed myself back and forth. It was a warm day, winter was breaking into spring and I was taking advantage of the sunshine. The sounds of the horses in the pasture with the sheep were my company until the blonde stepped out of her car, eyes locked on me. "Hi Sharon," I gave her a half wave, I had no energy to go back and forth with her, I was exhausted from travel and still recovering from my allergic reaction. "Good to see you again."

She stopped in front of me, blocking the sun so I could only see her, "You're going to get on the next plane out of here," a ticket was slammed into my chest and I felt the air being knocked out of my lungs, "you're going to pack up your shit, get on a plane, and never turn around."

"Why would I do that? I'm here for work."

Sharon's nostrils flared and I chuckled, leaning back on the swing and taking a sip of the cold soda Steve left for me. "You work for Steve, he wants you gone, told me himself this morning," Sharon crossed her arms as if that was believable.

"Did he tell you I slept with him?" I watched as the color drained from Sharon's face, her weight shifting from her heels to her toes, "Probably not, because you didn't talk to him did you? Sharon," I stood up when I heard more tires roll up the driveway, "I mean this with complete and utter kindness, find your worth in something other than Steve Rogers, you're stunning, find your worth in yourself," I pat her shoulder when Steve threw his car into park, "Fighting for a man who doesn't want you isn't fun for anyone."

"Baby," Steve called and I smiled, jogging down the two stairs. "Let's pack a bag for Rhett, he's staying with Rosie tonight," Steve wrapped an arm around my waist when I reached him, lifting me up and swinging me around, placing a soft kiss on my lips, "I want to take you to the bar tonight, it's dancing night, Nat is on her way up to get ready with you," He finally looked up, seeing Sharon on the porch, "Sharon, hi. Didn't see you there," his grip tightened on me, "What are you doing here?"

"She was trying to fire me," I shrugged, holding the ticket up between my two fingers, "Got me a plane ticket and everything, isn't it sweet?"

"So sweet," Steve chuckled, taking the ticket from my fingers and ripping it, tossing it into the back of my truck, "If you don't mind Sharon, we've got some shit to take care of," Steve squeezed my ass sending me forward, a loud laugh leaving my mouth, "See you around."

"I can take Rhett to Rosies," Sharon offered, rubbing her arm, "So it's not out of your way."

"No that's okay," Steve shrugged, "Oh, I got your note, there's nothing between you and me, hasn't been, you were just someone to sleep with," Steve squeezed her shoulder as we passed, "I hope you find someone who makes you happy," I felt his eyes on me while I leaned down to pick up the baby monitor, trying to hide my blush, "I know I have, see you around."

The door shut behind us with a click and within seconds Steve spun me around so I was walking backward, his fingers hooked in my belt loops and his mouth hovering above mine. It was like we were teenagers who just started dating, always touching each other, always ignoring prying eyes. "I missed you," Steve murmured against my mouth, closing the distance to press a wet kiss to my mouth, "Two weeks and you've taken over every fucking thought I have Madison," my back hit the cold marble, arching toward Steve to get away from the cold.