Oneshots - Kayce Dutton Book 2

Work Trips - Part Two

You leaned against the front of your truck as you waited. The sun was setting, and you were starting to get annoyed. Kayce had promised to meet you at the border thirty minutes ago. Typically, you headed straight for this ranch, but this weekend he told you he wanted to take you someplace else.

You crossed your legs, the green sundress blowing in the soft wind. Next week would make it a year since you and Kayce had started seeing each other. For the past year, most of your weekends had been spent in Montana. Almost every holiday had been spent on the Dutton Ranch and it made you nervous just how much you had fallen in love with this life. But you also knew it couldn't go on forever.

Recently, saying goodbye to Kayce on Sunday nights had become brutal. The past few Sundays had ended in a fight. This past Sunday had been the worst one yet. Either you or Kayce seemed to pick fights to make the goodbyes easier and Sunday was your turn. You didn't talk to Kayce at all this week. Only a text from him on Thursday that he'd meet you at the border Friday evening and to bring a bag for a weekend away someplace.

Glancing east, you saw his truck coming your way, a cloud of dust behind him. You stood up as Kayce pulled up next to where you were in the gas station parking lot. He got out and you could tell he'd come straight from his office. You weren't quite sure how Kayce would greet you, so you stood still as he walked up to you, his truck still running.

"Hey, baby," Kayce pulled his hat off as he leaned down to kiss your cheek.

Taking that as the best sign you'd seen all week, you wrapped your arms around his neck and hugged him. Kayce rubbed up and down your back, as he held you against his chest.

"M'sorry for yelling at you," Your voice was muffled by his shirt.

"Ain't your fault," Kayce sighed.

You pulled back and looked up at him.

"I don't know how many more goodbyes I can do, Kayce," You felt tears threaten your eyes. "It's like a knife every Sunday when I have to leave."

"I know," Kayce leaned his forehead against yours. "I know."

He held you for a moment.

"Where are we going?" You asked him, reaching with your hands to hold the sides of his face. "Am I following you or...?"

"You're with me," Kayce smiled as he stepped around you and opened your back door.

He pulled out your bag and placed it in his truck as you locked your doors. The owner knew you and let you keep your truck there most of the weekends when you weren't driving straight in. You hopped into the passenger seat as Kayce reversed out.

"You're not gonna tell me are you?" You asked him.

"It's a surprise," Kayce smirked.

"I hate surprises," You glared.

"You love surprises," Kayce chuckled.

"I love doing surprises," You corrected. "I hate having surprises done on me."

"I think you'll survive," Kayce glanced at you.

He drove north for a while before cutting back into Montana. You were higher in the mountains and the sun was barely kissing the sky when he pulled up to a small log cabin. The porch lights were on, but no cars around. You looked at Kayce.

"It's a friend's and I needed a favor," Kayce smiled at you.

"So...it's ours?" You asked. "It's just us?"

"Yeah," Kayce nodded. "Figured you and I needed to talk where it was just you and me."

"Talk huh?" You raised your eyebrow.