The Scars That Make Us (Second Generation Book 3)

Chapter 27

JACE

These lazy mornings are becoming dangerous. Mitch and Granger have been pretty lenient on me since Catarina moved in. Usually, I’m always up by 4:30 and down in the barn no later than 5:00 in the morning, but every other day or so they’ve been excusing me from early mornings. With the cold fronts moving in, there is less to do. The cattle were moved into smaller areas of land that are easier to control and we’ve been feeding them extra to make sure their calorie intake stays up. I know the further along Harlow is, these days won’t last much longer because we will be giving the late shift to Lyle, so I’m taking advantage of them as long as I can.

Catarina is tucked into my chest and I watch her while she sleeps. It is creepy as fuck, but I can’t help myself. I got up to go to the bathroom and then I came back she rolled over and flung her arm over my chest. Rather than go back to sleep, I just held her, taking in every moment with her that I can get. I run my fingers through her long blonde hair. She keeps telling me she needs to get her highlights redone, whatever the fuck that means. I don’t think she needs anything, she’s perfect. I love every Catarina that I’ve met, but fresh face, relaxed, calm Catarina might be my favorite.

I’m preparing for a rough weekend with her. It is Sasha’s wedding, the governor’s daughter. She was supposed to be attending the wedding with her family. Yesterday the wedding crew and the legal team rode in. Who brings their legal team to a wedding? These people, I guess. Everybody that works and lives on the farm had to sign NDAs saying that we wouldn’t release any of the information about the ceremony or reception. None of us give a fuck about the wedding, we have one of this pretty much weekly, but I guess we don’t have famous, rich, and powerful people weekly. 

We don’t know for sure if her family is going to be here. The way that Cat talks about their perceived life being more important than anything, I doubt they’d skip the wedding. That means her parents will be here, at her home. They know she’s here, with me. I can feel the stress building in her every day that we get closer. I’m glad Nola is here because I’m not sure I can be everything that she needs right now.

The quiet morning is interrupted when I hear a knock at the door. I check my phone and it says that it is almost 9 in the morning. The gals have been busy doing shit all weekend, so I suspect that Nola is here for her. I gently nudge Catarina awake, her eyes slowly opening and a smile spreads across her face.

“Morning, beautiful.”

“Hey, you. Is it time to get up?”

“Did you and Nola have plans? Somebody just knocked on the door.”

“Oh, no, but she’s probably just wanting to hang out. Let me get dressed and I’ll be out there.”

“Take your time.” I give her a chaste kiss on the lips and crawl out of bed. I throw on a pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeve thermal t-shirt and head out to the living room and open the door right as the person on the outside knocks again.

“Oh! Hi. Wow, are you Jace?”

I don’t recognize the blonde standing on the steps at first. She seems to know who I am though. I nod my head. “And you are?”

“Good Lord, no wonder she picked you over staying with her family. If I wasn’t getting married, I might run off with somebody like you too. Are all the guys around here built like you?”

“Um,” I stutter a bit.

“Sasha?” Saved by my wife. I take a step to the side and look back at Catarina. She wrapped a large fluffy robe around her body and even fucking comfy Catarina makes me want to sneak her back into the bedroom and worship her.