80 "where the dam broke"

Three weeks in, and the building still smelled like polish and old power.Three weeks in, and I still reached for my phone every quiet second.I missed my baby.Not in the way you miss a place or a song—but the kind of ache that sits in your chest and presses harder at night. I missed Patsy's weight when she fell asleep on me. The way she hummed to herself when she played. The way she said Mama like it was the safest word she knew. I was homesick in a city that didn't feel like mine.

Daddy noticed.He always did, even when he pretended not to.I was standing by the window outside his office, sorting notes for the next day, when he spoke without looking up."You've been quieter than usual."

"I'm fine," I said automatically.He finally glanced over his glasses. "That wasn't a question."I swallowed. "I miss my daughter."He nodded once. No judgment. Just fact. "Work is work," he said. "But family... that's different."The day didn't ease up because of it. Meetings stacked on meetings. Handshakes, cameras, voices talking over each other like none of it mattered unless they were heard loudest. By the time the sun dipped low, my head was pounding and my feet ached.When the last door finally shut and the Capitol grew quieter, John shrugged into his coat."We're done for today," he said.I gathered my things, relieved but exhausted.At the door, he paused."I'm heading back to the ranch tomorrow," he said casually, like it wasn't anything important.I looked up, surprised. "Tomorrow?"He nodded. "I've been gone long enough."Then he added, softer, "I want to spend some time with my grandkids."My chest tightened. "I need a weekend off," he continued. "And so do you."I didn't know what to say. My voice caught before I could stop it. "Thank you."John studied me for a moment, then placed a hand on my shoulder—firm, grounding."You're doing good work, Willie," he said. "But you don't stop being a mother just because you stepped into this building."I nodded, blinking hard.As he walked away, the ache in my chest eased just a little...because tomorrow, I was going home.

......

The sun was already dipping low when I finally pulled in, the sky stretched out in gold and burnt orange. Dust settled behind my truck as I stepped out, heels sinking just a little into the dirt.

That's when I saw him.

Walker was out in the field, shirtless, jeans worn and dirty, crouched over the sprinkler line like he'd been there all day. He had a wrench in his hand, muscles flexing with every easy turn, sweat shining on his back. He didn't hear me at first.

The wind caught my suit—wide-legged, dark, expensive in a way I still wasn't used to. It tugged at the fabric, teased my hair loose around my face. I brushed it back and walked toward him, slow and quiet, hands settling on my hips.

"Planning on fixing that thing," I said, "or just admiring it?"

He jumped—then squinted up at me.And smiled.A real one. Wide. Stunned. Like he couldn't decide if I was real or something he'd imagined."Well I'll be damned," he said, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. "They let you out of that fancy building?"I laughed. "Miss me?"He looked me up and down, slow, appreciative, eyes darkening. "You're dangerous in those clothes," he said. "Real hot mama."

"And you're filthy," I shot back. "I leave for three weeks and you forget what soap is?"He chuckled, shaking his head. "Worth it if this is what comes home when I'm done."I stepped closer, the grass brushing my ankles. "How was Patsy?"His face softened immediately. "She's good. Missed you. Made me read the same book three times and told me I was doing the voices wrong."My chest warmed. "You probably were." I laughed

"Absolutely," he said. "Still loved every second." We stood there like that—easy, familiar, teasing"You know," he said, glancing up at me while tightening the valve, "you're real quiet for someone who just snuck up on a man in the middle of his work."

I smiled, folding my arms. "Maybe I just wanted to watch you for a second."He huffed a laugh. "That so?"

"Mmhmm. You look... settled," I said. "Like this is exactly where you're supposed to be."He wiped his hands on his jeans and finally straightened, squinting at me like he needed to make sure I was real. "Funny. I was thinkin' the same thing about you."

I raised a brow. "In a busted-up field?"

"No," he said, slow and sure. "Standing right here. Lookin' at me like that."I shook my head, embarrassed despite myself. "You always talk like that. Flirty and lovey"

"Only when I mean it."I stepped closer, close enough to smell sweat and sun and dust. "You've been flirting since I got out of the truck."He grinned. "You expect me not to? You show up lookin' like that?"

"Like what?" I teased.

"Like you could ruin a man's focus without even tryin'. Distracting a poor man from his work"

I laughed softly. "Ohh a poor man? You're ridiculous."

"Maybe," he said, lowering his voice. "But you're still standin' here. If you hated it you'd leave."I rested my hands on my hips, studying him. "How was she today?"His expression shifted instantly—gentler. "Good. Real good. She helped me count fence posts. Told me I did it wrong."I smiled. "Not surprised are we? Sounds like her."

"She misses you," he added quietly. "Didn't say it. But I can tell."My throat tightened. "I missed her too. Every second."He reached out then, not rushing, just brushing his fingers against my wrist like a question. "You can call baby. You ain't bothering no one when you do."I looked up at him. "You promise?"His eyes didn't waver. "I don't say things I can't keep."The wind picked up, warm and steady, pushing my hair into my face. He reached out and tucked it back without thinking, his thumb lingering against my cheek."You look tired," he murmured. "But... good. Strong."I swallowed. "Lord.. You make it hard to leave."He smiled, soft but dangerous. "Then don't."For a second, the world narrowed—just us, the open field, the hum of water in the pipes overhead—

And then—

That's when the pipe burst.Water exploded down on us without warning.I squealed, jumping back, but Walker just threw his head back and laughed, loud and free, already soaked. Before I could move, he grabbed me by the waist and pulled me into the spray."Walker!" I yelled, laughing despite myself. "My clothes—"

"Too late," he said, grinning. "You look better like this."

Water plastered the fabric to my skin, ruined the suit completely, but I didn't care. I wrapped my arms around him, laughing, breathless, heart pounding like I was twenty again.Then everything went quiet.Not really—but it felt like it.We froze there in the falling water, foreheads nearly touching, the world narrowing to just the two of us. His hands rested at my waist, steady. Warm.He searched my face, like he was making sure I was serious.And then he kissed me.Deep. Sure. Like he'd waited too damn long.I melted into him, fingers curling at his shoulders, the rest of the ranch disappearing as if it had never existed. We moved together instinctively, clumsy and urgent and tender all at once, until laughter faded into something softer—something heavier.Something that didn't need words.The water kept falling.And for a moment, it felt like we were the only two people left on the ranch. Instantly we both had the same immature thought, we both tore off our clothing like we were teenagers. Somehow we melted to the flooding grass. I was on top of him without of doubt, my white blouse torn open by his over worked fingers. Before I knew it I was already moaning into the raining sky. My hands firm on his bare soaked chest. My hips already rocking like a boat on harsh waters. His hands squeezed my thighs and cheeks as he pulled me closer. He sat up, my bare chest rubbing against his, my breasts so hard from the cold water. Walkers mouth left my breast to devour my mouth. His hot wet mouth turned me on even more. I gasped at his size. This thick curve. He was so perfect. In every way. He fit so perfect inside me. Better than any other man. He held a handful of my soaked wet blonde locks to keep me close to him. Our moths still sloppily loving one another. My hips bucked even harder than before. I moaned for him. I whimpered out his name "walk... oh walk!" i squealed into his hot groaning throat. "Come on mama" he breathed into my hard chest. The water pouring his his thick hair and skin. His hand squeezed the skin on my hips. I could tell he wanted it. He's been wanting it. He's been needing me "Look at me. Look at me mama" My hand held his jaw so sweetly as I moaned down into his face, water droplets hitting his lips from the tip of my nose. "that's it" I moaned down to him, being and feeling more dominant than ever "that's it daddy. Come on" his green eyes pierced my soul. His sweet dark wet lashes batted at the sound of my moans. "Fuck" he said nearly breathlessly. I grind harder, deeper. I can tell by his opened mouth he was close. I grasped his cheeks the way he liked it. I then said the one thing that always drove him wild.. "fuck me walker" I whispered into his mouth before sloppily kissing him deeper "fuck me" and he did. Good lord did he. He let out a longest, sexiest moan I've ever heard. One that was released from the soul. I can feel his hot steaminess inside me. I Hollered out his name begging for him. "Walker!" I whimpered aloud. "Jesus Christ!!" I mewed.   He panted against my lips, our foreheads stuck together. "Tell me you love me" I tried to catch my breathe. Walkers hand pushed my messy wet hair from my face "I love you. I will love you until the sun turns blue and the stars go black. I will love you until my last dying breath. Even then I will still love you from the  god damn ground" he spoke slow. Like he meant it. Like he wasn't scared to say it again. I could nearly cry at his voice. I stared at his tender loving face, seeing all the love he had being soaked "I love you too daddy...." I grasped his cheeks "I will love you forever .. forever.." I whispered. Walkers hand moved up my back. He could feel my goose bumps from the cold water. It was dusk now. The water still poured around us, soaking into the grass, my skin cold where it pressed against his heat. I didn't notice it at first—only him. His chest. His arms around me. The way he held me like I might disappear if he loosened his grip.

He sucked in a breath and laughed softly, rubbing his hands down my back."God, mama," he murmured, voice low and rough. "You're freezin'."I shrugged against him, nose tucked under his chin. "Don't care."He smiled at that—felt it more than saw it—then pulled me closer, trying to warm me with his own body. His palm slid slow and protective over my side, like he was checking that I was still there."You should care," he said gently. "Like bein' cold's worth gettin sick?."

"It is," I whispered. "If it's with you."He went quiet then. The kind of quiet that means something landed deep. He pressed his forehead to mine, rain running down both our faces, mixing until I couldn't tell what was his and what was mine."You scare me sometimes," he said softly. "How easy it is to love you."I smiled, tired and full and aching in the best way. "Daddy, You're not exactly hard to love either,."That earned a low chuckle. He kissed my temple, lingering."C'mon," he said after a moment, thumb brushing my cheek. "We gotta get you warm before you turn into an icicle."I sighed dramatically but nodded. "Only if you're comin' with me."

"Wasn't plannin' on goin' anywhere."He shifted carefully, wrapping me up, holding me like I was something precious instead of soaked and shivering in the grass. As he helped me to my feet, his hand never left my back."Our girl's probably waitin'," he added, softer now. "Wonderin' where her daddy ran off to."That did it. My heart squeezed tight."She's asleep?," I said. "I got her down a few ago she had a long day." He smiled—real and warm then guided me toward the house, rain no longer falling behind us, the field quiet again like it was keeping our secret.