Oakley’s POV:
It's been a few weeks since Kacey’s nightmare but even as time has passed, I still see the haunted look on his face from that night mixed with the guilt over what almost happened. That night, while it had been beautiful in so many ways, seemed like a dark cloud that hung over us, almost as if he was scared to show me who he really was. I wasn’t naive. He was a Navy Seal. I knew he’d killed people, knew he had most likely seen and had to do things that most people could never begin to imagine. But I couldn't shake the feeling that he felt that if  I knew the darkness he saw within himself, that I would run for the hills. And that couldn't be any further from the truth if it tried to be. Luckily, that night had been the only nightmare that Kacey has had since. 

 Since Kacey had taken over as AG commissioner, I’d fantasized about the man more times that I could even count. But all the imagining, all the daydreaming and wondering what if, had nothing on the real thing. But what scared me more than Kacey’s nightmare from that night and how quickly things could have gone sideways, was the depth of feelings that I was already starting to feel for him. Sure, I’d cared about him as a person before, but he was my boss. Now, he still may be my boss but he was my lover as well, something that I couldn't have ever imagined me saying a few weeks ago.  

I’b been so lost in my thoughts that I didn't know that I wasn't alone in the kitchen anymore when I felt arms wrap around my waist from behind as lips gently touched my neck just below my ear, sending a shiver of delight down my spine. Nestling into the arms around me, I pressed my back against his chest and absorbed the fresh, clean air scent a person only got from spending hours outdoors. It was the scent of Kacey and one that I came to love more than any scent that Scentsy had. 

“If I haven't told you lately, I love the smell of you.” said Kacey close to my ear.

“Remind me to thank my Scentsy girl… again.” I said with a smile. The watermelon tangerine scent that he loved reminded me of home but the fact that he loved it so much, had me ordering a new supply of all the things that Scentsy made in that scent. 

“Beth called. Dad’s awake.” said Kacey softly. You could hear the relief in his voice from just knowing that John was awake. All of us had been on pins and needles as of late wondering when John was going to wake up.  

“Oh my god Kacey, that’s amazing.” I said, turning on my stool and wrapping my arms around him tightly. 

“It really is,” said Kacey. “But even though he’s awake, it doesn’t mean he's out of the woods so to speak. Beth said that the doctors say he has a blood clot and that if it moves, it could very well kill him. She said they are willing to let him come home as long as he has a 24 hour nurse and if we promise to make him stay in bed. No riding, no work. Just laying in bed.” 

“You know just as well as I do that no one makes John Dutton do anything.” I said. And it was the truth. John Dutton is as stubborn as they come. There wasn't a doctor, nurse, or family member that could make John do something that he didn't want to do. Kacey nodded in agreement.

“Which brings me to the favor that I need to ask of you,” said Kacey.

“What do you need?” I asked. 

“I need to check the fence lines again for breach points and all. I’m taking Rip with me. Would you mind helping Beth in sorting out the stuff in Jamie’s room? We need to use it for dad's hospital equipment and stuff. And since Jamie’s not staying here anymore and made it very clear that he wants nothing to do with us, it's time to purge all that shit.” said Kacey.

“But what if Jamie wants his things?” I asked. 

“Sweetheart, he's had every chance in the world to come get anything out of that room that he wants. He’s not so much as called to check on any of us since the attack and even before then, you know how consumed he was with his biological dad. He washed his hands of us a long time ago.” said Kacey, I could see the anger mixed with the hurt he felt over how Jamie was treating them all. Not having any siblings, I always imagined that just like in the movies, siblings stuck together no matter what. Seems Jaime didn't think so. 

“Okay. I’ll help.” I said, giving him a smile that I hoped lifted the mood he was in. It had to be hard to know that you had essentially lost a brother but instead of them being in a final resting place, they are very much alive, choosing to not be a part of your life anymore simply because he thought he was wronged by a man that took him and raised him as his own.  

“Good.” said Kacey. “I’ll see if Rip can spare Lloyd, Tetter, and Kolby to give you both a hand. Plus Tate will be around.” 

“Okay” I replied. 

Leaning in, Kacey placed a kiss on my lips and before slowly backing away. He was just about to the doorway of the kitchen when he smiled at me, causing the ever present butterflies in my stomach to set up shop and give me that giddy feeling. 

“See you in a little while sweetheart. I’ll be thinking about you.” said Kacey.

“I’ll be thinking about you too.” I replied, lifting my coffee mug to my lips and smiling as I took a sip. The action must have given Kacey dirty thoughts because I watched as his brown eyes grew darker, his eyelids becoming hooded -a look that I have seen countless times just before he was ready to pounce on me. But before he could make a move, Tate walked in, oblivious to the moment he’d just interrupted. 

“No waffles this morning?” he asked as he grabbed the orange juice from the refrigerator. 

“You want waffles?” I asked.

“Yes, please,” he replied.

“Then it's waffles you get.” I said, giving Kacey a smile as he smiled at me and gestures that Tate had me wrapped around his finger. Which wasn’t a lie. He did have me wrapped. But then again, so did his daddy. I would do anything for the two of them. Even clean out his brothers room with his sister who scared the hell out of me.