Love Rents A Room
Chapter 123: A Beautiful Morning

Chapter 123: A Beautiful Morning

Morning came softly, a gentle hush settling over the world outside. Joanne stirred, her lips curving into a slow, satisfied smile as consciousness found her.

Warmth surrounded her—his warmth.

Jeffrey was still there.

The realization sent a pleasant shiver through her, deepening the smile on her lips. His arm remained draped over her, his grip instinctively tightening as she shifted.

Her gaze flickered down, noticing the way the sheets clung to her bare skin. She was still naked.

That was new.

She had always been the type to slip into clothes immediately after intimacy, needing the security of being covered to feel safe. It was a habit so ingrained in her, she never questioned it. And yet, last night, wrapped in his embrace, she had let it go entirely.

How could one man change her so effortlessly?

She turned her head slightly, letting her eyes roam over his face in the dim glow of the early morning. The sky beyond the window was still dark, but the quiet serenity of dawn offered just enough light for her to admire him.

Strong brows. A sharp jawline shadowed with the roughness of stubble. Thick lashes resting against his cheek.

How does someone get more handsome every damn day?

She traced a featherlight finger along the arch of his brow, marveling at the masculine beauty of him. He looked powerful, even in sleep. A man built to command, yet here he was... holding her like she was something he couldn’t bear to let go.

Her smile turned wicked as a thought crossed her mind.

She had never been much of a morning sex kind of person, but... maybe, just maybe...

Then, reality hit.

The animals.

She groaned inwardly. She couldn’t just stay in bed, no matter how tempting it was. She had responsibilities. She needed to look after her animals that needed feeding and work that needed to be done.

With a small sigh, she leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to his lips. He was hers to take, after all. And he was sleeping anyway.

Or so she thought.

The second she pulled back, a strong arm tightened around her waist, and before she could react, she found herself flipped onto her back, her breath catching as he loomed over her.

A smirk ghosted across his lips, his voice still heavy with sleep.

"Stealing kisses while I’m sleeping, Jo?" His husky murmur sent heat spiraling through her.

She barely had time to answer before his mouth captured hers again, and just like that... she was consumed again in the fire he lit.

The morning chores could wait.

-----

Joanne was all smiles in the morning.

The world felt lighter, brighter, as if the sun itself had decided to shine just for her. The dewdrops on the grass shimmered like tiny gems, the wildflowers swayed in the breeze, carrying the sweetest scent of summer. She couldn’t help herself—she twirled around the barn, humming songs from children’s movies, her heart brimming with a joy so infectious that even Fluffy, her ever-enthusiastic pup, seemed to prance alongside her.

And not even the grim discovery of Jeffrey’s latest hunting trophies—a handful of dead squirrels hidden in a new spot—could dampen her mood. She just shook her head with an amused sigh. That horse!

Happiness poured into everything she did, even her cooking. Without realizing it, she had prepared a feast big enough to feed a family of ten—when in reality, it was just the two of them.

Well, Fluffy wouldn’t be complaining.

She turned as Jeffrey came down the stairs, clad in nothing but his boxer shorts, his hair delightfully tousled from sleep. Her smile widened. He was getting more comfortable at home. That was a good sign.

They sat at the table together, knees brushing, their conversation flowing easily as they shared their meal. She had always loved mornings, but with him, they felt fuller. Warmer.

After breakfast, she moved to the kitchen to clean, and he followed her, wrapping his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. He lingered like that for a long while, his hold firm yet gentle.

She melted into it.

He was such a hugger.

Even at night, he always snuggled close, keeping her wrapped in his warmth. She adored that about him.

"Winter will be here soon," she murmured, tilting her head slightly, silently hoping he’d stay with her when the cold months arrived.

Jeffrey blinked. "After fall?" He sounded perplexed. It was still the height of summer—why was she thinking about winter already?

Joanne chuckled. "Oh, you sweet summer child... Here, we don’t have four seasons. We have almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction."

Jeffrey let out a deep laugh. "So that’s why I keep seeing so many detours and blocked roads."

"It’s the only time of year we can get anything done," she shrugged. And hopefully, by next summer, she’d be able to accomplish something meaningful.

Jeffrey nodded, glancing out the window. "The weather here is unpredictable."

"I just hope it doesn’t rain today. It’s the junior league finals," she said, excitement lacing her voice. "You’ll come with me, right? I need to present the winners with their prizes. Charlotte’s team made it to the finals—I wonder if they’ll win."

Jeffrey hesitated. "I have a meeting with the union chairman today."

Joanne’s face fell. "But it’s the weekend..."

She had assumed they’d spend the whole day together.

"It’s at a gentlemen’s club in the city," he explained, his expression turning serious. Even with his sleep-ruffled hair and unshaven face, he still carried the air of a leader. "I need to see what’s going on there."

Her brows furrowed. "A men’s only club? What about the women?"

Jeffrey exhaled, running a hand through his hair. He didn’t have a satisfying answer. Business and logistics had always been dominated by men—it wasn’t fair, but it was how things were structured.

"This isn’t where they usually meet," he said after a moment. "You’ve received invites to the formal gatherings before, haven’t you?"

Joanne rolled her eyes and turned away. She had never bothered to attend any of those galas and networking events. They weren’t her thing.

Jeffrey let it go. Instead, he shifted the topic.

"I talked to the kids’ aunt about Ian Walsh," he said. "She’s willing to cooperate with anyone investigating the situation. CPS will likely get involved. Ian might actually face consequences for harming his kids."

Joanne sighed. The whole situation was frustrating.

If Ian had just kept quiet and left things alone, his children could have stayed with their aunt, unbothered. But he had stirred the pot, and now, the government would step in. And, as always, the children would be the ones to suffer most.

"What else can we do at this point?" she muttered.

Jeffrey had no answer for that. Neither of them did.