“Lived in Wolf Creek my entire life,” he offers. “But don’t get out much. I sure know your family, though.”
My lip twists into a grin. “Do you?”
“Course, I do.” He nods. “Knew your grandparents; went to school with ’em, and even played ball with your grandfather. Great man.”
My chest warms at the mention of my papa. He died when I was younger, but he certainly was a hell of a cowboy and a damn good man. “Hell, I bet you got some fun stories about him.”
Larry chuckles, the warm, weathered sound rumbling fromlow in his chest, and it brings a smile to my face. “You’d be right about that, son,” he says before nodding toward my dad. “Even got a few about your dad from when he was barely big enough to run around this ranch.”
I flick my gaze to my dad, finding him grinning from ear to ear too. “Well, I’d sure love to hear about ’em one day, if ya got time.”
“Oh, I’ve certainly got time,” he replies gleefully.
My foot trails up Ford’s calf while holding a conversation with Larry. Slow, deliberate, and electric. Glancing over at him, his cheeks are splashed pink, his shoulders tense, and I can see the sweat on his brow from across the table. I love it.
If Remi were to find out about this, he’d be pissed, and I hate fighting with him, so I reallyshouldput a stop to this. I shouldn’t want to push Ford to his breaking point, shouldn’t want to jump back into bed with him, butgod,I do. There’s just something about him, even if I can’t quite put my finger on what it is yet, that I can’t seem to ignore. And Ford’s ability to ignore it makes me want it even more. It would be one thing if I knew he truly wasn’t interested. I’m not one to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong, but that’s not the case.
Ford wants this.
Ford wants me, and if he thinks he can keep his distance for long, he’s out of his mind. Hewillbreak, and I can’t fucking wait to hear him beg for it.
My sights are set, and I always get my way.
Sixteen
Ford
I’m folding the last towel out of the dryer when there’s a knock at the front door. I’d say I’m surprised, but really, I’m not. After Hollis’s little game of footsie at dinner, I had a feeling he would show up here tonight. I hate the buzz in my veins and the way my dick twitches beneath my sweats as I meander through the house toward the front door. Excitement should be the last emotion I feel as I unlock the deadbolt and open the door, and as my gaze lands on the six-foot-tall cowboy standing on the porch, my mood should sour, but instead, my heart races.
Not waiting for an invitation, Hollis blows past me and into the cabin. Nicotine, leather, and something entirely him fills my nostrils as I shut the door and face him. I’m inexplicably drawn to this man, like a magnet. I hate it.
“You’re infuriatin’,” he blurts out, finger pointed in my direction.
“Little late to be showin’ up at someone’s house, don’t ya think?” I drawl.
Hollis takes a step toward me, and I instinctively take one back, my body flush with the door. There’s a wild look in his eyes, and the sight has my blood running hot. “I’ve got a proposition for you, Cap,” he offers, a smirk tugging on the corner of his mouth.
My stomach does a flip, his proximity making it hard to breathe. “Oh yeah? And what’s that?”
“I enjoyed myself last weekend, and I’m guessin’ you did too. Right?”
I consider lying, but it would be futile.
“Yes.”
His gaze dips down to my mouth before coming back up to my eyes, and he rests his hand on the door while his other brazenly comes to my hip. “Good, so we should keep goin’,” he suggests, his voice low and raspy.
“I already told you?—”
“I know what you told me,” he cuts me off. “But why deny yourself what you want?”
“Who says it’s what I want?” I ask. “Just because I enjoyed it doesn’t mean I want it to happen again.”
Hollis brings his hand to my chest, holding my gaze as he cocks a brow. “Then why’s your heart beatin’ so fast?”
“Your heart can race for a number of reasons, Hollis,” I deadpan. “That doesn’t mean I want to fuck you.”
“Who said anythin’ about fuckin’ me, Cap?” Another infuriating smirk curls his lips as he brings his body flush with mine. I swallow thickly as my dick twitches. “But since you offered… Please do.”
