Page 43 of Forever Enough

She was quiet for a few moments as she pushed her noodles around on her plate. I already knew what she was thinking. I’d seen plenty of riders break up with their girlfriends or wives because the latter thought they could handle watching their men get tossed around by a bull, but turned out they couldn’t. It almost always ended in a variation of “pick me or the bulls”…and nearly a hundred percent of the time, they picked the bulls.

“Kenzie, I need to ask you something.”

Her head lifted and our eyes met.

“I know we just met, but I think it’s obvious I am insanely attracted to you in more than just a physical way. I really want to get to know you, spend time with you before I head to New York. I’ll be honest and say that I don’t think professional bull riding is something I’m going to continue doing in the future.”

Her brows shot up.

I quickly added, “I haven’t decided on anything yet. But riding is a part of who I am and what I love. It’s a dangerous job and sport. Do you think you can be okay with that?”

Mackenzie dug her teeth into her lower lip. “Are you asking to be my boyfriend after one date, Mr. Littlewood?”

It was my turn to blush. “I am.”

She let out the cutest chuckle.

“But I want to be upfront and honest with you. If I stay on this career path, I can be gone for weeks. I may break bones or be seriously injured.”

Nodding, she wiped the corners of her mouth, set her napkin down, and drew in a long, deep breath. She held it for a bit before exhaling.

Fuck. Here it comes. She wasn’t interested in dating a guy like me.

“If you’re being completely honest, then I need to do the same.”

I closed my eyes and felt her hand on mine.

“Wait, it’s not what you think. I would love to date you, Bradly, regardless of whether you bull ride or train cattle.”

Drawing back in confusion, I asked, “Train cattle?”

She shrugged. “Grow them, raise them, train them, whatever it is cattle ranchers do.”

I laughed and squeezed her hand. “You do know they sell them for beef, right?”

“Of course I do. And milk.”

Forcing myself not to laugh, I nodded. I didn’t have the heart to tell her those were a different type of cattle.

“I haven’t really ever been in a serious or long-term relationship before, so I need you to know that this is totally new for me.”

My eyes widened in shock. “Are you serious? You’re so beautiful… How is it you haven’t been in a long-term relationship?”

She sighed. “Baggage.”

Nodding, I said, “Kenzie, I’ve never been in a committed relationship beyond a couple dates with a girl in high school. I’m totally new at this too.”

“So we’re both new at relationships,” she said with a smile, squeezing my hand. She looked down at the table, then back up at me. “I’ve gone out with a few guys, but none of them were serious. Just dates that went nowhere or had no connection whatsoever.”

She closed her eyes for a long moment and let out a breath before opening them again.

“I have trust issues, I guess you could say.”

Something in her eyes caused my chest to physically ache. She looked worried. Scared, even.

“Kenzie…did something happen to you?”

When her tear-filled eyes met mine, and she slowly nodded, I wanted to tear something—or someone—apart. Instead, I forced myself to stay calm.

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