Page 48 of Forever Enough

“The apple pies are ready to be heated. I cut us some pieces and put them on plates.”

I quickly busied myself with storing the leftover pasta, gravy, and rolls, then getting the pies heated and scooping ice cream onto the warm slices. I grabbed some salted caramel out of the refrigerator and drizzled a little over each piece. The entire time, my mind raced with what had transpired over the last twenty-four hours. It felt like it had been a week. A month! Maybe even longer. How could you pack so many things, feelings, into such a short period of time?

Smiling, I licked caramel off my finger and quickly wondered what it would be like to have Bradly’s tongue sliding over my skin. A tightness pulled in my lower stomach. God…where was this coming from? I wasn’t a prude by any means, but fantasizing about his tongue, in places I touched alone in my own bed, was the kind of wishful thinking I usually reserved for my book boyfriends. Other dates just hadn’t inspired my imagination like Bradly.

I picked up the ice cream container and put it to my face to cool my overheating body.

Internally giving myself a slap, I drew in a deep breath, picked up the apple pies, and started back into the living room—coming to a stop when I spotted Bradly.

“Oh my,” I whispered as I gazed down at him sleeping, with Mr. Whiskers curled up on his lap. His head had fallen back on the sofa and he was breathing softly.

I turned and set the pies back on the kitchen counter and made my way into my bedroom, grabbing a blanket and extra pillow. Back in the living room, I bent down and carefully removed one boot, then the other. I placed the pillow at the end of the sofa, removed the cat, and gently guided Bradly until he was lying down. He was so exhausted, he didn’t wake up, only making a few moans of protest about being moved.

Sitting on my bent knees, I studied his handsome face. He had a strong square chin that was covered with a day’s worth of beard growth. I could barely see the indent of his dimples. His nose was perfect and untouched by any effects of his career. His eyebrows were dark like his hair, and those long eyelashes feathered against his skin. What I wouldn’t do for eyelashes like that.

I moved my gaze up to his hair. It was cut short, but the front stood up some, most likely the result of running his hand through it. He did that a lot, I’d noticed. It looked so soft, and my fingers tingled with the memory of being tangled in the strands.

I slowly exhaled as my eyes drifted down to his mouth. That mouth was soft, yet firm. His Cupid’s bow was pronounced, his lips the softest shade of pink, and I had to physically keep myself from running my finger over them.

Closing my eyes, I pictured him staring down at me with that boyish, dimpled smile and those dark, mysterious eyes.

When I let my gaze fall back on him, my breath stilled in my lungs while my heart stumbled around in my chest, trying to right its rhythm. This beautiful man wanted to date me.

I frowned slightly at the memory of him telling me we could take it at the speed I wanted. I wanted him in my bed. I knew that much. I wanted to be with him, feel his body over mine, but at the same time, I wanted to wait. The energy between us seemed to only make the desire that much stronger.

I dropped back onto my heels and stared at him for a few beats longer. Would I be worried, knowing hundreds of women threw themselves at him every weekend? Never mind worrying about him getting hurt. Then I remembered him talking about a career change. Was he seriously thinking of no longer riding? I knew he was struggling with something that was weighing on his mind.

I decided right then and there I wouldn’t pressure him one way or the other, including telling me how he was feeling, if he didn’t want to share. I knew he would tell me when the time was right. But if I was being honest with myself, I hoped he was going to walk away from professional bull riding. Not because I was scared he would get hurt, but because I already didn’t want to be separated from him for a single moment.

“Wow,” I whispered. “You have gone and totally fallen in love with him, Mackenzie Reeves.”

Bradly moved slightly and tucked his hand under his face, and my heart melted into a pool of mush right there on my living room floor.

I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep a small giggle back. It was all insane! But at the same time, it felt so right.

Letting out a soft sigh, I leaned in and kissed his forehead before standing. I’d left my cell phone in my bedroom, so I made my way back to it and pulled up Merit’s phone number. I hit it and waited anxiously for her to answer.

“Mackenzie, is everything alright?” Merit asked in a clearly worried voice.

“Yes, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. I thought I should let you know that Bradly fell asleep on my sofa, and I honestly don’t have the heart to wake him up. He must really be tired, because I only left him sitting there to go heat up the apple pie, and when I came back, he was out.”

A small exhale of relief came through the phone. “I’m sure he’s exhausted, especially with him riding today.”

Chewing nervously on my lip, I said, “I think that was my fault. He wanted to show me what he did for a living, to make sure I knew what I was getting into by dating him.”

The line was silent.

“Merit? Are you still there?”

“You’re dating? I mean, is this official?”

I nearly laughed when I heard Avery squeal in the background.

“Yes, it’s official,” I said with a slight giggle. Shouldn’t I feel awkward talking to Bradly’s mother about this? Strangely enough, it felt as natural as breathing. “I think it’s also going to be one heck of a ride.”

Merit chuckled. “I have an idea. I’m sure Bradly will want to spend as much time with you as he can before he leaves for New York City, but I want to plan a lunch with everyone, so you can officially meet the family. Are you okay with that?”

The idea that the attention would be focused on me made my chest squeeze with anxiety, but I had to admit, I did want to meet everyone.

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