Page 105 of Bull Rush

“Fuck…” he curses under his breath, and he scrubs a hand over his face. “I love this ranch, sugar. There are memories that hurt, yes, but this ranch is as much you as anything else it’s ever been. Better for having been loved by you. Same as me. It’s the only place I wanted to come when I was finally free again. So I’m not about to let anyone take it from this family.”

My heart constricts in my chest as hope creeps in. The tears welling at the corners of my eyes.

“Is that a yes?” I whisper, too scared to ask it too loudly.

“When have I ever been able to say no to you?” His hand cups my cheek.

“About as often as I can say no to you.” I risk a small smile, and he returns it. The corner of his mouth turning up just a little bit, enough that I think I might be on the road to forgiveness. My heart flutters with the excitement of a future with him, and he studies me, his eyes narrowing.

“You’re not completely off the hook. I’m still pissed about the divorce. You know how much extra paperwork that’s going to be to set everything straight again? I thought I was free of that shit with this parole over.”

“But it means all that wedding planning stuff I made you do wasn’t for nothing…” I point out.

“Oh, all of that’s still getting burned, and you’re gonna start over again. I guess we’re getting married at the casino because I’m not marrying you where you were gonna marry him. Grant will love that idea.’’ Half a smile comes and goes from his face as he considers his brother’s reaction to hosting a wedding.

“We better get the family discount,” I mutter, thinking back to how they dismissed me so thoroughly when I inquired months ago.

“We should. I’ll package it up with one hell of a bachelor party.”

“Excuse you. You are not a bachelor.” My brow drops, and I scrunch up my nose.

“I’m pretty sure the paper on the floor downstairs says otherwise…” I can tell by the way his green eyes play over my face that he’s just teasing me, waiting and hoping to get a rise out of me.

“I’m pretty sure you’re going to be too preoccupied to think about being a bachelor.”

“Oh yeah?” His brow raises in question.

I hold up the check and look between the two.

“A million dollars says you’re in my bed every night until we get the paperwork fixed.”

He scoffs and turns his head to look out the window. The devious grin that plays at his lips makes my heart take off like a racehorse in my chest. I put the check back down on the nightstand, closing the distance between us, and rest my palms on his chest.

“Deal?”

“I’m not that cheap, sugar.”

“You have a counteroffer then?” My hands drift down his chest and over his abs.

“A million dollars plus half this ranch starts sounding sweeter…” he trails off as he watches my fingers play along the top of his sweats.

“Deal,” I answer.

“I want it signed the second our lawyers draw up the new paperwork.”

“Fair enough.” I tilt my head.

“And…” His fingers tilt my chin up, forcing my eyes to meet his. “The first thing I want is you on your knees giving me a full-throated apology for that piece of paper downstairs.”

“I can do that, Mr. Stockton.” I hook my fingers around the waistband of his sweatpants and look up expectantly.

“Good, Ms. Briggs.” The use of my maiden name stings a little, like it should. His eyes drift over the Bull Rush Ranch branded T-shirt I have on and the dirty jeans, smiling at my messy state of dress. “You’re gonna have to put in a lot of work if you want to earn the Stockton name back.”

“It’s lucky for you that I like a challenge.”

FIFTY-TWO

Ramsey

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