Page 47 of Unbearable

We all broke out into laughter at how adorable she was.

“That’s right. I guess I do have some skills,” Sawyer said and flexed his muscles.

Meanwhile, Trent leaned back in his chair, a smile playing at the corners of his lips as he observed the livelyscene. I tried to avoid looking at him, but with his tousled hair and five o’clock shadow, it was nearly impossible.

Fucking cowboys.

“You know, Dotty. I could use your help with my touchdown dance. I’m thinking something flashy, maybe a little shimmy.” He started imitating the dance, which caused Gracie to let out a big laugh.

“I think you got the moves covered. Besides, my forte is designing buildings, not choreographing dances,” I said.

“I’m out. I don’t dance,” Colt said bluntly.

“I got it! Do this!” Gracie stood from her chair and started dancing. She smiled up at Sawyer.

He smiled at her before plopping her in his lap. “I should have asked you to begin with, G.”

After we finished dinner, Dad and I talked about how I was going to start working remotely the following week, and he caught me up on everything going on with the ranch over the last few weeks. He went to play a game with Gracie.

I was left with dish duty in the kitchen, drying the plates from dinner as the quiet of the house settled around me.

Trent approached quietly, his footsteps barely audible against the wood floor, but I could feel his presence. “Want a hand?” he offered, his voice gentle as he reached for a towel.

I batted it away from him. “I’ve got it covered, thanks,” I replied, my tone guarded as I avoided meeting his gaze.

Undeterred, he moved closer, his presence warm and reassuring as he took the towel from my hands. “I know you do.” He took a step back and our gazes met for the first time in hours.

I sighed, relenting. I had learned years ago that Trentwas as stubborn as they come, and fighting with him when his mind was set on something was useless. I gestured to the stack of dishes that still needed to be dried.

As we worked in silence, the tension between us slowly seemed to dissipate like thick smoke in a breeze, but my mind couldn’t stop dancing around everything that had happened between us.

“About the other night…” I began, turning toward the sink to avoid meeting his gaze.

He put the last few plates away in the cabinet, his side brushing against me.

“You don’t have to thank me again, Dotty. I was happy to come get you. Don’t think twice about it.”

That was not what I was getting at, but I had a feeling he was giving me an out.

“Yeah… well, I appreciate you coming to get me anyway…” I said.

“You realize that’s another way of saying thank you, right?” He let out a low, husky laugh.

“Shut up.” I shoved his shoulder.

He grabbed me by my waist, spinning me to face him. My breath hitched, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. He was suddenly so close, our exhales intertwining.

“You can be a little brat sometimes, you know.” His voice was low and sultry as his hand traced up my throat slowly, the gentleness of his touch sending tingles across my skin. He found the pulse point just below my ear and pressed. He growled as he realized just how much he affected me.

I had to tilt my head up at an unnatural angle to meet his gaze because he was so much taller than me.

Our eyes locked, and he shook his head. “God, thethings I could do to that bratty mouth of yours,” he whispered.

A throat cleared behind us, causing me to jump back quickly, as if I had been burned. I looked over to see Dorian, his brown eyes wide with shock.

“Uh, hey…” He scratched his head, stifling a laugh. “Gracie and I are headed out. She passed out on the couch, and when I tried to pick her up, she insisted that Aunt Dotty carry her to the car.”

“I’d love to,” I said, masking the tremor in my voice with a practiced smile.

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