Page 29 of Bourbon and Proof

“You’re not even going to consider it?”

I make the mistake of finally looking at her when I say, “No.”

With cheeks pinkened from the wind and heat, her eyes search mine for an answer I’m not equipped to address. Her hair is wild from the ride she took to get to me, and I have to hold back a sigh at how beautiful she is. It’s almost comical, this fiery woman with her white horse, trying to save me. I don’t need anyone to do that for me. I’m the one to do the saving, not the other way around. Top that off with the fact that she’s the one person I promised never to touch.

But when she licks at her pretty lips and takes a step closer, that promise seems like the dumbest fucking thing I’ve ever made. I can’t look away from the way her shirt falls from her shoulder, or how her newly sun-kissed skin is peppered with freckles, how easy it would be to forget every single reason I shouldn’t and just kiss her.Fuck!

I swipe my thumb along my lip and grit my teeth. I’ve cracked three molars because of Hadley over the course of my adult life, so what’s a few more? If I keep looking at her like this, I know whatever’s left of my resolve will crack too.

“You were never a very good liar, Ace,” she says, squinting her eyes like she can see right through me. Her self-assured, casual attitude pisses me off more. She smiles to herself and moves to her white horse, running her hand down its neck and along its mane. “You forget that I’ve known you for a long time. And I pay attention.”

It would be better for her to stop talking. “Hadley,” I breathe out quietly, almost as if it’s a plea. But she doesn’t hear it that way. If anything, she takes it as permission to keep going.

“You have this thing you do with your thumb when you’re about to lie to one of us—you rest it on your lower lip, like you’re giving yourself a moment to make sure the lie is digestible.”How the fuck has she noticed a detail like that?

But it’s my lack of response and the lingering quiet that has her lips tilting up just as a small dimple peeks out. When I took notice of the small things about her, I knew I was teetering on a line. One that I shouldn’t be going anywhere near again.

“Each of you Foxx boys have a tell—Griz’s ’stache twitches just as he clears his throat. Lincoln is the worst.” She follows the obvious statement with a laugh. “It’s written all over his face. I love him so much, but that man cannotkeep much to himself.” With a sigh, she continues. “And Grant is the hardest; maybe because he lies the least out of all of you. He’ll rub at the back of his neck.” She points to the air. “Laney spotted that one. But you...” Her mouth pulls down as she shakes her head. “You’re the easiest, Ace. Maybe it’s because you lie too much or just that I pay too close attention.” She runs her hand along the horse’s saddle, tilting her head back. With her eyes closed, chin tipped up toward the mist that’s started to break from the sky, she says,“But I asked you to marry me, because maybe I’m selfish—” She cuts herself off and shifts her body to look right at me. “But at least I’m brave enough to admit that. You’re not considering it, because I think you’re scared,” she says with a sturdy resolve. As if she’s figured it out.

“Is that so?” I ask, trying to find my footing here, my body coiled tight. I don’t even know why I’m engaging in this discussion. This isn’t how I do things—I always have an idea of what’s coming; I’m always prepared. Except for today.And except when it comes to her.

She laughs out, “Holy shit.” Her voice softens when she adds, “That’s it, isn’t it?”

“Knock it off, Hadley,” I say in a defeated tone. “I’ve got enough to figure out on my own. I don’t need this.” I wave my hand at her. “Go home.”

Only, that has her laughing more, like that’s the funniest fucking thing. But she doesn’t budge; in fact, she doubles down and takes a step closer. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

I shake my head, swallowing the urge to prove her wrong.

Tilting her head up to look at me, she asks, “Too scared to go after what you want, Daddy?”

My eyes flick up to hers as my breath catches in my chest.

That’s all it takes.

The last push.

It’s enough to rip away a decade of self-discipline to keep away from her. Years of filling my time with women who would never stack up to the fucking fantasy with big blue eyes and a smart mouth.

It takes less than twenty feet to reach her.

She doesn’t scurry back or cower when I yank her body flush against mine. No, not Hadley. She holds me just as fiercely, her hands gripping onto my shirt as if she needs to hold on to whatever I plan to do with her.

My fingers tangle into her hair as I angle her exactly how I need. I’m not just going to take; I need to see that she wants this, to know that her words are more than just a bratty attitude or to prove a point. Her eyes look up into mine as her lips tip up, waiting. But when her fists tighten in my shirt, it’s enough to know that she wants this. Wants me.

“Fuck,” I gasp just as I kiss her. Her mouth meets mine like it’s the first clash on a battlefield. War declared. Hard and dominating, matching me breath for breath. Like it’s always been between us—push and pull. A fight with no winner, and in its wake, only pleasure. There’s no learning or fumbling movements. Her lips part for my tongue, and she welcomes it with hers. Teasingly, it coaxes a groan from my throat without warning and a hum from her chest. She nips at my lips as I pull back for a new breath, like she isn’t ready to stop, the fucking brat. The scrape and twinge of pain makes me want more. My pulse thuds in my neck and echoes in my ears, blood heating. I want every piece of her, as if she’s my last meal.

I don’t think ahead or linger on what comes after as I kiss a woman I’ve been wanting for longer than I can even remember. With her body melting into mine, her hands that gripped my shirt move up around my neck and her fingers sink into my hair. It feels so fucking good to feel her touch like this.

When I drag my lips from hers, I can’t pull back entirely. It’s like my body won’t allow it. Being this close, with her wrapped around me and submitting to exactly what I want, feels too right. I rest my forehead against hers, her chest heaving like I’ve stolen every breath from her, when she’s pulled every sane decision from me. The smell of her has always been sweet—sugary. But this close, it’s better than anything I’ve ever tasted. The way her lips are so soft and sure...I’m already craving more. Leaning in, I lick at her bottom lip, and she answers the invitation by tiltingtoward me and giving me another taste of her mouth.Good fucking girl.

My phone vibrates in my back pocket, slamming me back to my senses with a jolt. Clearing the haze and knocking me back into the reality of what we’ve just done, whatI’vejust done. I flinch. This is reckless. Proof that I can’t control myself when it comes to her. And now I’ve done something I can’t undo, rewind, or fucking forget.

Her eyes search for what changed so quickly, why I’ve pulled away.

I close my eyes for the briefest moment, knowing I’m about to hurt her. “This was a mistake.” On a shaky breath, I rush to add, “This can’t happen again.” Taking a full step back, I let go of her and pull from her grasp. Her arms unhook from around my neck, her hands gliding down my shoulders and forearms like she’s not ready to let go.

It's been years of being careful, and it all dissolved in a careless moment. That heavy weight from just minutes ago is back, the one I’ve been carrying for ten years.

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