Page 26 of The Rancher's Code

“I would never make you do something like that, Dylan. I’m not… I’m not ashamed of you… I’m not ashamed of us…” Cole looked away for me for a moment. “Did you say goinginternational?”

“Cole—”

Before I could say anything else, Cole’s hand was on top of mine, giving it a tender squeeze. “I’ve been awful to you, Dylan. I’m so, so sorry. I’ve been so hot and cold and…”

He took in a deep breath before he went on.

“I’ve never… felt this way about anyone before, Dylan. You drive me crazy. You call me out on my shit. You don’t give a damn about my last name or who my father is. And I’m... I think I might be… scared. About what that means. I’ve never been with a man before, Dylan. And I’ve never felt like this so… does that make me…”

“It means whatever you want it to mean, Cole.”

“Right.” Cole brought my hand up to his mouth, softly kissing my knuckles. “Can you forgive me? For being so incredibly stupid about all of this?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?” Cole stared over at me, as he began to kiss each of my fingertips. “You want me to make it up to you, baby?”

“You are so evil,” I whimpered, already putty in his hands. I managed to regain my composure enough to pull my palm away from his mouth. “What does all this mean, anyway? You’re just going to consistently be nice to me from here on out?”

“I don’t know what it means yet,” he murmured. “But I do know that I don’t want anyone else touching you, Dylan.”

“Because I’m… yours?”

“Because you’re mine.” Cole reached for my hand again. “As long as you’re here, you’re allmine.”

10

COLE

Am I smiling too much?

Shit.

I couldn’t help it. Ever since finishing up breakfast with Dylan, I felt like I had a smile stuck on my face for the rest of the day. I was currently watching him dash around the barn, climbing up ladders, pulling down lights, giving out orders to the myriad of Amber’s assistants. It was always so impressive watching him in action as he casually juggled an endless to-do list like it was nothing at all.

Mine.

I’d offered Dylan a ride back from the diner, which gave us a few minutes of privacy. We hadn’t done more than make-out in the backseat, our hands eagerly exploring each other again. I wanted to do more with him, my body itching to claim Dylan as mine. Honestly, ever since this morning, I’d been having visions of bending him over a table, making him scream my name, making him come all over my hand as I stroked his cock?—

“Are you… smiling?” Amber asked, her tone suspicious. She’d sidled up next to me without me realizing, my brain stuck on craving Dylan.

“What? I’m not allowed to smile?”

“Not really, no. Levi smiles. Shane ponders. And you do whatever Dad does. Plan. Execute. Succeed.”

“You make me sound cold and unfeeling.”

“I feel like you used to take that as a compliment.” She smirked. “Seriously, though. What’s going on with you, Cole? What are you so happy about?”

“Maybe I’m just happy about the McMillan deal.”

“Oh? Did they agree to sell you the place?”

“It’s pretty close. I think.”

“Smiling before the papers are signed? That isn’t like you at all.” She hummed, tilting her head to the side. “Which means, this isn’t about the McMillan deal, is it?”

“Maybe I’m just coming down with something.”

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