Page 47 of Stirring Up Trouble
“What are you doing— ahh, I see. Yeah, they are pretty distracting. I still need your number though,” Jake said as he nudged my hand.
I put my number in, then handed it back to him. “Should we get food for them too? I feel bad ordering without them.”
Jake smiled. “Aww, you’re a sweetie pie. That’s perfect for Cousin Blaze. He needs a softie to dote on.” Before I could ask what that meant, he lifted his arms in the air. “WE NEED YOU!!”
My cheeks heated at the way he drew attention to us. Some people laughed at the outburst, while a few gave us confusing looks. Thankfully, no one was outright judgy. I would have hated to give Blaze any type of bad press. He was already up against whatever happened in his past. I didn’t need to add to it.
When they reached us, Jake got pressed between his men in a hug as my own Daddy pulled me close. It felt wonderful to be all wrapped up in him like this. Like I mattered to him. Like he wanted me now and always.
I was getting ahead of myself. I knew it.
But I couldn’t stop wanting him. I couldn’t go back to my life the way it was before.
“Daddy,” I whispered. “I’m hungry.”
He smiled at me, kissing my lips hard before lacing our fingers together. “Then let’s get you fed, baby. I can’t have your stomach rumbling.”
Jake, Maddox, and Leon had already stepped up to the window. Jake was pointing at multiple things on the menu as Maddox called them out to the lady. Leon was taking cups from a worker, then he was moving over to the fountain drink trailer to fill them up.
By the time we got to order, I felt bad to add more for the workers. It seemed like Jake had ordered nearly one of everything off the menu.
“Whatever you want, baby. It’s yours. Don’t worry about those others. These folks are trained for big crowds.”
Daddy’s words were a comfort. I told the nice young person at the window what I’d chosen — a bacon cheeseburger with curly fries on the side — and asked for a bottle of water to go with it. Daddy wound up ordering the same, though he got tater tots.
I nearly pouted when I heard his choice. Tater tots sounded really good. Maybe if I was good, he’d give me a couple. And if I was really, really good, he’d give me lots.
“You don’t have to be sad, baby. I’ll share my tots with you.” Daddy’s breath teased my ear as he spoke, sending shivers down my spine.
His hands came up to my waist, steering me away from the window and towards the table the others had taken. It was a wonder I could even walk with how turned on I was.
The man talking about tater tots should not have had me feeling this hot. But I found anything he did sexy.
I sat across from Jake at Daddy’s insistence. He moved between me and Leon, which put him facing Maddox at the round table. Once we were all in place, Daddy cracked open the water bottle he’d managed to grab when I’d been lost in my thoughts.
“Awwww. Y’all are precious. I’m so happy you found each other and that we got to visit,” Jake said. “And I can’t wait to see the horses.”
“Heaven help the animals. My boy might be a tad too eager.”
Leon’s words made us all laugh. The moment hit me hard. It felt like I belonged. Like I was supposed to be here. I’d never found that bond anywhere else. It made me wonder just what else being with Blaze would bring me.
“I really thinkyou’re overreacting about May. Why should we bother someone else’s horse for me to take a ride? Besides, aren’t all of them needed for the stuff?” Jake tried to reason with Blaze the entire way to the stalls. When that didn’t work, he attempted to charm his Daddies.
Maddox shook his head. “I’m not letting you anywhere near that beast, Jakey. She’s far too mean to people. And I won’t be able to focus if you get hurt. You want me to be able to work and stuff, right?”
Jake pouted but nodded. One look at Leon told him he’d get the same answer. Especially as Leon added on, “You know I trustMaddox with this more than anyone. He’s got the experience I don’t.”
“Fine. Then who the heck am I supposed to ride?!”
Bobby Allen popped around the corner at that exact moment, which sent Jake jumping at his men and screaming. “Sorry! Didn’t mean to startle you. I was just looking for Robin.”
“Me? What did I do?”
He chuckled. “It wasn’t that you did anything. I wanted to let you know I wound up purchasing a couple of horses. We’ll have to bring them back to Blaze’s ranch tonight and then when the rodeo is over, they’ll come home with us.”
I’d have been less affected if he’d punched me in the face.
Bobby Allen’s reminder that home wasn’t the Anders Ranch and this life hurt. I wanted to be with Blaze. I wanted to be by his side planning the rodeo, feeding his animals, and building his family ranch back to the greatness it once was.
