Page 110 of Beat around the Bush
He smiled. Despite knowing I had to rest, the only place I wanted to be was there. “Anything you want to do, Oak, and we’ll do it.”
41
Oakley
Lennon pulled into the parking lot of Tumbleweed Feed, turning the truck around so we were right in the middle of the lot, facing the store.
“What are we doing here? Weren’t we supposed to go to the ranch?” I asked him, confusion clear in my tone.
He killed the engine, then turned to face me from the driver's seat. “You’re looking at the official new owner of the Tumbleweed Feed building.”
My jaw dropped as my mind processed his words, then I flung myself at him, wrapping my arms around him with a shriek, ignoring the sharp sting of pain in my side with the movement. These pain meds were amazing. “Lennon! Why didn’t you tell me last night?”
His strong arms held me close to him. “It didn’t feel like the right time with everything else going on. I signed the papers right before I got the call from Jacey.”
I instantly felt guilty for taking away from one of the best moments of his life. The feeling ate away at me, but I shoved it aside to celebrate the news. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks, Oak. I’m happy, too.”
I pulled away from him, but kept my arms around his neck so I could look into his eyes. “I don’t care what’s going on in our lives, I want you to tell me the big news, good or bad. Nothing is more important than something like this, Lennon.”
He brushed a stray hair from my forehead. “That’s not true. This store will never be more important than you. No job should come before you and your safety, Oakley. You’re my girlfriend, and one day you’ll hopefully be more than that, so I’m making this promise now. My work will never come in between us. My home life will always be more important than my work life.”
“I didn’t doubt that for a second, cowboy.” I crashed my mouth to his, the kiss heated and full of need. But we had somewhere to be, and we couldn’t do anything while I was healing anyway, so we needed to get going.
Pulling back, I gave him a quick peck on the cheek before settling back in the passenger seat. “I’m so proud of you.”
He started the truck, driving out of the parking lot in the direction of the ranch with a smile on his face.
About half an hour later, we pulled up the driveway to the Bronsons’ house, parking in front of the barn. Lennon came around to open the truck door for me and I got out.
My feet had barely touched the ground when small arms wrapped around me in a tight squeeze. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” Lettie said.
I hugged her back as Lennon warned them about being careful with my side, and then another set of arms came around us. “We were so worried, Oakley,” Brandy mumbled into my hair.
I was sandwiched between them as I heard Bailey approach from the side. “Please, no more,” I begged, hoping he and Lennon didn’t join in on the group hug.
“Sorry, Oakley. I was worried, too,” Bailey said before wrapping his arms around us from behind Lettie, then Lennon joined from the side.
“A group hug without me?” Beck called from somewhere further away. Boots picked up their pace on the dirt, and then another body was wrapped around us in a crushing hug, swaying us side to side.
“I won’t be alive if you guys keep suffocating me,” I said from the center of the group.
One by one, each of them released me, taking a step back. “Glad to see you’re okay, Oakley,” Beck said to me.
Though he seemed relieved, there was still a tension in his shoulders, like the worry was still deep in his bones, butsomething told me that the lingering concern wasn’t aimed toward me.
I gave him a closed-lip smile. “Thanks, Beck.”
He nodded once, then Lettie was back in front of me. “Okay, enough with the guys. Let’s go have some girl time.”
“I think that’s much needed,” Brandy added.
“I’ll get started on the chores in the barn if you want to tell my mom we’re here,” Lennon said to me.
I nodded. “I’ll tell her. I’ll come help in a little.”
Lennon narrowed his eyes at me, not extremely happy that I wanted to help in whatever way that I could despite my injury. He bent to kiss my temple, brushing a hand over my back. “Take as much time as you need.”
