Page 109 of Beat around the Bush
He mixed the ingredients together in a bowl. “Don’t knock it ‘till you try it. It’s way better than that store-bought stuff.”
I pressed my lips together, adjusting myself on the stool. “I’ll take your word for it.”
Lennon held the spoon out to me. “Try it.”
“Do I have to?”
“Come on. You’ll love it, I promise.”
I leaned forward slightly and took a small lick of the spoon, letting the flavors of dill and garlic dance over my tongue. “Okay, that’s actually amazing.”
“Way better than the bottled stuff, huh?” he asked.
I nodded. “I don’t think I can ever go back to store-bought ranch now. I could eat that with a spoon.”
“Okay, maybe don’t do that,” he said with a smile.
About twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang and Lennon walked around the island with cash in his hand. He opened the door, greeting the pizza delivery guy. After he handed him the cash and grabbed the pizza, he closed and locked the door, then walked over to the coffee table with it.
“Aren’t we eating up here?” I asked him.
“Figured we could watch a movie while we ate,” he said as he set the box down, then came back to the kitchen. “Will that be comfortable for you?”
“The couch sounds amazing.”
He gave a small smile, despite the worry still etched onto his face. “Want anything to drink?”
“Water, please.”
He gathered the drinks, ranch, and napkins, then followed me to the couch. We turned on a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie and ate our pizza, then cuddled until the movie was over. Once the end credits began rolling, he turned off the TV, but continued to run his hands through my hair gently.
“I’m sorry I scared Jacey. I’m just so thankful that Leo didn’t do anything to her. I never would’ve forgiven myself if he had,” I said quietly, not lifting my head from his lap.
“Don’t be sorry, Oak. She was just worried, but she’s okay. We were all worried about you,” Lennon admitted.
“It was my fault she was back there, though. My dad showed up and I didn’t expect everything to unravel the way it did.”
His hand continued stroking my hair, easing the burn that still lingered at the back of my scalp from where JP grabbed me. “No one could have known what those two were going to do.”
“I know.” I stared ahead, trying to clear the fog from my head and be in this moment with Lennon.
“What’d your dad say?” Lennon asked.
After everything that had happened, I forgot Lennon didn’t know the details about my father’s visit. “He and my mom madeup, but they’re not getting back together.” I shifted, catering to my side, so I was looking up at him from where I laid. “He wants me to move back to Denver.”
His movements faltered for a second, then resumed their soothing strokes. “Is that what you want?”
“No.” I sat up, using my arms more so than my stomach muscles to take the pressure off my wound, then pivoted so I was facing him on the couch. “I don’t want to leave you. You’ve made me think of Bell Buckle as a home, and though that’s not what I came here for, it’s what I found in you.”
“I want you to stay, Oakley. But even after last night, you still want to be here?”
I grabbed his hand, intertwining my fingers with his. “Bad things happen everywhere, Lennon. What matters is how we handle those times and come out of them. Right now, all I want is to come out stronger with you by my side. Will you do that with me?”
Something like love shone in his gaze. “Of course. I’d do anything with you, Oakley Rae. Just say the words, and I’ll make it happen.”
I leaned forward to press my lips to his, melting into his mouth. I’d known I didn’t want to leave Bell Buckle, but knowing Lennon wanted me to stay was like the cherry on top.
Pulling back, I met his gaze. “Can we go to your parents’ ranch tomorrow?”
