Page 87 of Beat around the Bush
He crawled up on the tailgate, gently guiding me so I was laying on my back. I laughed as he kissed my neck, his cold nose tickling my skin while his fingers dug into my sides in an attempt to tickle me through my sweater and coat.
“Okay, okay! I surrender! I’ll thank you!” I managed to get out between my laughs.
He lifted his head slightly, looking down at me with so much admiration in his eyes, it made my throat tighten.
“I should be thanking you,” he said.
“Why?”
He brushed a stray strand of hair off my forehead. “You make waking up every morning something to look forward to. I used to not be able to wait to get off work and get home to be alone, but ever since you walked through that door at Tumbleweed Feed, all I look forward to is goingtowork to seeyou. My entire mind is images of your smile, your red hair, your green eyes, your laugh. God, Oakley, I love your laugh. It brightens a room more than the sun can even dream of doing. I can’t help but smile when I hear it. And I guess what I’m trying to get at, Oak,” he shifts a bit higher, hovering over me, “is that I would love nothing more in this world than to be your boyfriend, and hopefully one day something more. Would you be with me? Be my girlfriend?”
I nodded, blinking away the tears pooling in my eyes. One slipped out the corner, but he gently brushed it away with his thumb.
“Why are you crying?” he asked, concern filling his features.
I sniffled. “I didn’t think coming here would have ever made me feel like this.”
“Feel like what?”
“Like this is my home.You’remy home. I was so scared when I left Colorado, thinking I’d never find somewhere that felt like I was all put together again. After my parents separated, myworld fell apart. But Lennon,youput it back together. My entire universe feels whole again because of you.”
He swallowed hard, but instead of a verbal response, he gave me all the reassurance I needed. He kissed me, sealing us together in this moment, in this life. Boyfriend, girlfriend. Husband, wife. The titles didn’t matter. I used to think that they did, but Lennon was more than just a single word to me. He was my safe space, my protector, my sexy cowboy, my boss, but most important of all, he was mine.
Lennon Bronson was all mine.
He came up for air, looking down at me. “I might have to fire you,” he teased.
I frowned. “And why’s that?”
“I’m not going to be able to keep my hands off of you at work,” he admitted.
I let out a small laugh. “Like you’ve been able to before?”
He tossed his head side to side, thinking about it. “I guess you’re right. Maybe I should put a bed in my office.”
I shook my head. “I think I like you bending me over your desk better.”
He smirked down at me, pure need shining in his eyes. “I think I do, too.”
33
Lennon
Aweek later, I made good on my promise to Oakley. I’d scheduled our days off to line up this week so we could have a day to help out at Bottom of the Buckle Horse Rescue. My mom was more than thrilled to hear that Oakley wanted to know more about the rescue, and even more ecstatic over the fact that she was now my girlfriend.
“You two are just adorable together.” My mom beamed at me and Oakley in the kitchen. “I knew Lennon would come to his senses with you.”
“How sweet,” Reed said dryly as he came in from outside, sliding behind our mom to grab a water from the fridge.
Dad followed in behind him, setting his dark brown cowboy hat on the hat rack by the front entry. “Don’t shit on everyone else’s day because yours is bad,” Dad grumbled to Reed.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked Reed, who was chugging the water like he wished it was whiskey. Mom didn’t take too kindly to day drinking, but guarantee, he’d have that whiskey at five o’clock on the dot tonight.
“Nothing,” Reed mumbled in between sips.
“Lettie was out squealing in the barn with Brandy about some guy Brandy went on a date with,” Dad filled in.
Mom gave Reed a hesitant look, probably trying to weigh how much it affected him.
