“Sometimes, but I knew how to entertain myself, and there was a ranch nearby. The rancher used to pay me in beef for helping, so our freezer was always full. Taught myself how to cook, too.”
“Shit, Reed. No wonder you’re such a great dad.”
“I don’t know about that. I’m not sure I’ve always made the best decisions for her. But when I found out I was going to be a dad, I promised myself I’d be better than my parents ever were. I wanted to be better for Penelope as soon as I held her in my arms. If I do anything right in my life, it’ll be to make sure that little girl knows how loved she is every single day.”
Fuck. He was making me melt. “Penn’s lucky to have you.”
Reed grunted under the praise, obviously a little uncomfortable with it.
“So is Elise,” I said before I could even stop it.Inside thought, I scolded myself. I meant she was lucky to have him care for their daughter the way he did when she obviously couldn’t right now.
The music slowly came to an end, Reed coming to a stop. His jaw ticked at the mention of his ex-wife, and his eyes darkened.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have brought her up.” I stepped out of his arms, ready to go find another drink.
But he reached out an arm, stopping me. He shook his head. “It’s fine. Let’s go get you another drink.”
“You’re reading my mind.” If Elise was going to be an off-limits topic, I’d take his lead on that one. At least for now. I knew that if we were going to try a real relationship, we’d eventuallyhave to talk about it, even if it was uncomfortable. Even if I didn’t want to hear it, either.
As we stepped off the dance floor, heading to the bar, we came face-to-face with Kale, Christian, and my barrel racing friend Vivian, sitting at a table with their drinks. They were staring at us with the most moonstruck expressions on their faces. Christian even had his head resting in his fists, as if to keep his jaw from hitting the floor.
“Aw, you two are so cute!” Vivian nearly squealed.
“I fucking knew it! Pay up.” Christian held his palm open in front of Kale.
“Ugh!” Kale grumbled, cursing under his breath while he pulled his wallet from his back pocket.
My whole body flushed having been officially caught with the enemy.
“Was it you two in the girl’s restroom tonight?” Viv asked, a cheeky smile on her face while she wagged her brows.
I huffed, shaking my head at my friends, but I suddenly felt very aware of Reed beside me. The heat of his body, his firm, calloused hand holding mine like it was the most natural thing in the world while advertising to the whole fucking bar that we belonged to each other.
“Y’all know I’m not shy, but I don’t kiss and tell,” I told them. But it was near impossible not to crack a grin.
Viv squealed again. “That means they fucking did!”
“Does this mean you two are together?” Christian asked, pointing at our hand-holding, a smirk on his lips.
Reed and I exchanged glances.
He looked at me apprehensively, his eyes questioning.
I slowly nodded my head. “I think we’re figuring some things out, but also, no one better fucking touch him.” The last words were laced with laughter, but I was also dead serious.
His lips tipped up at the corners.
He grabbed the belt loop of my shorts, pulling me back to him until we were chest to chest. Was he going to kiss me in front of my friends? In front of the whole bar?
I tipped my chin up. “Might as well do it,” I told him. “You already fucked me in the bathroom and had me on the dance floor.”
Reed captured my chin between his thumb and forefinger, angling my mouth in just the right way. He leaned down, taking his hat off as his plush lips pressed against mine, fitting perfectly between my pout. My heart rate accelerated with the whoops and hollers of my friends, the entire bar erupting with catcalls and whistles.
“It’s official, Lina Larsen,” Reed whispered against my lips. My eyes fluttered back open, not realizing I’d closed them, to peer up at him. His dark gaze was now sparkling like a midnight sky. My breath caught. He placed his hat on my head. “Every cowboy here now knows you’re mine.”
“Reed …” I didn’t know what to say.
“What do you want to do, sweetheart?”
