Page 81 of Cowboy

“Kiss me, sweetheart,” he mutters against my lips, and I give in to his request. I’ll give in to anything he asks of me.

Pulling away rather quickly, Bull rests his forehead against mine. “What am I going to do with you, sweetheart?”

I can think of several things, starting with asking me to marry him, but I bite my tongue on that one.

“How about taking me to bed, partner?”

Bull chuckles before leaning back and gazing into my eyes. “I thought you’d never ask.”

26

Surprise, Baby

Bull

It’s two weeks before Scarlett is due. Snow is falling, and a storm is on its way. The clouds are heavy, and I feel like I’m standing on a precipice with Scarlett. I need to tell her how I feel despite the risk. Despite the fact I know admitting I love her might jinx everything, I need her to know I want her forever.

After the incident with Redd back before Halloween, Scarlett told me more details, including how she threatened Lex for help but assured me she was never going back to work in the industry again.

“That was my last official report, even if it never makes the news.”

On that night in October, I’d felt a mix of emotions. I was so angry, thinking she was considering a job with that gossip rag and so upset she hadn’t talked to me about it. I shut her out for two days, wallowing in my fears that she was leaving me for bigger and better. It was easiest to jump to conclusions instead of accepting Scarlett wouldn’t do that to me, and we talked about it later that night.

“I hate that you doubted me,” Scarlett softly said as we lay on our bed. The one we hadn’t shared in the manner I like to share it for two full nights.

“I hate that I doubted you,” I admitted to her.

“Why would you do that?”

“It just seems more believable you’d rather leave than stay. Back to city life. Back to the flashy job.”

“Bull, have I given you the impression I want to go?” she questioned, keeping her eyes lowered while her finger ran along my collar.

“No.” No, she hadn’t, so I shouldn’t have been pushing her away, which was what I was starting to think I was doing. Was I forcing her to leave because I wasn’t giving her a reason to stay? I wasn’t considering I was enough. Or the farm. Or my family. But Scarlett had not been the one doing that to me. I’d been doing that to myself.

And still, I didn’t tell her I loved her. I didn’t ask her to marry me because I did not want to lose her.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with much gratitude this year as we are thankful for Scarlett and the anticipation of Sprout’s birth.

I’d been off to the tractor supply shop for a plow part, hoping to return before the heaviest snow fell. That damn tractor needs a new wedge for the small plow. We really need to replace the thing next spring, but replacing farm equipment is expensive. Being a farmer, one learns to be thrifty, and I’ve been putting away my own money for a while, saving up for the likes of someone like Scarlett. A certain someone.

As I pull up to the dairy barn while the day grows dark early, Blade exits the building and stops short when he sees me getting out of my truck.

“What are you doing here?” he asks, staring at me before looking over my shoulder at my truck.

“What do you mean, what am I doing here? I’m working.” I snap, stepping toward my brother, who blocks my way. “Blade, move.”

“Where’s Scarlett?” His eyes widen, searching my face.

“Home.” Stepping right, Blade follows again, blocking my path. “Dammit, Blade.”

“Didn’t Scarlett call you?” Blade questions, his voice a drop of concern.

“Why would she call me?” Instantly, the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. I reach for my phone in my pocket to find a text I’d missed. She’d contacted me an hour ago.

Meet me at the Engagement Tree at five.

My eyes drift to the time. It’s five thirteen. On top of that, it’s pitch-black out, and the snow is coming down heavy. Instantly, I dial her number, but it goes to voicemail.