AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He smiled at the cute retort. That was it! He liked her far too much to allow West to try to win her back. Her playful spirit had been dealt a blow by his brother, but she hadn’t been broken. “Maybe both an angel and a devil,” he admitted, “and I like who you are. I’m sorry not everyone can see it.”
She gnawed on her lower lip. “I know your family has endured a lot of hardship these past few years, and so, you know, it’s just… your brother might not have treated me like he should, but he’s not bad, either. He was…isreally stressed,” she amended. “He can be sweet.”
“Sweet, huh?” No one had ever accused West of that before. Eva’s good opinion of his brother was likely the one reason Westdidlike keeping her around. Some people—no matter their circumstances and upbringing—exuded charity and goodness, and she was one of them.
“I just want you to take it easy on him,” she said.
His teeth clenched. He might’ve felt that same impression twisting his insides while he argued with West in the goat cellar, but he’d never allow him to hurt Eva again. “I’ll leave thatsweetman alone as long as he leaves you alone. How’s that?”
She studied their clasped hands. “You’re more protective than my daddy. You know that?”
She had no idea! Just like she didn’t know how amazing she was. He’d change that starting now. It was time to share all the light and love that he’d been gifted and reclaim her soul for God. Wasn’t she His child first? She deserved to know how beloved she was.
“Your daddy’s got nothing on me,” he said. “I’ve got plans for us, starting with a Thanksgiving dinner for two tonight and ending with another one about sixty years down the road with about a hundred annoying relatives.”
Eva burst into laughter. “You sure know how to sweet-talk a girl.”
Before he could try again, her hands spread through his like she was comparing hand sizes—hers were tiny in comparison… of course. Cole had always been broader and stronger than any of his brothers. She wrapped her fingers around his thumb and found the collar of his sweater with her free hand before pressing her lips against his.
She was setting his blood on fire again.
Kissing her in the light of day was possibly better than all those shadowy alcoves they always found themselves in. The morning clouds were beautiful in that jeweled November sky, but they were nothing to her eyes.
Shafts of light sizzled against their skin. The day was practically perfect with its unusual warmth for this time of year. It felt like nature all around them celebrated their love. Even birds sang in the distance, echoing Cole’s own wonder at feeling this stunning girl’s heartfelt touch.
He couldn’t help it. He scooped her off the top of the truck bed and held her while they kissed, not even sure what he was going to do with her now that he was carrying her, only that he was claiming her as his own. No seething brother, no high society daddy, no glittering party, no screaming fans could ever get between them.
Her fingers traveled up his jaw, almost melting him into jelly as she took him captive by playing with his hair.
She stole his cowboy hat.
Of course she had. Eva was as spirited as they came. She clutched to the hat helplessly, unable to put it on because he wasn’t through kissing her yet.
If ever!
They had their freedom to celebrate and a lifetime of living to do it. He felt in his bones that their relationship could withstand the darts and challenges of time, but he just couldn’t seem to pace himself.
She was as addictive as laughing in a storm.
A loud squawking noise sounded above them. Both of them tilted their necks to gaze upward where they discovered a turkey. Cole let out a disbelieving chortle. “That one got away.”
“Fly! Fly!” Eva shouted. She caught Cole’s eye with a mischievous look as he set her back down on the truck bed. “Nowwhat are we going to do for Thanksgiving dinner?”
He snatched his hat from her, considering its leather brim before he placed it over those blonde curls of hers that were only made curlier after a night out on the hay. Eva was absolutely adorable in his hat. Maybe he’d give her his sweater next. He’d follow that with his boots. Cole laughed at how those would drown her.
“I look that good, huh?” she asked.
“You’re the cutest cowgirl I’ve ever seen.”
“Good,” she said, “because I intend to be one now.”
“You do, huh?” He sat beside her, his hands capturing hers over the flatbed.
“That doesn’t scare you, does it?” she asked.
He felt his lips dance up like they often did when they talked this way. “It depends on how many wild projects you’ve got flying around in that head of yours.”
She didn’t miss a beat. “A pumpkin catapult to keep back the bears and wolves.”
