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I groan, realizing Dad set me up. “That’s not what you wanted to talk to me about?”
Letting out a soft laugh, she grins. “I didn’t want this food to go to waste. But I will admit I’m worried about you falling too hard and too fast, and then things not working out the way you want them to.”
Glancing over at her, I scrub my palms over my face and exhale deeply. “Do you like Zoey?” I ask as she places the containers in reusable bags.
I know I’m putting her on the spot, but I have to know.
She moves closer to me, patting my cheek as she’s done since I was a young boy. “Yes, I do. I think she’s a nice girl.”
“That’s all I need to know. Ma, I already got the speech from Dad today. I know y’all care about me and think this could end badly, but Zoey’s special, and it’s all gonna work out.”
“I don’t think a girl would come all this way for nothing, Riley. It’s obvious she genuinely cares about you. I see the way she looks at you. How she laughs at your jokes. There’s admiration there, and she respects you. But is it enough to keep her here?”
I nod, halfway wondering that myself but believe it is. “It’s enough right now.” My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I see it’s a text from Zoey telling me to meet her at the B&B in an hour. “I gotta go. I love you, Ma.” I give her a kiss on the cheek, grab the extra food, and leave. On the drive home, all I can do is smile, because I know my parents care enough about me to support what makes me happy.
I stack the containers in the fridge, jump in the shower, and wash away the grease and dirt from my day. As I’m leaving, Diesel saunters in looking exhausted as hell. He stupidly volunteered to help brand cattle today, which is hard as fuck, but he loves it.
“Oh look, it’s my best friend I never see anymore,” he says smugly, walking past me. “Bros before hoes!” He goes to the kitchen and grabs a beer, then plops down on the couch in his dirty, cow shit smelling clothes.
“Dude! You stink like ass, and you’re sitting on our furniture.” I walk over and kick his muddy boots off the coffee table.
He bursts out into a hefty laugh. “I do, don’t I? I should probably shower and call your sister since you won’t hang out with me anymore.”
Pretty sure he says things like that just to see the steam blow from my ears. “I’ll kick your ass!”
He puckers his lip and shrugs as if that consequence isn’t a good enough reason to stay away. “I’d deserve it because I don’t know boundaries, if you know what I mean.” He waggles his eyebrows at me, smirking like a dipshit.
“That’s fine. Just let my dad find out. That second son card will be revoked so quick,” I warn, but he’s waving me off and chuckling.
“Seriously, though, I don’t blame you for ditching me. If Zoey was here for me, I’d call in sick every day from blue balls.” Diesel shakes his head. “Don’t know how you’re surviving.”
“It’s only been a week,” I retort, though I’m wondering the same thing. “But I gotta run. She’s waiting for me. And stay away from my sister.” I jab my finger hard into his chest. “I’m serious.”
“We’ll see,” he taunts. “Don’t you want me as a brother-in-law?” He proceeds to kick off his dirty boots, dried mud falling on the floor.
“Hell no,” I say with a smirk. “That’ll be the day hell freezes over.”
He shrugs. “Imma make you an uncle one day!”
“Fuck off!” I yell before I leave.
Diesel knows exactly what to say to get under my skin. I’ve always been so damn protective of Rowan and hate that I can’t keep her away from all the assholes when she’s at college. Protecting her isn’t something I can do forever, and even though it might be useless, I can at least try to scare Diesel and any other local guys away. Rowan’s a grown ass woman and will do what she wants either way.
I listen to the pop station on the way over to the B&B, which reminds me of when Zoey and I danced in Vegas at the clubs, and when we slow danced at the Honky Tonk. I smile when I see her walking outside as I pull up and park.
“It’s almost as if you have a husband tracker on me or something,” I say once I pull her into my arms, then slant my mouth over hers. She moans, and I don’t know how much longer I can hold back. Just being around her lights a fire inside me, and it’s about to burn me alive.
