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“I’m glad I’m worth rebelling against your parents then.” He laughs. “For now though, let’s eat up. I’ll try to think of the right words to be diplomatic when the time comes, but I don’t want to worry that pretty little head of yours. Worries cause wrinkles, and I want you to stay as shiningly beautiful as you are now.”
Such a sweetheart.
I wonder what he means when he says wants more than a few dates.
I know I want more.
But how much more?
From a man I’ve only known for a few days?
Maybe that’s how you know you’ve found the one. When you want things that are obviously insane but they seem like the most natural thing in the world.
I have faith in Nelson though.
I have faith that this would all work out in the end.
7
NELSON
Iam not usually this nervous when dealing with difficult situations.
I’m sitting in the driveway of the McCormick mansion, taking deep breaths, pumping my fist, just trying to psyche myself up.
Usually? I give no shits. I’d burst in somewhere, do what needs to be done, and take off, never giving it a second thought.
I guess when you’re dealing with someone who openly hates you, though, things are different. Plus, a lot is on the line here, and if I stumble over my words too much, I have a feeling I’ll have a fist thrown at my face.
Worse, I may lose my chance to have Nicole.
I can’t dawdle here forever. I’m here to pick her up for the lantern-lighting ceremony and to fulfill our duties as king and queen.
But nothing’s ever that easy.
I step out of the car and make my way up to the door. I have dressed in my best. Well, the best a Rowdy boy can dress, anyhow. Clean cowboy boots, tight denim fresh out of the wash, a button-down shirt, a bolo tie and a hat. Nothing too extravagant. If I owned a suit, I would have worn that. Burly boys in general, though? We’re cowboys, and I can’t help if that’s especially literal when it comes to me.
I’ve told myself I shouldn’t care what some hateful man thinks of me. But Nicole cares what this guy thinks, so I feel some obligation to win him over.
I push the doorbell and anxiously await my fate. There’s enough delay that I think he might be outright ignoring me, but I soon hear the tumblers start to turn, and the door opens to his scowling face.
“Nicole isn’t home. Piss off.”
I let out a long breath and shake my head. “You know I’m not going to buy that, Mr. McCormick. Not when she told me she’d be here.”
“Well, she isn’t here. Go away.”
“Her car is here.”
“She went for a long walk.”
“Daddy!” I hear her shout in the distance, and she scurries up behind him as fast as she can in heels. I get a good look at her and damn, she’s gorgeous.
She’s not showing off a lot of flesh given the coldness of the Burly autumn, but she’s showing off what she can and it’s fantastic. I gawk at her for a time, just taking in her beauty.
“I’m trying to save you, sweetie. This wannabe cowboy is bad news, and not good enough for you.”
I throw a finger up. “Uh, I’ll have you know I am literally a cowboy. I studied business at Washington State, but I’m still out there every day on a horse, wrangling our cows and bulls.”
