Page 93 of Ride or Die

I flutter my eyelashes innocently and he sniffs a laugh, claiming my lips once more in a kiss so full of promise, every last lingering shred of doubt slips away.

“I’ll call the garage today and ask ’em about your car,” Cole says, pulling away.

I nod. “Thank you.”

He winks, standing and walking back to where his things are hanging on the dresser, and I watch him get dressed, smiling to myself at the glorious pull of his muscles as he tugs his T-shirt on over his head.

“I love you,” I find myself saying before I can even consider the words.

Cole places his cowboy hat onto his head, steadying me with a soft look in his eyes. “I fuckin’ love you.”

My heart hitches in my chest at his declaration.

Picking up his boots, Cole carries them to the door and pauses, looking back at me with another dimpled grin, another slow wink. “Go back to sleep, baby.”

CHAPTER 35

COLE

As I pull up outside the bunkhouse, I’m fully aware I’m grinning like an asshole, but I can’t help it. Hopping out of Bailey’s Jeep that I’m gonna need to return at some point today, I turn, stopping when I see the new guy, Jagger, hopping out of his old Chevy. He’s dressed in the same clothes as yesterday, looking like he’s been up all night. It’s not surprising. The turnout is known to attract the buckle bunnies, and he wouldn’t be the first Rattlesnake Ranch cowboy to fall victim to one of the eager Summer gals.

“Big night?” I ask, tamping down my smirk.

Jagger startles, like he hadn’t noticed me. Removing his ball cap, he rakes his fingers through his mussed hair and looks down at the ground. “Uh, yeah.” He shrugs one of his shoulders. “Somethin’ like that.”

When I know that’s the most I’m gonna get out of him, I lead the way into the bunkhouse, the place a flurry with its typical early morning chaos.

“Goddammit, Wyatt!” someone shouts. I think it’s Levi. “Way to use all the hot water, asshole.”

“Had to wash my hair,” Wyatt chimes back from where he’s sitting at the kitchen table, chowing down a bowl of cereal.

“Well, well, well,” Brady teases from his spot in front of the fridge, looking over his shoulder at me and Jagger, his smirk smug. “Looky what the barn cat dragged in.”

I roll my eyes. Jagger bypasses me, ignoring Brady completely and, with his head down, continues through the double doors to the bunkroom.

“How’s Clara and the kids?”

I turn, finding Webber walk out of the shitter, newspaper folded under his arm.

I clear my throat, my memories going to Clara and what we did last night. I force them away because now is not the time for a twitching dick. “They’re okay. Shaken up. The little guy’s got a busted arm, but all in all they’re safe.”

“Good to hear.” Webber nods, walking past me to where his coffee mug is waiting for him.

My phone shudders from my pocket and I pull it out, my brows tugging together to see a text message from Clara. Naturally, panic flares in my chest.

Clara: I miss you already.

I release the breath I’d been holding, stifling my smile so these assholes don’t give me shit. Rubbing at the back of my neck, I walk through to the bunk room, tapping out a reply.

Me: Thought I told you to go back to sleep, darlin’.

Clara: I tried, but I couldn’t stop thinking about last night.

Unease swirls in my gut because my first thought is that she’s regretting it. Maybe I pushed her too far, too quickly. I take aseat on the edge of my bed, resting my elbows on my knees as I stare down at the screen, considering my reply.

Me: Are you okay?

Clara: No.