Alive and Wells (Wells Ranch, #1)

by Bailey Hannah

The corner of his lip pulls into a strikingly adorable smile. Considering how hot he is with a scowl, I’d be in serious trouble if he smiled like this all the time. If I wasn’t staring directly at him, which is something I find myself doing a lot more than I should lately, I would’ve missed it altogether. Like a shooting star across his face, gone as quickly as it appeared.

“Honey, you came in from a heck of a storm. You can’t expect to immediately be warm and dry. All you can do is strip the wet clothing, wrap yourself in a blanket, and allow yourself the time it takes to weather it.

“Y’know, you keep saying ‘should.’ I think that word does nothing except lead to regrets. Whether you’re talking about something you should be doing now or something you should’ve done in the past, it’ll only bog you down. Forgetting about that silly word, what are you actually feeling? Focus on that.”

Beryl never delivers coffee. If I had a dollar for every time she’s told me “you have two feet and a heartbeat” when asked to bring me something I need, I’d be able to hire somebody to bring me coffee daily. Which means she’s up to something.

“You have a welcome mat? Liar.” Her playful tone smashes into me before the door’s fully open. “You should have a mat that says, ‘Fuck off.’ ”

Her laughter engulfs the air like fireworks. “Why aren’t you this funny all the time?” “Somebody has to be the resident asshole, I guess.”

“I assumed anything we were getting up to at this hour was likely illegal or dangerous—possibly both. Thought liquid courage might be good.” He takes another slow sip and nods his head toward the chainsaws sitting at my feet. “So, what are we doing?” “Cutting down the goddamn lilac bushes.”

“You do. When the time comes where I can do this”—his rough hand gently cups my chin and his throat bobs with a hard swallow—“without feeling every muscle in your jaw tense, I’ll kiss you until you’re unable to breathe. And a whole lot more, if you’ll let me.”

“Not that it’s exactly the same but, when I was a kid, I convinced my grandpa to buy me a horse from the auction. She was unbroken, abused, terrified. Couldn’t even get within ten feet without her spooking. We went on to win the high school rodeo championships in tie-down roping two years in a row. It just takes time. Trust.”

“Jesus fuck. I remember it being cold, but not this goddamn cold.” I swear every part of me is blue and my dick might be inside my body now.

It’s the feeling of coming home from a long trip. It’s the warmth of the summer sun as you lie in a hammock with a great book. It’s the kind of kiss that lasts forever and ends too soon.

“Darlin’, I’m definitely not ignoring you. I’m just trying my damnedest to be the respectful man my mom raised me to be, okay?”