Page 122 of The Wildest Ride

He only had time for Lil.

His blood was a rushing river in his veins, his breath still coming fast and hard as he strode over to Lil. She stood her ground as he closed the distance between them, lifting her face to his when he stood in front of her. Her eyes were hurricane dark, her thick eyebrows drawn together in a frown as she scanned his face. He’d never seen a woman more stunning. All that compressed beauty around a core of steel... She was the sexiest thing he’d ever encountered.

She lifted a hand up to cup his cheek softly. “You okay?” she asked.

He nodded, the thunderous beat of his heart beginning to slow. “You?”

She nodded. “We should probably get out of here.”

Aware of the phones still pointed their direction, he wrapped an arm around her, hiding her in the shadow of his body. If they were going to get in trouble over this, he wanted to spare her as much as possible.

His body calmed as he led them out, the crowd parting to allow them through. As they went, the consequences of getting in a fight when you were too old for that kind of thing started to let themselves be known.

His ribs were the worst, but his left eye ached where Hank’d landed a solid one, as well. His shoulders, never particularly pleased with him, throbbed their displeasure at those full-armed punches while his back went rigid in disapproval.

Outside of the rental, he opened Lil’s door. She got in with a quick thank-you and he walked around to take the driver’s seat.

They left Hank behind. He’d figured out how to get to the spot on his own. He could get home that way, too.

Lil was quiet as they left downtown Houston, heading back to their hotel.

After they’d driven for a while he said: “Sorry about that. I shouldn’t have caused a scene.”

Lil’s voice was quiet when she replied, but there was laughter in it. “He started it.”

AJ chuckled. “I finished it. Sorry he grabbed you like that.”

“Wasn’t your fault.”

“You’re right. But it was probably because of me.”

She raised an eyebrow, tone dry. “It certainly couldn’t be because I look like such a snack in this dress...”

He let out a barking laugh that made his ribs ache. “That you do, darlin’. You can dance, too.”

She smiled. “You’re not so bad yourself. Thanks for taking me out tonight. I had a good time.”

Warmth spread through AJ’s chest. “Even with the brawl?”

She laughed and the sound wrapped around him like a warm blanket. “You know about me and brawls...”

The night of the qualifier came back to him, her in her black vest in the middle of the melee. Even then she’d somehow stood apart, a body in her own glow, as if she walked the earth under her own personal spotlight.

“I’m in love with you, Lil.”

She sucked in a breath and held it, and a thickness settled in the air between them that hadn’t been there before.

Her face was a study in surprise, mouth open slightly, eyebrows lifted, eyes swirling. She’d paled, her brown skin taking on an ashen hue, except for the two pops of red on her cheeks, and her nostrils were faintly flared.

When it was clear she wasn’t going to say anything he added, “I know you can’t leave the ranch. I’m willing to come to you.”

Her voice came out as a croak: “No.”

He looked at her. “No?” His body ached with a dull throb, bruised areas making themselves heard more and more with each passing moment.

“No,” she repeated.

“No what?” He didn’t try to keep the irritation out of his voice. He’d waited thirty-six years to tell a woman he loved her only to have her tell him no like he’d asked for her spare change.