Page 30 of Bouquets and Buckles

I wish I could be the one to help you today.

I hate that I can’t.

My eyes shootup to my friend, who is driving and playingrock, paper, scissorswith his boyfriend to decide what to have for dinner.

Oh my god. I have to bite the inside of my cheek because I might just swoon right out of this vehicle.

I wish you could, too.

God,there are so many other things I want to say to him.I miss you already. I want to feel your arms around me. I think I’m in love with you.Except it’s not possible. Nothing between us was ever going to be more than a temporary bit of fun. To work through the sexual chemistry between us, but we both knew it was going to end as soon as Brad came home.

Probably for the best.

Really?

With how beautifulyou look today…

Let’s just say that tire might have been the last thing on my mind.

I’m blushing so damn hard rightnow. I have to sink into my coat collar to avoid giving away the goofy look on my face.

Mr. Rhodes.

Are you flirting with me?

I shouldn’t be.

Do you want to?

Butterflies erupt in my stomach,watching the tiny dots bounce on the screen for what seems like an eternity, stopping and starting before his reply finally comes through.

Sweetheart,I want everything when it comes to you.

Chapter 22

My son is officially the biggest cock block I’ve ever met.

After spending the day yesterday helping Skylar get a new tire, and to replace her spare,andmake sure she was fixed up and able to drive safely to park up here at the ranch, I suppose I should be proud of him.

When in reality, I’m insanely fucking jealous of the fact he and Flinn have been able to take care of her in all the ways I want to be able to.

It’s been two nights.

Two nights without her, when she’s been in the guest room just across the hall, I’ve laid in bed restlessly arguing with myself and my moral fiber. Weighing up the possibility of whether I can steal her away to be with me in the midnight hours when no one could possibly know, except for our guilty consciences.

Because Skylar made it clear she wouldn’t do anything to hurt Brad, and that she doesn’t want this to ruin my relationship with him.

So, who am I to go against her wishes?

The easiest solution has been to stay away. To find a hundred and one jobs to do around the ranch and let them all hang out together, getting things ready for this New Year’s Eve party.This is how everything wouldusuallybe in the past when Skylar spent time here.

Except, in all those years, all that time she spent around the place, that wasn’t when she was on my mind twenty-four-fucking-seven. Now she is, and I can’t erase her from my thoughts.

The three of them have been hanging out here at the house since Brad and Flinn’s place is barely more than a single-room cabin. It works perfectly for just the two of them, but isn’t exactly big enough for having guests over. Right now, the guys are sprawled out side by side on the couch, with some shitty action movie pulled up on the big screen. All I can see is the backs of their heads, while Skylar is curled up in one of the large armchairs over by the window, giving me a perfect view of her side profile. Her Kindle is balanced on her lap, and I’m immediately transported back to Christmas Day, lying with her tucked against my side on the couch… and everything that came after.

Fuck.

I have to subtly readjust myself as I linger in the kitchen. Truth be told, I walked in, saw Skylar, and promptly forgot what I meant to come in here for.