Page 9 of Rekindling Little River (Littles of Rawhide Ranch #14)

River

River knew their mouth was hanging open wide enough to catch flies, but they couldn’t seem to get their muscles to work enough to close it.

Honestly, they were kind of surprised their jaw hadn’t completely unhinged and landed on the floor.

They guessed they’d been silent too long, as Dave spoke again.

“I guess it’s only fair that I warn you being my Little one won’t be easy.

My need to care for someone runs deep and extends to all areas.

I need complete control. I’ve been told I’m too much.

My ex-wife said I was a psycho, controlling bastard.

So, there’s that. I would never force you into anything, but I would protect you and care for you in every way. ”

River still couldn’t form words, despite the flair of anger at Dave’s ex.

How had she not been able to see the treasure she had?

River hadn’t known Dave long, less than a year, and even though his stepping in and bossing them around had gotten on their nerves, they could clearly see it came from a place of concern.

There had never been a malicious intent behind anything Dave had said or done. River should know.

“I know this probably seems to come from nowhere, but it doesn’t. I’ve had to curb my baser Daddy instincts with you from the day we met. I admit I haven’t always been successful at it but, in my defense, I’ve never been so instantly drawn to someone before.”

Wait, what? River wanted to ask what he meant, but they still couldn’t get their vocal cords to respond to their brain’s command to speak.

Beyond the fact that this was a shock to their system, they knew it was a bad idea.

There was no way they’d be able to keep their new-found attraction under wraps if they submitted to this man.

As if he was reading their mind he added, “It can be platonic if you want. At least, for now. I’d like to eventually take that step, but I understand that takes trust. I just want a chance to prove to you that you can trust me.”

“Umm.” Well, they weren’t winning any articulation awards any time soon, but getting any sort of sound out was progress at this point.

“Yeah, I know I’m too old for you. I’ve told myself a million times or more that I shouldn’t do this, but if you’re willing to give me a chance, I’m done denying my attraction.”

Too old? Yeah, they were younger than him, and he had a bit of gray sprinkled throughout his brown hair, but they’d never seen him as old . They weren’t sure exactly how old he was but if they had to guess there was only about a decade between their ages. That wasn’t really all that much.

“Well.” Finally! They’d managed to speak an actual word! Before they could figure out if another word would form, Dave was speaking again and this time, what he said knocked the air right out of their lungs, the thoughts from their brain, and obliterated their hope of ever speaking again.

“I’ve wanted a lot of things in my life, River. But the last eleven months have taught me that I didn’t really understand wanting before, because I have never wanted, or needed, anything as much as you.”

Dave

Shit.

He really hoped they said something soon before he talked them out of this idea instead of into it. He hadn’t meant to lay it all out like that. He needed to get a grip on his tongue before he ruined his chances.

The shock in River’s expression was making him nervous. He’d hoped he wasn’t the only one fighting attraction but there was no guarantee what he was feeling wasn’t completely one-sided and the longer River went without speaking, the more he wondered.

“You…” River cleared their throat and opened their mouth like they intended to try again but no sound escaped. They glanced around as if they were searching for a teleprompter to give them words to say and his stomach clenched. “You’ve really wanted me this whole time?”

“Yeah”—he ran his fingers through his hair and smiled sheepishly at them—“I have.”

“But, our friends.”

Um, okay, he was confused. “As much as I love our friends, I’m not looking to add them to our dynamic.”

“What happens when it’s over?”

Dave tried not to let their certainty that it wouldn’t last hurt, but damn. Direct hit. “Who says it has to be when ?”

“It’s always when.”

The words were said so low that Dave was certain he wasn’t meant to hear them, but he had, and they broke his heart.

What they’d said to their friend at lunch came back to him, making him curse himself for not realizing what they meant sooner.

River wasn’t sure it would end because they wanted it to, they were sure it would because nothing had lasted for them before.

Going on instinct, Dave reached for their hand and leaned forward until their eyes were on him. “Baby, if you decide I’m not right for you, then I’ll handle it like a man. There won’t be hard feelings or dividing of friends like they’re communal property.”

“But what if you decide I’m not right for you?”

And there was the crux of River’s hesitation. So, Dave made a spur of the moment decision. He laid his final cards on the table in an effort to show River exactly how important they already were to him.

“If you weren’t right for me, I wouldn’t have spent the last eleven months trying to get your attention.

I wouldn’t have requested days off to make events I knew you’d be at.

I wouldn’t have joined Little Hearts Club hoping to see you more.

I wouldn’t have borrowed a friend’s clothes to man a dunking booth, just so you’d have to pay attention to me to dunk me.

” He watched their expression slowly shift from shock to awe, but he wasn’t quite done yet.

He had one more confession. “If you weren’t right for me, I wouldn’t have bid an entire paycheck on this vacation specifically because I saw your bid on its twin. ”