Page 89 of Rope Me In

But then my mouth drops open. I stare at Kade, gripping his hand so tightly it’s probably cutting off his circulation, when I truly realize what that means: He’s willing to miss dinner with his family for me. Gavin just offered what he’s been asking for on a silver platter—to be involved with the dude ranch, to be actively asked to participate and be heard. Yet he’s willing to give that up for me, to see me play my fiddle. For him to do that, it’s—I can’t even put into words how that makes me feel.

“Kade,” I say softly, trying not to cry. “It’s okay. There will be more.”

He shakes his head firmly. “No, I told you I’d be there. I want to be there, Presley.”

Gavin clears his throat. “You’ll still have time to get to Night Hawk for the show.”

“It’s fine, Kade,” I say, urging him to take this opportunity, to have his family hear him out, especially Gavin. I just hope they’ll listen to him this time. “You can do both.”

Kade studies me as if he’s trying to see if I’m serious. I nod again, and he finally turns to Gavin. “Okay.”

The brothers’ eyes lock, and a silent conversation passes between them. Eventually, Gavin says, “Dinner is at five.”

“I’ll be there,” Kade answers.

Gavin curtly nods and presents a half smile before he walks off, leaving Kade and myself alone in the stall once more. We juststand there for several seconds, our hands still joined and Kade unmoving.

“Are you okay?” I ask when the silence becomes too much.

Kade turns so we’re facing each other, then, without another word, he kisses me. His mouth is almost brutal against mine as he backs me up into the wall. My hands fly to his neck, grabbing on for balance as he delves into my mouth, his palms gripping my ass. He does this for a while, as if he’s drinking me in, memorizing my lips and my taste. By the time he’s finished with me, I can hardly breathe.

He rests his forehead against mine. His cap must’ve fallen to the stall floor at some point during our kisses.

“Kade.” I exhale, my chest heaving.

He kisses my lips softly again before cupping my cheek so we’re looking into each other’s eyes. “Thank you.”

“For what?” I ask, still breathless.

“For staying. For standing up to my brother.”

I place my hand over the one he has on my cheek. “You needed me.”

He lets out a tense breath and closes his eyes, his forehead still leaning into mine. “Later,” he says, after another beat, “before the show. Let me show you how much I need you.”

Kade strokes my cheek, pulls away slightly, and opens his hazel eyes, his gaze boring into mine. The promise in his stare, telling me exactly what he wants from me, makes my entire body tingle. The promise of doing more than just using our hands and mouths to explore each other is impossible to ignore.

“Will we have time?”

That makes him chuckle. “I’m trying to be romantic, and that’s your question?”

A laugh bubbles out of me, and I kiss his cheek before he steps back a bit. I bend down to pick up his ball cap, dusting off the shavings and then placing it on my head.

He looks at me in question as my lips tip up in a smile. “What’s that saying?” I tap my chin teasingly. “Wear the cap, ride the cowboy?”

Kade’s eyes dilate at my words, and he presses his body into mine again. “Careful, City Girl.”

“Or what?” I ask, his lips hovering near mine.

“Or I’ll turn you into a cowgirl.”

I close the distance between us and kiss his lips with a short peck. “Is that a promise?”

“It’s a fact.” He punctuates the T as he says it then adjusts his cap on my head, pulling my ponytail through the hole in the back. “Now let’s get to work. We’ve got a busy night of roping and riding ahead of us.”

Roping?

I want to ask what he means, but he’s already walking away. However, I think I know. All of his threats and mentions of “his rope” come to the forefront of my mind.