Page 10 of Ropers Can’t Tie Knots (Kissing Ridge Cowboys #3)
eight
Hunter
“ H ow’s married life, sugar?”
Diamond sets my slice of cheesecake in front of me with a sparkling smile.
“Glad to see the town still shares information better than a manure spreader at full speed.”
Diamond takes that as an invitation to sit with me for a moment. I say nothing as he grins and taps a well-manicured finger on the table.
“So it’s true. You and Hottie McLawyer tied the knot?”
“Do you call him that to his face?”
“Nah. I call him Mr. Handsome to his face.” Diamond winks, and despite my reluctance to talk about Gabe, I confirm details.
“Yes, we’re married.” When Diamond doesn’t leave, I dig into my cheesecake and shove a forkful into my mouth. “If you’re looking for anything else, you won’t get it.”
He heaves an exaggerated sigh and stands. “Fine. Be all broody about it and not talk. I’ll just ask someone else…like Mr. Handsome himself.” Diamond struts back to the coffee counter, and I shake my head.
It’s what we wanted. What I wanted. For the town to know and make sure the information that Gabe was putting down roots here spread, but it’s not like me to talk about someone the way people in love often do. I don’t wax on about how amazing he is or how we met, because there’s no story to tell.
Unless it’s considered socially acceptable to brag about how great of a fuck your husband is. Because the sex is fucking amazing. The one perk for the year so far is that, at least.
“Well, hello, Mr. Handsome!” Diamond’s voice rings out, and I look up to see Gabe enter the Thirsty Cow.
He took my advice and stopped wearing a suit to the office this week.
Instead, he’s dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
He still has the shiny-as-fuck dress shoes, but it’s a start.
I watch as Diamond shamelessly flirts with him, and Gabe laughs along with it. Diamond moves off to fix his order, and Gabe turns around. His gaze immediately lands on me, and a brilliant smile fills his face. He says something to Diamond and then strides across the café towards me.
“I didn’t think you’d be here until later. I was coming by to have an early coffee.” He leans down and kisses me quickly on the lips. My head jerks back as he pulls away. “It’s common to kiss your spouse in public,” he murmurs as he sits across from me, and I nod.
“Yeah, yes…I just wasn’t expecting it.” Understatement . It wasn’t even on my list of things to expect from this arrangement. “So, public affection is okay with you?”
Gabe leans back into the chair across from me and crosses his arms behind his head. His biceps strain against the fabric bunched there. For an office worker, he’s kept himself fit.
“Yeah, Hunter. I’m fine with it. But if you’re not, don’t force it, and I won’t make you uncomfortable. ”
“No, it’s okay. I’m just…not used to it, I guess.”
There’s no ‘ I guess ’ about it. I’m not used to it. Full stop.
I hid from my grandfather for so long, it became second nature to keep my hands to myself where anyone could see. Kissing someone publicly was something I always wanted, but the anxiety constantly simmered below the surface.
In bars with alcohol flowing, I could drown that out easier, but here in Kissing Ridge, it felt like the judgmental eyes of my grandfather were everywhere…even with him dead.
“Here you go Mr. Handsome.” Diamond sets a mug in front of Gabe with a wink my way, and Gabe’s warm laughter draws my attention to him.
“Maybe you shouldn’t call me that anymore, Diamond. Or at least not in front of my husband.” Gabe’s foot touches mine under the table.
“It’s fine. He is handsome, so it’s a suitable name. Just don’t get any ideas about putting the moves on him. He’s spoken for.”
Before I can second-guess what I’m doing, my hand reaches out and grabs his, bringing it to my lips for a kiss. Gabe’s lips part with a small breath, and Diamond coos before leaving us alone.
“Well, you didn’t waste time on trying out the public affection.” Gabe pulls his hand back and sips his coffee.
“You said husbands do that. Just seemed like the right time.”
Gabe huffs a small laugh. “The right time to get a bit possessive in front of the barista and town gossip. Well played, Hunter.” Gabe brushes it off and changes the subject to what we have to do in an hour, but I wonder if it’s something Gabe likes and wants more of.
“So, this 4-H meeting thing…tell me why it’s helpful. Is there something I should do or say? People to pay attention to? ”
“Well…all of them are important, Gabe. Even the kids, because they will probably grow up and remember how you treated them. But the adults here are people with established farms and businesses. They often need financing for various things. While you don’t give them financial advice, they need lawyers to take care of registering property liens, severing lots, even selling off milk quotas. ”
Gabe nods along, and I know he’s nervous about this. Considering how he’d never even heard of 4-H before he moved here. My crash course one night over dinner helped, but he wasn’t kidding when he said he knew little about raising animals.
“Okay. Right. So be nice to everyone and hope they think of me when they need stuff.” He nods firmly. “I can do this.”
His words are confident, but his body isn’t, and I reach over to squeeze his hand.
“Gabe, I promise this will be okay. Just be yourself.”
He snorts and shoots me a skeptical look. “I’m afraid of a groundhog, Hunter. How can I be okay around farm animals in the first five minutes?”
“This is about animals, then?”
He shrugs and looks away, and it’s so unlike his usual demeanour. The cocky confidence and professional attitude have disappeared, and he’s like a child scared to enter kindergarten for the first time because maybe someone will laugh at him.
“I made a change in my career, Hunter. I took a huge chance to come here and I’ve…I’ve never failed. What if this is the first time?”
I shouldn’t care, but I know how he feels. It’s scary to cross into something you know little about, but I know he’ll be a hit. He’s a man most will like easily. A few people in town won’t warm to him, but they’re the minority.
“Come on. Once you meet Margie, you’ll feel better about this.”
Gabe stands with me. “Who’s Margie?”
“She’s the best,” I say with a giant smile, because there isn’t any other way to describe her to do her justice. “Trust me, okay?”
He puffs out a breath as we walk to my truck. “I don’t have much choice, do I?”
“Nope.” Opening the door, I pull out a shopping bag and pass it to Gabe. “Try these on. I guessed your size, so here’s hoping they fit.”
He peers inside the bag and pulls out one of the generic black rubber boots with an orange sole.
“Good guess. I’m a twelve, so these work.” When he moves to put them on the floor, still in the bag, I laugh.
“Put them on, Gabe. Those shoes won’t hold up in a barn. That’s our first stop.”
“I guess that makes sense.” He puffs another breath and rubs his neck. “So, ah, do you tuck the pants inside or leave them out?”
The peal of laughter comes out before I can stop it, and thankfully, Gabe joins in.
“Tuck them in, counsellor. We’ll make you a country boy yet.”
“Hunter Burke, why have you been a stranger!?”
Margie grabs at my ear like she used to when I was a boy, and I let her give me shit. I deserve it. After she tugs my ear, she pokes me with her cane and smiles. “I’ve missed you.”
My throat swells as I bend to hug the tiny woman.
My grandmother’s best friend and the one to whom I came when she died.
I owe my life to Margie, and for the last few years I’ve been absent for reasons I’m sure she’s aware of, but it’s no excuse for me to stay away from the woman who was and still is a huge part of my life.
“I’ve missed you, too, Margie.” Glancing behind me, Gabe waits with a nervous smile, and I lower my voice again. “Don’t get mad, but I’ll explain later.”
Straightening, I motion for Gabe and wrap an arm around his waist. “Margie, I’d like you to meet my husband, Gabe.”
A mix of emotions swirls across Margie’s wrinkled face, and I know she’s trying not to curse me out and cry.
Gabe extends a hand to her. “It’s nice to meet you, Margie.”
She bats his hand away and motions for him to hug, and Gabe does so easily. My heart lurches along when I imagine what she must think of me for not keeping her in the loop and introducing my husband while we were dating .
“I’ve always hoped Hunter would find someone who could put up with all his bullshit.”
Gabe barks out a laugh while Margie genuinely seems pleased. “I wouldn’t call it bullshit. He’s a little grouchy and likes his kitchen to be just right. I can’t fault him too much for that.”
“Gabe is the new lawyer in town, and he’s not familiar with 4-H or much of the country life. I brought him to meet people.”
Margie points her cane at me. “We will talk later, young man. I’ll see you under the tent after.” She then smiles at Gabe, who, of course, returns the full Gabe dimpled grin. “You’re in excellent hands, Gabe.”
After she leaves, I puff my cheeks with a breath. “Well…that could have been worse.”
“She loves you. You’re close,” Gabe murmurs as I watch Margie exit outside. “Who is she?”
“She was my grandmother’s best friend, although she hated who Gram married. Margie was the only friend to stick by my gram and put up with him. When she got sick, Margie dropped everything for her…and for me. The two of us got through a hard time together.”
The sound of voices interrupts us, and we both turn to find the kids and their parents arriving.
Gabe steps closer to me and wipes his palms along his jeans.
He smiles and nods as people greet me and get their kids settled.
Part of me wants to push him into the crowd and tell him to figure it out, much like my grandfather would have.