Page 43 of Wild Rose (Blue River Springs #1)

Wilder

I’m at Rose’s cottage again. It’s been a shit night. Not just losing two men—I’m not going to lose sleep over that. Ricky might be trying to put us out of business by leaving me to cancel events due to staffing—but it’s the least of my worries.

The biggest letdown of the night was not being able to reach out and pull my girl against my chest. Not being able to stand by protectively when someone bumped into her by accident. Or when a few of my men spent a little too much time talking to her.

It might be my imagination, but I swore Wes kept his eye on me all night.

Could just be the guilt. Which is worse since I don’t know how to lessen the blow when I tell him about Rose.

I can’t tell him it was one time. I can’t tell him it was nothing.

And I can’t tell him that it won’t happen again.

All of that was meant to be the first step in making things right.

But none of it is true.

Metaphorically, it’s been a cold evening, not having her by my side for more than a few minutes. But I can’t help the feeling of warmth when I shut down for the evening. The locks, the lights, the drapes, and finally, starting the shower for her.

I check the water temp to make sure it’s just right, then turn back to her as she undresses.

She looks up at me. It’s not playful or seductive, it’s just tender. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

I like how in tune she is with me. Seems to always be. I like it a whole lot more than I should. Even when I didn’t like the idea of her here, I noticed the way she saw me. Knew when I was bothered by something.

I run my thumb gently across her soft cheek. “I am now,” I rasp out. “I hate not touching you when he’s around.”

The thought hits me hard. These feelings hit me hard.

It’s not just sexual. My hands—and, hell, maybe even another part deep inside me—naturally seek her out, even in public. In stressful situations.

“I know,” she sighs. “And I know you don’t like lying to people either. Especially your friends and family.”

I rub the back of my neck; I have to tell her that Dallas isn’t the only one who knows about us. “About that .?.?. Dad and Silas can pretty much read the room when we’re in it together.”

She covers her face, but there’s a smile behind it. “I can only imagine what they think of me.”

“That you’re the first girl in years to make me smile.”

She searches my eyes. “They didn’t say that.”

“No,” I admit. “The men in my family don’t talk like that. But I can read them too.”

Her mouth opens, but she doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t tell me she feels the same. But maybe that’s for the best.

I swallow down the disappointment. “Shower. I need to make a call to Dallas about tonight. Then I’ll join you.”

I stand outside the bedroom door, dialing my older brother. The one who—before he lost himself in grief—was a hardass cowboy willing to kill for this ranch.

I need to see where his head is at about all this. “Hey,” he answers on the first ring.

“You home?”

“I’m at my house,” he says, like it’s obvious.

“Hell you doing over there?”

“Painting.”

“It’s after midnight,” I point out.

“Unless you’re offering to help, I’m hanging up.”

“A warning would’ve been nice about the boys,” I tell him, even if it isn’t the reason for my call.

“I know. But I can’t focus on that right now.”

“Right.” Ellie. Which means I have to focus on it enough for the both of us. “I’ll put an ad out,” I tell him. “Get some part-time help. See if Levi can recommend someone he trusts.”

“What about the senior group we got staying at the end of the summer?” Dal asks.

“Still on. We’ll make it work. Rose and I will rework the schedule.”

There’s a beat before he comments. “If my calculations are correct, she’s leaving next week, isn’t she?”

“Two weeks,” I correct, listening to the shower running in the other room.

“You planning anything on that front?”

My heart tugs. “Thinkin’ of asking her to stay.”

“All right. Then what?”

I sigh, running a hand down my face. “I don’t know.”

“Well, figure it out before you put something like that out there.”

I shake my head. Wishing it were that easy.

I’ve already admitted to myself that I want her, more than physically, more than the summer.

As far as I know, back home, she’s got nothing but a friend and a job at a downtown bar to pay the bills.

I can offer her more. But for how long? How long until I start questioning her loyalty to me? I’ve seen enough to know Rose isn’t as wild as Wes drew her out to be.

She’s driven but confused. She’s talented, but maybe a little stunted.

I trust her.

But I trusted Bonnie too.

Bonnie changed her mind. What if Rose changes her mind?

What if this thing with us is a fleeting adventure for her? Something she does without thinking.

Something she regrets later .?.?.

I growl low as I pace the living room. The idea of letting Rose go because I’m too scared to trust is both heartbreaking and frustrating.

My eyes drop to the painting of my ranch still drying along the wall. There’s another silhouette as well as that superman with a cowboy hat. This time he’s got a woman in his arms, lifting her off her feet.

They’re in front of a cottage that looks very familiar.

Maybe this is supposed to tell me something. Maybe this is how Rose shows what she wants.

And maybe it’s about time I show her how I feel.

Tomorrow.

No games. No hesitation.

Tomorrow, I ask the woman I’m wild for .?.?. to stay.