Page 39 of The Lies We Told Ourselves

Booker looked up at me with a wry smile. “Yeah, it wasn’t fun.”

“So your grandfather gave you this place so you could get away? That must have made your brothers angry.”

“Nah, he split everything between the four of us. My parents were the ones who were pissed because they were cut out of the will. The ranch was part of my inheritance, but the others got a bigger share of the rest of it. I didn’t care. This place was all I ever wanted, and I still had enough to live off for the rest of my life.”

“So you’re like super rich, then?” I asked, only realizing how it sounded after the words blurted out of my mouth.

Booker laughed but didn’t answer. He didn’t really have to. I could tell by the way he was trying to shrug it off that not only did he have more than enough, but he also kind of hated it.

“Is that why you want to use the ranch to help people?” I asked carefully.

“It helped me. I think it could do some real good for other people, too.”

“You’re a good person, Booker.”

He shrugged again, uncomfortable with the comment. There was something that was bothering me, though.

“You shouldn’t put everything on the line for this, though, Booker. You’ve got a business plan, right?”

He looked over his shoulder then with a grin, bringing Doc to a stop before he reached up for me. “You worried about me, Reece?”

“Apparently.”

I slid off Doc’s back, and Booker gently lowered me to the ground. I bit my lip as my mouth drew level with his. The need to kiss him was almost overwhelming, but after the awkward post-sex situation, I didn’t know if it was the right thing to do.

“I have investors,” Booker said, his voice gravelly as he continued to grip my hips, holding me against his body.

“Investors?” My brain was mush with the tension that lingered in the air, and all I could focus on was Booker’s lips.

“For the ranch plans.” Booker’s lips twitched with a smile. “I have a solid business plan and backers. I haven’t put everything on the line. I would if that was what it took. My father apparently imparted some wisdom somewhere along the line, though.”

Even as he spoke, his hands roamed my sides, and I sighed softly at the feel of his touch.

Booker’s head dipped down, his lips grazing against mine as he whispered. “Go out on a date with me.”

“A date?” I leaned back in surprise, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do.

“Yeah. Dinner or something?”

“You want to go out on a date with me?”

“I think we’ve established that already.”

“Well, I don’t know,” I said, stepping back and tapping a finger against my lips. “I have a very busy social calendar, you know.”

“The busiest,” Booker agreed, stepping forward and trapping me against the side of Doc.

“But I could maybe squeeze you in.” I shrugged and leaned up on my tiptoes, grazing my lips across his.

Booker’s arm wrapped around me as he kissed me back, his lips fiercely pressing against my own as he groaned. One hand cradled my cheek, the fingertips grazing my neck and making me shudder.

When he pulled back, neither of us moved away. I stared into his eyes, seeing an emotion growing there that he’d no doubt see mirrored in mine.

It scared me.

Not because I didn’t want to feel it.

But because I didn’t want to risk losing everything I’d found here if I messed this up, just like everything else.

---