Page 36 of Wrangled Love

“Jensen, did you hear what I—” Briar’s voice falters when she sticks her head around a pair of jeans separating us, and her face turns beet red when she catches me holding her panties. “Oh my god. Give me those.” She snatches the underwear from my hand.

She glances over to make sure Caleb isn’t looking before bending down to shove them into the bottom of the basket.

“I can finish my laundry.” She pulls a shirt from the clothesline, avoiding my gaze as she folds it. “You should go inside and write some code or whatever it is you do.”

I step forward and cover her hand with mine, holding it there until her eyes find mine. “Why are you blushing, sugar?”

“I’m not. Just don’t need you staring at the underwear I got from a bachelorette party I went to last year. Everyone was asked to bring party favors, and Charlie bought a bulk pack of lacy panties with cheeky sayings on them. She gave the bride a pair that said ‘Grab Life by the Buns.’”

The corner of my mouth twitches into a smile. “I prefer ‘All You Can Eat,’ even if it causes heart palpitations just thinking about it.”

All I can picture is those lace panties hugging her creamy hips, begging me to taste her sweet pussy. And if that weren’t enough, she had to go and mention lacy panties, causing my second hard-on in an hour. God help me. Fantasies of this woman now live rent-free in my mind, and damn if I know how to stop them.

I draw closer, gently tucking a strand of hair behind Briar’s ear, feeling her shiver beneath my touch. “Most guys would need a roadmap and those panties to spell out what they’re supposed to do,” I say, my voice low.

“You included?” she taunts.

“I’m not one of your countryboys, Briar. I’m a man whodoesn’t need hints to know what my woman needs.” I shoot her a confident grin as she rests her hand on my pec, her chest rises and falls in quick, shallow breaths. “Every woman deserves to be claimed by a man who’s not afraid to make her beg for more and show her what she’s been missing.”

Her fingers curl around the collar of my shirt, her gaze locked on my mouth. When she swipes her tongue across her lips, the flicker of desire inside me turns into something undeniable, pulling me closer. I’m inches away from claiming a kiss when Caleb’s laughter erupts from the other side of the yard.

Just like that, whatever was building between us vanishes, and we both pull away. I look around the wall of clothes to check on Caleb and see Ziggy has fainted again. Caleb is now lying beside him, mimicking the goat’s stiff posture. My heart swells seeing my son playing without a care in the world. Now, if only I can figure out how to get a goat in our penthouse, because he will be heartbroken if he has to say goodbye to Ziggy at the end of the summer.

When the goat sits up, it starts licking Caleb’s face, leaving a trail of slobber down his cheek.

“I guess that’s one way to bond with a goat,” Briar laughs.

I wrinkle my nose when Ziggy moves to Caleb’s head, nibbling on his hair. “I’d better go rescue him before the goat decides he’s a walking tasting menu.”

“Good call,” Briar says.

Our eyes meet for a split second before I jog toward Caleb and Ziggy. Damn, she’s incredible, and that near-kiss only makes me crave her lips on mine even more.

No matter how hard I try, I can’t forget the image of Jensen seconds away from kissing me this morning. Despite the distraction, I still managed to paint a wall in the living room, though the memory of ouralmost-kiss played on repeat in my head.

I can’t explain why, but a part of me wanted him to kiss me—to find out what it would feel like to have his lips on mine. Thinking about him gazing at me with those green eyes as he traces my jawline makes my pulse quicken.

I blame those damn panties.

They’ve opened a door I’m afraid can’t be closed. Until now, my attraction for Jensen had been set to a simmer, and I’ve tried everything to stop my desire from boiling over. It made it easier when I assumed his occasional flirting was a product of loneliness and isolation on the ranch. But now, ouralmost-kiss has upended that theory, and I fear I won’t be satisfied until he kisses me. The problem? It could unleash a whole host of complications we’re better off avoiding, but I’m unsure if I can pretend it didn’t happen.

After a trip to Tinker Toys, Jensen and Caleb spent the afternoon at the ranch house with Mama Julie and Pops. Caleb’s obsessed with the craft room, especially the dinosaur paint-by-number set they got him. He hasn’t been in Bluebell long, but he’s already getting the grandparent treatment. They already adore him as if he were their own.

They invited me to dinner, but I politely declined. Instead, I stayed in my room until the boys got home, and once Jensen went to put Caleb to bed, I slipped out to sit on the front porch. I love the peace that comes with quiet nights on the ranch, including the rustling grass, the chirping crickets, and the distant lowing of cattle settling in for the night.

My favorite part about living here is the slow pace. We all work hard but always make time to enjoy the little things.

My phone buzzes repeatedly, and of course, it’s the girls blowing up the group chat.

Backroads & Bad Decisions Group Chat

Charlie: Ran into Mr. Grady at Lasso & Latte.

Charlie: He’s got half the coffee shop convinced someone’s out to sabotage his chicken farm because they’re bitter over losing to his wife in the pie contest last year.

Charlie: Even showed Sheriff Matterson a photo of a boot print like it’sCSI: Country Chicken Edition.

Birdie: Oh. My. God. We might actually go to jail this time!!

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