Page 53 of Wrangled Love

I scoff. “Rich, coming from the guy who crashed my date and won’t tell me why.”

“From where I stood, you seemed rather receptive to the interruption.”

I narrow my eyes, exhaling sharply. “That’s not the point.”

“Then what is?” Jensen claps back.

I smooth out my dress, angling toward him to make sure I have as much of his attention as I can while he’s still focused on the road ahead.

“You don’t get to be upset with me,” I state firmly. “When I told you I was going out, you had a chance to stop me, and you didn’t. Honestly, you looked relieved when I left. What was I supposed to think?” My hands tremble, so I clasp them in my lap before Jensen notices. “Or what about when you kissed me, then pretended nothing changed, and suddenly appeared when I went on a date? Totally normal, right?” I ask, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Jensen casts me a glance, regret etched into his features. “You’re right, Briar. I fucked up. Big-time.” He shifts in his seat,his posture rigid. “You seemed so damn eager to go out tonight, spending hours getting ready, putting on that pretty dress, and wearing perfume that smells like apples and amber.”

My heart skips a beat at the wordpretty—and again at the mention of my perfume. Normally, I wear jeans and a T-shirt and put on my scented lotion, but tonight, I wanted to go all out. Now, it feels ridiculous that I dressed up for a guy I have zero interest in seeing again, and who turned out to be a total creep to boot.

But it was never for the lawyer.

“I didn’t put all that effort in for him,” I admit, feeling vulnerable.

“You didn’t?” Jensen asks.

I shake my head, letting the silence linger between us.

I’m disappointed when we pass the sign leading to Silver Saddle Ranch, my stomach dropping as the cottage comes into view. The porch lights shine bright, welcoming us home. But I’m not ready for this conversation to end.

When Jensen parks the truck, I slowly unbuckle my seat belt, not ready to get out yet. I peek over at him, his hands still gripping the steering wheel, shadows playing across his face. God, he’s so handsome. Ever since he pulled me to his side at the diner and held my hand on the way out, I’ve wanted the chance to touch him again.

Before I can make a move, he looks over and pats the seat between us. I don’t hesitate to slide over, and I exhale in relief when his hand lifts to gently cup my cheek. His eyes soften as they lock with mine, and I melt into his touch, feeling a sense of peace I’ve been missing all day.

“I showed up at the diner because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about our kiss.” He leans forward, pressing his forehead to mine. “I’ve regretted saying it should be a one-time thing ever since. I know I don’t have a claim on you, but watching you goout with another man drove me wild, and I knew if I didn’t do something, I’d regret it.”

“What are you saying, Jensen?” I whisper.

“The truth is I want you all to my—”

He stops short when the front door of the cottage swings open, and we both turn to find Caleb dashing outside in his glow-in-the-dark dinosaur pajamas.

“What the hell,” Jensen mutters under his breath. “He’s supposed to be asleep.”

I grab my purse from the passenger side floor, then climb out of the truck. When I circle to the front, Jensen’s already gotten out and has scooped Caleb into his arms, ruffling his messy hair.

“Shouldn’t you be asleep?” he asks, his tone amused.

Caleb nods shamelessly.

“If that’s the case, why are you awake?”

Caleb scrunches his nose as he twists his head to the side, pointing toward Heath and Walker, who’ve just stepped out onto the front porch.

Walker whistles when he looks at Jensen. “The cowboy hat suits you, Harding.”

“Thanks. I think it’s safe to say I look better in it than you do.” Jensen smirks.

Walker shoots him a mock glare. “You wish.”

“Don’t worry, Jensen, he’s just jealous that you’ve got the whole rugged-charm thing going better than he does,” Heath interjects with a grin.

Walker steps off the porch, heading straight to Jensen. He plucks the hat from his head and places it back on his own with exaggerated flair.

---