Page 44 of Barn Burner
He laughs quietly. “How about I do that when we’re alone and it won’t get posted online.”
“Fine. Spoil my fun.” I sigh dramatically, but he knows I’m only messing around. I’m grateful he’s already so in tune with my need for privacy. It makes me fall for him a little harder. “Where are you staying tonight?”
“We were going to find a hotel and head back in the morning.”
“Uh, no, don’t do that. You’re staying at my house. All of you,” I say adamantly. I don’t want him to be sleeping in another bed apart from mine. “And I can drive you back to the ranch tomorrow.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking, I’m offering.” I steal another kiss. “Plus, I have a rest day tomorrow, so I wouldn’t have been doing much anyway except eating and sleeping.”
Jesse hums, all deep and gravelly, and I place my hand over his chest, loving the feel of the deep rumble beneath my palm. I can’t stop touching him. I didn’t think seven weeks was that long in the grand scheme of things, but now he’s right here in front of me, it feels like a lifetime has passed since I’ve felt the beat of his heart beneath my palm.
I’ve missed him more than I ever knew was possible to miss another human being, and that realization has guilt clawing up my throat.
“Are your brothers mad I didn’t tell them?” I blurt nervously.
He shakes his head. “No. They were just as shocked as me, but they’re not mad.”
“And your parents?”
“Not them either. If anything, if you ever need a guard dog, I’ll send Mom your way because she was almost as furious as I was over some of the shit those assholes posted online.”
Shame courses through me at the mention of the articles that sent me running two months ago. I’ve done a good job at ignoring the media since I left the ranch. It was like Jesse’s speech while we watched the sunrise flicked a switch in me, giving me that relief I didn’t know I needed.
“You read them, huh?”
He nods, and his nostrils flare as he takes a deep inhale. “I did. Every single one of them, but you know what, Brayden?”
“What?”
“They don’t know what the fuck they’re talking about. You are incredible. Not just because you’re talented, but because you continue to fight and push forward despite those low-lifes trying to pull you down.” He runs his thumb over my bottom lip, and I lean into the warm touch of his palm when he cups my cheek, like a cat seeking the rays of sun through a window. “I’m glad I found you that day, Brayden. I’m glad I was able to give you the air you needed to help you breathe again, but there’s one thing you need to know: I will never allow you to feel like you’re suffocating ever again.”
Sighing, I drop my head back until it hits the wall behind me. My lips wobble and twitch as I try to suppress the smile that’s threatening to split my face in two.
“Jesse Huxley, you’re one fucking romantic cowboy, you know that?”
With a deep growl, he dips his head and nips the delicate skin by my ear. “You might not be callin’ me romantic later whenyou’re cryin’ out my name because this cowboy has been dyin’ for a ride, and I’m not gonna go slow.”
I thrust my hips toward him, letting him feel the evidence of my arousal against his thigh. “Don’t tease me with a good time when we have to go back out there.”
Much to my disappointment, Jesse takes a step back and adjusts himself. I do the same, then motion toward the main part of the noisy pub. “Wanna come meet my teammates?”
Surprise flickers over his face. “You want to introduce me?”
“Yeah, I do. They know I’m dating you and that I spent the month at your ranch,” I say, leading him through the narrow space. We make our way over to Cooper and Rhett at the bar. I grin when they spot me, and both of them stand up for a one-armed hug and back slap.
“You sneaky fucker.” Cooper laughs, jabbing me in the ribs. “Can’t believe you lied to us.”
I grimace. “Technically, I didn’t lie; I just withheld information. It’s different.”
“Hey,” Jesse grunts, giving Cooper’s shoulder a slight shove. “Knock it off.”
“I’m only messin’ around,” Cooper replies, rolling his eyes before giving me a reassuring smile. “I think I would have done the same if I were in your position. NHL superstar.” He grins, bumping my fist.
“The game was awesome. You were awesome. That goal was pure magic,” Rhett chimes in. “If you ever want to give up hockey, we could get you into rodeo.”
“No,” Jesse answers immediately. “No rodeo.”
