Page 27 of Wrangling Hearts
“Very,” she replied. “He just asked me about Savannah and stepped on my toes.”
I couldn’t stop the satisfaction I felt. “I’ll let him live, I guess.”
“Why? Were you jealous?” she chuckled, looking around at the fundraiser.
My grip on her tightened until her eyes met mine. “Very.”
Her lips parted with a shaky breath, her pupils blown wide despite the fairy lights.
I could hardly breathe, couldn’t think far beyond how beautiful she was, and how I’d been an idiot for never noticing until now. I’d always thought she was cute when we were kids, but this was different. Different than anything I’d felt before.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look yet?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Well, you do.” I let go of her hand, brushing a lock of hair off her shoulder, and letting the back of my fingers ghost her skin as I did. “You’re radiant.” My voice was low, reverent. I never imagined speaking to her like this, given our history, but now that I had, I didn’t know if I could stop.
She shuddered against me, and I felt it roll through every muscle of her. “Thank you,” she whispered.
My blood fizzed like freshly poured champagne, a need I’d never felt before taking over. My eyes lowered to her lips, so plump and soft, and I was desperate to taste them.
Claire tilted her face up, a silent invitation. I leaned in, my heart thundering against my ribs.
But then my fucking brother showed up. “Sorry to interrupt,” Colt said awkwardly, clearing his throat. “It’s a phone call for you.”
“I’m kinda busy here,” I said through clenched teeth, gesturing to Claire.
“I know, but you’re gonna want to take this.”
My eyes drifted shut, and I sighed. Colt wouldn’t cut in like this if it weren’t important. I let go of Claire. “I’m sorry, it could be about?—”
“It’s fine,” she said quickly, her voice higher than usual. “I need to get home anyway, Gran’s watching Mama.”
I watched her go, my heart sinking. I hoped that she really did need to get home, rather than regret what had just happened. But Claire wasn’t the type to make excuses or do something she didn’t want to.
Whathadjust happened? I had no clue. All I knew was I wanted it to happen again.
“Someone better be dead,” I growled at my brother and brought the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
“Beaumont. Hi, this is Preston Hollis, Levi’s half-brother.”
I looked at Colt, wrenching my jaw and mouthing, “You’re the dead one.”
“What do you want, Preston?”
Levi and Preston Hollis belonged to the most power-hungry, wealthy, and morally bankrupt family in Wild Creek. Their grandfather, Sterling, was president of the town council and an oil tycoon who owned half of Texas at this point. Unfortunately for me, Levi was my cousin on my mother’s side. Levi was bearable, pleasant even, but Preston and the rest of them? They could go kick fucking rocks for all I cared.
Especially for interrupting my dance with Claire.
“We’d like to acquire your land, and are prepared to offer?—”
“Not interested.”
“It’s a multi-million dollar offer, Beaumont. More than you’d ever get from Cavendish. You’d never have to work again a day in your life.”
“Still not interested. Bye.” I hung up before he could say anything else and slammed the phone into Colt’s chest. “Fuck you for that, Colton. Now take me home, Anna ditched me.”
Colt sighed and caught up with me. “Sorry, but when someone offers youmillionsof dollars, you kinda have to hear them out. That’s just how it works.”
