Page 126 of That Moment
“Yeah.” I don’t bother denying it. My voice comes out low, rough. “Been staring at you for a damn decade.”
“And now,” she wriggles her toes against my fingers, “you have me.”
“You know, it feels worth it. All the years of waiting. Even the ones I didn’t realize I was waiting.”
Her eyes widen before she tries to hide it with a grin. “Wow. Look at you, Mister Romantic. Should I grab a pen? You’ll want that line saved for my wedding vows.”
I laugh, tugging her foot higher and pressing a kiss to her arch just to hear the startled laugh that bursts out of her. She wiggles, nearly sloshing coffee onto her shirt.
“Scotty!”
I grin, satisfied, my hand tightening around her calf. “Keep sassing me, and I’ll haul you back to bed. Coffee or not.”
“It was worth it.” She smiles, settling back against her chair and enjoying her coffee. We both do, just basking in the comfort of each other’s presence. It feels like a glimpse into our future, and for once, the thought of the future or marriage doesn’t make me want to run for the mountains. In fact, it makes me want it even more.
We’re both relaxing, but the quiet doesn’t last long. It never does around this family. I hear the crunch of tires before the engine cuts. Adrienne tilts her head, hair falling loose around her face, and groans softly. “Bet you a hundred bucks it’s one of my cousins.”
I mutter into my coffee, “No bet. I know that sound.”
Sure enough, two familiar faces smile back at us from the cab. Ranger climbs out first, smirk already locked and loaded. “Well, well. What do we have here?” He whistles low, tugging his cowboy hat lower. “Look at you two, playing house.”
Adrienne buries her face in her mug to hide a laugh. Her shoulders shake, but she doesn’t move her feet from my lap.
“Fuck off.”
Decker shuts his door more slowly, eyes flicking between us with a huge grin.
Ranger leans his elbows on the porch rail like he’s settling in for a show. “Don’t fuck this up, Scotty. You’ve wanted her too long.”
My throat tightens, heat climbing up my neck. Adrienne chokes on her coffee, biting back another laugh, “Subtle, Ranger. Real subtle.”
“Not trying to be subtle,” Ranger fires back, straight-faced. “Just honest. You’ve been mooning over her since we were teenagers. Hell, the whole family knows it. Took you long enough to do something about it.”
“Yeah, you’ve given me this speech already.”
“Sometimes you need to hear things twice, so they stick.” Ranger winks.
Adrienne finally lowers her mug, smiling at the guys. “Guess the secret’s out.”
I roll my eyes, squeezing her calf in warning. “Secret, my ass. It never was a damn secret. Everybody’s got a big mouth in this town.”
Ranger just tips his hat, smug as hell. “Damn right we do. Which is why you'd better treat her right. Or every Slade from here to Texas will come for your ass.”
Decker finally speaks, “Starting with her dad.”
Adrienne groans. “Can we not bring up my father right now?”
“Can I help you boys?” I interrupt.
“No,” Ranger smiles, “on our way out to the back pastures. We just saw your truck and thought we’d come wish the lovebirds a good morning.”
“You can go now.”
“Be nice,” Adrienne playfully smacks my arm.
Ranger grins, unbothered. “Then I’ll leave you two to your… coffee date.” He taps the brim of his hat and heads back toward the truck.
Adrienne sighs when the truck pulls away, leaning her head back against the porch post. “Well. That was painless.”
