Page 134 of Unspoken Hearts
Gaze finding mine, Cole’s mouth tightens, but he doesn’t say anything. Maybe he’s thinking the same thing?
Turning back to the area that’s almost entirely full, the announcer starts naming all of the cowboys in this season’s round up. Cows wait patiently at the gate as Jaxton Calloway comes out in his hat, denim shirtand white chaps. Friends with Reid in school, he’s definitely the opposite to Reid’s gentleness. From the few times I’ve hung out with him, he’s loud, obnoxious and a little cocky, but it kind of suits him. He’s also one of those guys who knows he’s good looking and uses it as a reason to be mean and non-committal.
Clapping and screaming begins as he waves and mounts his black stallion. Lasso in hand, Jaxton holds his horse steady as the crowd settles down.
My heartbeat thumps when the gates open and cows rush out into the dirt area. Jaxton follows behind them, chasing one down the middle as the others race to escape. My knees bounce excitedly as he expertly catches the younger bull, reining it into the corral. Cheers erupt as Jaxton holds up a fist in the air of victory, trotting his horse out of the arena.
Preparing for the next round up, I feel Cole tap me arm. I groan. “What?”
“Can you please go get me some food?”
My eyebrows rise. “Wow. Found some of your manners it seems.”
He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Something salty and hot.”
“Fine, but you owe me.”
He scoffs. “No, I don’t. If anything, you owe me for keeping your secret for so long.”
“You told everyone,” I counter.
Cole shakes his head. “I never told Grayson, though.”
I get up, glancing at him once again, muttering, “We’re even now. And I’m going because I want some lemonade.”
Walking down the metal stairs that shake and bang beneath my boots, I let out a pent up breath. I find Reid standing by the fence on his own,leaning against the railing, sun-kissed arms resting on top, focused on the rider. I sidle him quietly.
“Was it too loud?” I ask quietly.
Flinching, he peers down at me, smiling faintly. “I don’t have a great social battery like you, cowgirl.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Tugging his arm off the fence, I fold my fingers through his behind the barrier, knowing that the others can’t see us here. “If we were both social butterflies, then we’d have a problem. We’d be uncatchable, and I’d hardly see you.”
He snickers but doesn’t disagree with me. “I always knew there was a reason we were meant to be together.”
I shrug, my lips rolling inwards as the bulls are let loose and the rider goes after them. Watching Harry Walker catch one of them skillfully, the crowd dies down again and I let my head fall on Reid’s round shoulder.
“I wouldn’t change any part of you, cowboy,” I murmur.
Toes curling, I feel Reid move, his hand on my shoulder, spinning me to face him. Dirt, grease and leather drifts through the air as I stare up at him, only focusing on him. His eyes gleam, smile gentle like the rest of him as my hands find the belt as his waist. His calloused palms rest on my neck, holding my face in place to blink up at his handsomeness. My eyes line his stubble, straight nose, rugged eyebrows and chiselled jaw, and a grin pulls in my face.
I feel my cheeks heating as he pushes loose strands of hair behind my ear. “Have I told you that your hair is the prettiest I’ve ever seen?”
I sniff a laugh, butterflies releasing into my chest. “Once or twice.”
“Well, I’ll say it every day then just so that you remember.”
My head shakes a little, compressing my amusement. “You don’t have to.”
The corner of Reid’s mouth twitches upwards. “I want to, though.”
My eyes flutter, heart beat pounding as I peer up into the depths of his longing gaze. “I’d rather you show me than tell me.”
His hand curves around the nape of my neck, his stubbled smile widening lazily. “You don’t like it when I say things to you?”
“Words don’t mean as much to me,” I tell him softly, his face moving closer to mine.
