Page 69 of Chasin' Cole

She sees me coming and lets out a squeal. She hurries to remove her shirt and tosses it onto her saddle before she runs toward the cold creek.

I shake my head as the horse I’m riding slows near Sundance. I gracefully dismount as I watch her sink into the clear water.

“You’re endearingly competitive,” I raise my eyebrows at her as I unbuckle my belt.

She giggles, the sound melodic. “I like bein’ first.”

“I think the whole town knows that.” I smile as I shove the pants down my legs and step out of them.

“What can I say?” she beams. “I like to win.”

I grab my jeans off the dirt ground and fold them, careful not to let Rose see the ring box in one of the pockets. I dust them off before stuffing them into the bag hooked around the saddle.

“What’s takin’ you so long?” Rose playfully groans.

As I glance over my shoulder at her, she’s grinning ear-to-ear. “Give me a second.”

“But I’ve been waitin’ all day to make out with you,” she cheekily replies.

I slide my shirt over my head and put it in the bag before closing it up and running towards Rose. My feet dig into the hot dirt as she swims away from the pebbled shoreline.

The water is cool and refreshing as I dive into it, my arms searching beneath the surface for the woman I want to give my last name to. I find her and drag her under the water. Her arms wrap around my neck, and I stand, pulling her up with me.

Her lips slam into mine the moment I come up for air and her torso sticks to my stomach as her tongue slips into my mouth.

Rose.

She’s wild and free.

And made just for me.

We kiss as the water laps against my back and Rose's legs wrap around my waist. Her skin is soft against mine as we find a steady rhythm with our lips. Her hands roam my chest and shoulders before tangling with my hair. She gently tugs at the ends, and I let out a gruff groan.

"My favorite sound," she mumbles against my mouth.

I shake my head as my hands grip her hips and I wonder how inappropriate it would be to take her here, now.But I don't trust prying eyes and Iconvenientlydon't have a condom.

Rose begins shivering against me as her forehead presses against mine.

"We should get goin'," she sighs wantonly.

She doesn't know it, but we have a party to get to. Our engagement party.

"Let's dry off then," I smile into the final kiss before I carry her out of the water.

She laughs against my shoulder as I keep her wrapped in my arms.

The fading light buries itself behind the tall oak trees, just a few slivers of burnt orange and bronze bathing Rose's gorgeous face in a golden glow.

"I love you so much," I tell her.

I set her down, but she keeps her arms locked around my neck. "I love you more."

"Endearingly competitive," I tease her.

"I know I say it all the time, but thank you for comin' home to me," she smiles.

I reach my hand out and flip open the saddlebag. Rose doesn't notice as she leans forward and kisses my jawline, my neck, then my collar bone.

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