Page 94 of Cowboys Next Door

“What are you staring at?” he growls.

“Kitten lover,” Connor taunts him.

“That’s pussy lover,” Eli corrects Connor, sliding his arm around my waist and drawing me against his hard chest to drop a kiss on my neck.

But I still can’t stop looking at all that we’ve built together.

“We should go get Katherine,” Connor says, glancing at his watch. “She’ll be coming in with Captain Personality soon.”

I swallow and nod. “Right. Yes, let’s go.”

“She’s going to be amazed,” Hudson informs me. “I’m amazed, and I’ve been here the whole time.”

I don’t get in the truck as the others do, my nervousness palpable now. A spark of anxiety is crippling me, and Hudson climbs back out of the driver’s seat to look at me with concern.

“Princess, what’s going on?” he asks worriedly. “Are you not feeling well?”

I shake my head, my body trembling.

“What’s wrong?” Connor asks, exiting the backseat.

“Rosie?” Eli is at my side now.

I can’t speak for a moment, but Hudson and Eli gently guide me to a nearby picnic table to sit me down.

“Are you having a panic attack?” Connor asks dubiously.

I shrug and nod, finally finding my breath and voice through all my tremors.

“No, but I might be on the verge of one,” I admit.

“Why, Rosie?” Eli looks at Connor. “Did you say something to her?”

“Me?” Connor is offended.

I wave them down. “No one said anything. I’m just… overwhelmed and incredibly nervous about Gran coming here suddenly.”

“But why, Rose? She was here at Christmas. You told her all your plans. She was so happy.”

I raise my head and look at them honestly, the desire to be truthful overtaking all else. “We’ve never been entirely forthcoming about us with her,” I confess.

They appear amused by my admission.

“Oh, Rose, no offense, but Katherine’s always known. She’s a bright bird.”

“I know that sheknows,” I sigh. “But there’s a difference between knowing and…” I gesture toward the house, a sense of guilt flooding me. We gutted her bedroom and made a lust lair. Surely, Gran will have something to say about that.

Eli crouches down in front of me, and the other two follow his lead. Hudson and Connor take my hands as Eli rests his palms on my knees.

“Katherine has always wanted you to be happy, Rose, and if we make you happy, I don’t think anything else matters. Are you ashamed of our relationship?”

“God, no!” I balk at the suggestion. “No! I love you! All of you! I’m proud to be with you, and I’m not complete without all of you. I don’t care what anyone in town thinks about us, but Gran?—”

“What about me?”

My head jerks up at the familiar voice, and I gasp aloud to see my grandmother standing on the other side of the picnic table.

“Gran!” Shaking off the men, I rush up to embrace her, and she hoots as I hug her too tightly.

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