Page 17 of Forever Enough
My cheeks burned hot, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Sorry about that. Um, I mean, won’t you be leaving to go back out on the road with your show?”
Bradly laughed. “My show?”
Another nervous chuckle slipped free. “Wrong choice of words. I mean, I know you ride bulls for a living, but I guess I don’t know much about it. I’ve never seen it. I mean, bull riding. Well, on TV, I guess.”
He placed his hand over his heart and pretended to be wounded by my words. “Please tell me you’ve been to a rodeo before.”
I shook my head, and when a wicked smile appeared on his handsome face, I felt a bubble of excitement build.
“Do you have plans for today, other than working for a bit more in the greenhouse?”
Say you’re busy, Mackenzie. Say you’re busy.
But I don’t want to say I’m busy.
I glanced back toward the house before my gaze collided with his. Something about him made me feel…safe. Was that strange? What was it about him that was causing a crack in my well-built walls?
“I, um, I don’t have any plans.”
“May I see your phone?”
I fumbled around trying to get my phone out of my back pocket, since my coat covered it. When I handed it to him, my hand shook slightly. Bradly stared at it. Taking my phone, he slipped it into his coat pocket, then brought my hand up to his mouth. Cupping his hands around mine, he blew warm air on them—and my entire body flamed with a heat that could’ve melted every inch of snow in the yard. In that moment, I was so glad I hadn’t put my gloves on. I could feel my breathing pick up.
‘’Your hands are shaking. Are you cold?”
My eyes fell to his mouth, which was inches away from my hand. I slowly shook my head. “I’m nervous.”
“Because of me?”
Jerking my eyes up to meet his intense gaze, I replied, “Yes. No. I don’t really know.”
Bradly frowned. “I don’t want you to be nervous around me, Kenzie.”
A rush of electricity raced through my body, and I found myself smiling. “No one but my sister calls me that.”
He smiled once again. “Hmmm…I think I need my own nickname for you. How about Kenz?”
Laughing, I pulled my hand from his. “She calls me that sometimes too.”
Bradly’s smile turned into a full-on grin, and I ignored the way that made me want to giggle like a damn schoolgirl. He took my phone out of his pocket and typed in what I assumed was his cell phone number.
“Text me when you’ve finished up working, okay?”
Before I could think any more about my actions, I answered, “I will.”
He took a step back, then opened the truck door for me. “See you soon then.”
I went to step into the truck—and slipped. Bradly reached for me to keep me from falling on the snow-covered ground. “Whoa, be careful.”
His gentle touch felt nice. “Sorry. I’m still trying to get used to the whole snow thing. Being from Georgia, we don’t get a whole lot of it. I’ve certainly never seen the volume that Montana gets.”
“I imagine not,” he stated as he held my elbow while I climbed up into the truck. “Just don’t offer to drive and you’ll be good. Oh, and invest in a good pair of boots, will you?”
Laughing nervously, I replied, “Yes to the boots, and trust me, I won’t be driving long distances anytime soon. I’ll, um, see you later.”
He gave me a quick nod, then shut the truck door.
My hand shook as I turned the ignition on and started the short drive back to the barn.