Page 34 of Forbidden Cowboy
I can’t stay here for another second. I hop over the fence and gather her in my arms. “I love all those things and I want all the rest.”
“That means we’re standing up against our families and the town.”
“I know what it means.”
She cups my face in her hands. “But before we do this, let’s get away. Let’s pack a bag and spend the weekend where no one knows us. Where they won’t whisper behind our backs or shout in our faces. Where we won’t feel judged every second, or end up in jail.”
“Hope, I would take you anywhere in this world.”
Chapter Thirteen
LEVI
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“THERE’S TALK GOING around town.” My pa sits on the tailgate of my pickup.
I nod at two ranch hands who pass by. After my divorce, I sold the house I bought my ex-wife and moved into one of the ranch hand houses on my folk’s property. It’s worked just fine, until now. Now I want a big house with lots of bedrooms to share with Hope. The man glaring me down now is the one holding back my dream.
I toss my overnight bag into the back of my pickup. “There’s always talk.”
“Son, Henry will never let you date his daughter, let alone marry her. You’re fighting a battle you know nothing about.”
“I know what everyone else knows.”
“Who says they know everything?”
I hop on the tailgate beside my pa. “No one can keep secrets in this town. Unless of course, you have something you want to share.”
My pa’s gaze glides over the land stretching out miles. Land we’ve worked on together my whole life. Worked, laughed, and screamed our frustration out. I feel like he’s keeping something from me. Something he wants to tell me, but won’t. Or cant.
“You’re going to get hurt, son.” His voice is rough with pain.
“The only thing hurting me is your disapproval.” I hop off the truck. “I’m spending the weekend with Hope. I plan on marrying Hope and I’d really appreciate it if you’d stop the rivalry and stand by my side.” I don’t wait for his reply, knowing damn well he won’t budge. This weekend isn’t about him. So as I drive away from the ranch, I focus all my attention on the love of my life.
She’s waiting for me at the end of Fox Lodge driveway and wearing one of those knee-length floral dresses I can’t get enough of. They hug her body in all the right places and give easy access to romps in abandoned houses.
Josie gives a double thumbs up before the tires of the all-terrain vehicle peel back up the long driveway.
I hop out and take Hope’s bags from her. “Morning, sunshine.” I kiss her.
“I thought maybe you’d changed your mind.” She runs her hand down the front of my shirt.
“A wild bull couldn’t have kept me away.”
We load into the truck. I feel the tension as we drive through town. It’s not until Whisky Ridge Creeks sign is a dot in the reflection of the rear view mirror that my shoulders ease.
“I have a game to pass the time.” Hope shifts to face me.
“Do you?”
“It’s sixty-nine questions to test our compatibility.” Her thumb slides to open her homescreen on her phone.
I reach for her free hand. “That’s a lot of questions and I don’t think we need a compatibility test. I can tell you without a doubt, we’re one-hundred-and-ten percent compatible.”
“It’s very accurate.” A small smirk on her pink painted lips. “I found it on the internet.”
“Of course then, by all means, this will determine our compatibility.” I chuckle. “On a side note, did you notice the number? Sixty-nine.”