Page 32 of Hard To Fall
We both break into laughter. “We had fun, it was easy, and it felt normal.” My voice fades.
“You scared?” he asks.
I don’t hesitate. “Fuck, yes.”
He nods. “That tracks. You gonna push her away?”
Probably.
“Maybe,” I admit.
He sighs. “Don’t.” I look at him, and he repeats it. “For once, just don’t. Accept that you’re a good man.”
I stare at the horses and look around at everything—everything we’ve built here over the years. And then I see her face in my mind and know she could continue on each day like she belongs right here with me. Her smile, her scar. Her sunshine and her fire.
“I don’t know how to do this,” I say quietly.
Levi claps my shoulder. “Good news.”
“What?”
“I bet she does. Let her lead, Colt.”
I grab my brother’s shoulder and shake him up just a bit.
“How’d you get so smart?”
“The secondborns are always better looking.”
I squint at him. “No one said anything about being better looking.”
“No?” He tilts his head.
“No.”
“Funny, thought that's what you said.”
I scoff. “Definitely didn’t.”
He falls into an easy laugh and claps me on the back. “Don’t fuck it up.”
Well, that’s an eye-opening sentence. Lily isn’t just here to change the rodeo; she’s here to change me. Now I have to decide if I'm ready to let her or if I fight the fall.
CHAPTER 12
LILY
The problemwith sleeping with a grumpy cowboy is that now he occupies your mind. I’m very much aware of our change of status. I’m aware of everything…my body, my heart, my expectations, my fear, his fear…everything slams into me all at once.
We had a great morning, leisurely, which I’m sure is never the case for him. But that’s just one aspect out of character for him. He was late for the ranch because he was choosing himself first. Check off items 1 and 2 on theThings Colt Would Never Dolist.
I smile as I remember items 3 through 10 of things on theColt Did Exceptionally Welllist. Once he realized he wasn’t going to break me, and that our bickering and banter could carry over to the bedroom without any worry, he was a rockstar in a cowboy hat.
Which is another fantasy. Feeling cheeky, and because I know he expects it, I shoot off a text to him.
Me: Can you wear your Stetson?
Colt: I always wear it.
