Page 85 of Roping My Rival

Something is tickling my face.

“Oh shit. Nibbles come here.”

My eyelids scrape like sandpaper across my eyes when I struggle to focus on Warren’s voice.

“Nibbles?”

“My rabbit wanted to see who was snoring in bed at 10 A.M.”

“It’s 10 A.M.? Shit.” My eyes finally adjust, and Warren sits on the floor next to the bed with a black-and-white floppy-eared bunny in his arms. His finger strokes between its ears, and if I didn’t love him before, I just fell for him all over again.

That brings a flood of memories back from last night, and I throw my arm over my face.

“How much did I embarrass myself last night?”

Warren laughs softly. “Just a little. You were kinda cute.”

The blankets rustle, and then the familiar tangerine scent of Warren is much closer.

“I’m setting Nibbles on your chest so you can’t run away. She’s curious about you.” The tickling returns. It’s rabbit whiskers along my cheek as she sniffs me, and my lips curve in a smile.

“Is it good or bad that she’s curious?”

“Oh, very good. She’s usually the shy one, but she went right to you.”

My arm moves off my face more slowly as I bring it to her fur. “She’s so soft!” I pet her gently, and she nips at the top of the blanket, leaving a tiny tear. “Don’t make your dad mad and tear things apart, little bun.”

I’ve never been this close to a rabbit before. No wonder Warren likes them. They’re so cute.

“Did you mean what you said last night?” Warren asks, and I shift my attention to the warm brown eyes next to me. I know what he’s talking about, despite the drinking, and he deserves better than sloppy declarations from a man half drunk.

“I’d rather tell you when I don’t have whiskey morning breath and smell like I bathed in it.”

His lip quivers, and he draws in a shaky breath. “Okay, but I’ve been up since six, and I’ve had plenty of time to think about words, so I’d like to say them now.”

“I’m listening.”

“I want to be with you. I’ve loved you since that first shared hotel room, I think. Maybe even before. I didn’t want to because love always ends badly for me. I didn’t want to feel that again, and how could I have feelings for the guy who was the biggest asshole ever?” There’s no malice in his voice as he recites the words he’s obviously been waiting for a while to say. “But the more time I spent with you, the more I kept seeing these brilliant flashes of who you really are, and you’re really freaking great.”

He reaches out to brush the hair off my forehead. Nibbles tries to bump his hand off me, and the most tender gaze I’ve seen from him settles on me. God…I’ve never felt so undeserving of affection before.

“Even after knowing what I’ve done? You still think that?”

“Yes, I do. I wish you could see everything about you that I do. You’re a great man, Dane. The biggest heart, an incredible roper, and you kiss so hot, I think you might not be real.”

Dammit, now I feel like I’m blushing again. How the fuck does he keep making that happen?

“Warren…I…I don’t want to be a charity case. I come with a lot of fucking baggage.”

“Did you not hear me? I love you. With all my fucking chest and when I love you, it’s not goddamn charity. Love helps and nurtures, and…and…” His breath hitches. “It’s not always fucking easy, and I know we have different lives currently, but never have I ever met someone as equal as me in my life. Even my most timid rabbit went to you. Love isn’t charity, Dane. I’d give it to you freely, no matter what, and not out of some sense of duty.”

Not once does he raise his voice, and I hear the words. His gaze on me never wavers, and this is the face he gets in the ring. When he’s focused on the prize. This time, the prize is me, and I sort of want to jump and scream about that.

“Sorry, I’ve loved no one like I do you, Warren, and it scares the shit out of me. You weren’t supposed to happen. None of this was supposed to happen. Last night I drank because I didn’t want to think of a life without you. It wasn’t my finest moment.”

Warren wrinkles his nose like one of his rabbits.

“Just don’t drink that shit again. I can’t stand the stuff. Pick something better, like JD, next time.”