June reaches across the table and takes Seth’s hand. “Family is complicated.”
“You have no idea.” He laces their fingers together. “But one thing I know is that I don’t want a strained family like I had growing up after my mom passed. Whatever we build, it’s going to be solid. Real.”
June’s gaze softens. “Seth…”
“You’re my world, June. Our world.” His voice drops low, meant just for her, but I’m close enough to hear, as is Carter. “Even if you’re not ready to accept it yet, I’m going to make you ours forever.”
“You mean it?”
“Every word.” She looks as though she might cry, and I’ve never wanted to hold someone so badly in my life.
I drop onto the bench beside her, seeing as the woman sitting there earlier is gone, making my presence known. “Miss me?”
The moment breaks, but not in a bad way. June laughs, swiping at her eyes. “Where did you disappear to?”
“Had to take care of something.” I reach for my beer, keeping my expression casual.
“Nothing important.”
Carter narrows his eyes at me. “Why do I feel like you’re lying?”
“Because you have trust issues.”
“I haveKaiissues.”
Before he can push further, June turns to look at me properly. Her hand finds my thigh under the table, and the touch sends electricity racing up my spine.
“You okay?” she asks quietly.
“Perfect.” I cover her hand with mine. “Just thinking.”
“About what?”
I glance at the mechanical bull in the corner, then back at her face. Those hazel eyes are always doing too much, like she’s trying to hold herself together.
“About what comes next,” I say. “And what I’m willing to do to make sure you don’t regret saying yes to any of this.”
We’re most of the way through our second round when I decide it’s time.
“So,” I say, loud enough to slice through the table’s chatter. “I have a solution to the attendance problem.”
Carter makes a pained noise. “Why do I already hate this?”
“Because you lack imagination. Anyway, I talked to Farmer Crawford, and he spoke with Pete from the town committee. They agreed to let me ride Brutus at the rodeo.”
Silence.
“Are you out of your mind?” Carter’s beer hits the table hard enough to slosh. “Did you miss the part where the demon bull tried to put a horn through my door? And now you want to climb on him like it’s a carnival ride?”
“It’ll be fine.”
“It’ll be your funeral.”
June’s hand is on my thigh again before she even realizes she’s moved, fingers tightening like she’s anchoring me in place. Her face goes pale, but her eyes are locked on mine.
“Kai.” Her voice drops, softer than the noise around us. “Are you sure? Brutus isn’t just any bull. He’s?—”
“A retired champion with a ninety-seven percent buck-off rate. I know.” I turn fully toward her, because she’s the only part of this that matters. I take her hand and bring it up between us, holding it like I’m reminding both of us that we’re real people and not just adrenaline and plans. “Doll, look at me.”
