Surprised at how hard he’s trying to convince me to stay on the same path, the thought comes to mind that even after summer ends, he’ll want me to follow the career path.
“What if that’s the thing?” Fighting the urge to squirm, I somehow manage to meet his gaze. “What if I want to keep doing what I’m already doing?”
He deadpans. “You want to have your own ranch?”
I want to shake him until he understands that I want to stay athisranch. By now, shouldn’t it be obvious? I want to cling to his side and remain there until someone has to pry me off.
“I thought that maybe… you’d want help for a little longer?” As each word leaves my lips, the quieter it becomes. Getting hardly a response in return, I continue, my words coming out quicker. “I was thinking things could stay like this. You wouldn’t have to pay me, just keep giving me a room.”
He frowns at my thinking. “What will Jerry think?”
“What does he have to do with anything?” Prickling up automatically, I can’t help but wonder why he had to be brought up in the first place. I’m an adult. Someone who is old enough to make a decision like this without needing some kind of permission from someone. Even if Dad’s disappointed… I want it. Doesn’t that matter?
“You’re young, Millie. Have you even gone out and explored your options?” He sighs and wipes at his face, and I see hints of exhaustion peeking through. Has he been thinking about this before?
Well, I’ve thought about it a lot, too. If I thought I could love someone else after meeting Cyrus, I wouldn’t be ready to hand my heart on a platter. After this, there isn’t any chance that I’ll be able to think about love again without my heart hurting in my chest.
“If you don’t want me, that’s one thing…” Trying to keep myself calm and unaffected, it feels nearly impossible. Despite telling myself not to get my hopes up about Cyrus wanting to make this a serious relationship, I find it challenging. Asking for more was a risk I was willing to take.
“I want you.” Keeping his voice low, he wastes no time correcting me. “Don’t go off thinking that I don’t. The amount of want I feel for you is enough to drive a man to madness.”
Stirring in my seat, the butterflies come back, swarming around in my stomach. “Then let’s make this official. No more having fun on the side. I want you to see me as… something special. I don’t know, someone equal.” When he cocks a brow,the heat on my cheeks consumes my face. “You know, your girlfriend.”
He’s the one to shift now. As his brows push together in concentration, I can still see the hesitation. Right now, all I want to do is give him a good shake until he can understand how much I like him.
“You need to think this over more. This is a big decision, angel, and your life has just begun—”
“I know what I want, Cyrus. I won’t survive by just fooling around. If I have to protect my heart, then maybe it’s better if I go back. I can promise you that I won’t find anything like this again, so I’ll probably end up alone or force myself to go on pointless dates with men who aren’t you.”
A low growl leaves him at that last part, and it takes all my strength not to let my thighs tremble from the weight of his disapproval.
“Tell me what you think it is that you want?” His voice lowers again, and this conversation suddenly feels far more private. Cocking a brow, it feels more like a challenge. Does he think I won’t say it out loud? We’re in a public setting, a perfect place to prove my point.
Chewing on my bottom lip, thinking of the different reasons for what I want leaves me squirming. The friction of the booth’s seat offers little relief.
He cocks a thick brow as he drinks in my flush, and his grumpy expression softens over the passing seconds. Even worse, the small twitch to the corner of his mouth says that he’senjoyingwhat he’s doing to me.
Well, fine. I can make him feel the same way.
Slipping my foot from my sandal, I try my hardest to keep my breathing even as I drag it up his leg. What should be a simple teasing touch feels far more intense than I could ever imagine. Now that I’ve started, there’s no way I can stop.
He makes a low grunting sound as I settle against his lap. Biting the inside of my cheek, I watch something change in his eyes. He scooches toward the edge, and I canfeelthe change, too. He’s already hard. Since when?
We’re in public, and Ireallyshould know better. If anyone notices…
The heat of his fingers wrapping around my ankle is enough to make my toes curl against his stomach.
“You.” Whispering the words to his question, my skin feels warmer beneath his hungry gaze. “Obviously.”
“Obviously.” Repeating my word back with a hint of sarcasm, he rubs his thumb in a slow circle around my ankle. Like he doesn’t care about anyone looking our way, he refuses to let his eyes move from mine. “Now that’s something I’m not sure I’m willing to let you change your mind on.”
“I won’t.” Whispering the promise, I sink my teeth into my bottom lip hard to stop myself from begging him to take care of me, just as I always have to do whenever I get worked up like this.
He can tell, too. Is he waiting for me to say something? To beg him to take me somewhere where he can put his hands on whatever needs his attention most?
Thankfully, he decides to be merciful by giving up on the food in front of him. No longer wanting the meal he’d ordered, he gives my ankle one more short-lasting rub before carefully making me move it entirely.
“Do you want to finish eating?”
