I bark out a laugh. “None taken.”
“Anyway, when I’m here, it’s not to pick up women. I’m here with my friends and family and just having a good time. I want to relax after a long week, laugh with the people I’m closest to, and not have to think for a while.”
I lean forward, resting my cheek against the back of his shoulder. “I like that.”
After a beat, he asks, “What did you think of your first four-wheel ride?”
“I’d definitely go again,” I respond, then instantly regret it. I don’t want him to think I’m seeking another invite.
“Good, because I definitely want to take you again.”
I smile against his shirt, subtly inhaling the scent of his detergent mixed with a little dirt. I’m like a lunatic, leaning in and sniffing a sexy man every chance I get, and from this position, that’s pretty frequent.
“Come on, beautiful. Let’s get back to the house. It won’t be long, and we’ll move back here. We’ll bring some of the food to the fire so we can snack, but we get the rest of the mess cleaned up tonight so it doesn’t attract critters.”
He fires up his machine, but before we continue on our way, I ask, “Cade?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m having a great time.”
He turns as much as he can, snaking his arm around my waist. “Next time, we’ll go fishing, and it’ll be just us.”
“I’d like that,” I answer, referring to the fishing and the fact we’d be the only two there.
“Good. We’ll plan for a Sunday coming up.” Then, he bends down and presses his lips to my cheek, very close to the corner of my mouth. I almost shift, to move just a fraction to the left so our lips actually meet, but then I think about his comment about me having to make the first move. To be honest, as much as I want that, I’m not sure this is the right time or place.
“We should get back. I wouldn’t put it past Wyatt to send a search party, just to be ornery.”
I grin, knowing he’s right. I may not know Wyatt as well as the rest of those attending, but he seems like the type to tease and maybe harass his friends a bit, as much as possible. They all do. Even after hanging around them the last few hours, I can clearly tell, and I love it. Not only are they entertaining, but you can feel their friendship as if it were a tangible thing.
We make our way back to the house, where the party is in full swing. It looks as if more people have arrived since we left for our ride around the farm. I’m anxious to visit with Charli more, as well as get to know some of the other residents of Cooper Town.
After everything that happened last weekend with Lance, I wasn’t one-hundred-percent sure I’d stay. I mean, I was planning on it, considering I just started a new job and signed a one-year lease on a rental. But there was always an option to leave. It would have cost a ton of extra cash, breaking leases and relocating yet again, but now…well, now I know I made the right choice to stay.
This place is quickly becoming home. One I’m building for myself. And considering my childhood was a bit messy, having a place of my own has always been at the top of my list. I love my grandparents dearly and appreciate what they did for me during my time of need, but there was always a slight disconnect. I always felt like they didn’t want to have to raise me, but did so out of duty.
We park his four-wheeler by the barn, but he doesn’t pull it inside. Something tells me it’ll be used again soon. Maybe that’s how we all get back there, although I saw plenty of vehicle tracks too.
I can almost picture the scene. A dozen pickup trucks parked around the bonfire, tailgates down and full of friends. Maybe a bottle of moonshine passed around, with cows and horses off in the distance, and country music playing through a speaker just loud enough to hear but not so loud you can’t talk to someone next to you. The entire scene makes me smile, and to be honest, it reads like a country song or something out of a Kelly Elliott novel. She writes delicious cowboys, and even though these guys aren’t particularly cowboys, it still fits.
Cade climbs off first and extends his hand. “Come on, beautiful. Let’s have some fun.”
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
Cade
I can’t stop staring.
From across the fire, I watch Oaklee as she sits on my tailgate and laughs at something my sister or her friend, Sommer, said. The three of them were engaged in an animated conversation, punctuated by the swigs from beer bottles or cans of fruity seltzers.
I’m not just keeping an eye on her because she’s beautiful, however. Ever since we moved back here and lit the bonfire, she started drinking and really letting her hair down. She’s met just about everyone, and she appears as calm and polite as possible.
But now that the sun has gone down and the booze is flowing, I’m seeing a whole different side of Oaklee. She’s fun. Her laughter fills the air, and the flames dance in her eyes. She seems so carefree and happy, and in the moment, I’d do anything to see this side of her over and over again.
Watching her isn’t a hardship.
