I’m not going to argue with him about my stubbornness. There’s no sense. What he doesn’t understand is that I’m not coming from a place of being stubborn. It’s coming from a place of not wanting to be a burden. The last thing I want to do is trouble anyone else with my problems. They are mine to deal with and mine alone.
Cole turns his truck off and climbs out. I also get out, leaving my door open since Chloe is still in the backseat. “Be back in a few.”
“Hold on, cowboy,” I call out after him, seeing the smirk and arch of his brow. “I can get it. If you don't mind staying here with her, I'll run in and grab it.”
“No can do,” he says with simplicity, turning his back to me and promptly walking into the gas station without another word or glance in my direction. My nostrils flare in frustration and I drop back down in the truck. I glance at Chloe, who quietly inspects her little pink truck.
Cole reappears and marches straight over to the pump. I quickly climb back out of the back, my footsteps purposeful as I stride to where he is. He already has his card out, about to insert it into the card reader.
“I don't need you to pay for it. You drove us here, which was more than enough.”
He tilts his head to the side, pushing the card in the slot. “I know you don't need me to, El. Can you stop fightin’ me on doin’ the things I wanna do? You're allowed to accept people's kindness. It won’t kill you.”
Emotion washes over me but I quickly push it away. I know he’s right, it’s just hard for me to do when I thrive on myindependence. It’s something I’ve worked so damn hard for, it’s difficult to put it to the side.
“Can I at least pay you back?”
A ghost of a smile dances across his lips and he shakes his head. “I don't want your money.”
“And you call me stubborn,” I mumble under my breath which earns a soft laugh from him. “I owe you.”
“I'll be sure to remember that when I'm ready to collect,” he replies with a look of mischief in his eyes.
I stand with him, the comfortable silence settling between us as he finishes filling the can and loading it into the back of his truck. We both head to our opposite sides and climb back into the cab. I pull my seatbelt back across my body when I notice Cole glancing at Chloe in the backseat. His gaze shifts from her to the pink truck in her hands and his expression softens.
“She refuses to go anywhere without it,” I say quietly.
His gaze flashes to mine and my chest warms. “I like that.”
So do I.
“Thank you for everything, Cole.”
He shakes his head and a wave of emotion washes over his irises. “You don't have to thank me, El. I don't do things I don't wanna do.”
I can’t argue with that.
“Okay,” I whisper, not fully trusting my own voice.
His lips part slightly and a soft breath escapes him before he directs his attention to the dashboard. He starts the engine, putting it in drive, and begins to head back to where my car is. The silence encapsulates us, but it isn’t awkward. It is warm and comfortable. Familiar, even. I feel at ease around him, even if it does feel like he throws me off balance.
Cole parks behind my car and gets the gas tank from the bed of his truck while I get Chloe out. I let him go ahead and fill mytank and I settle her back into her car seat. She’s quiet and her lips part as she lets out a yawn.
She nestles in her seat and I watch as her eyelids fall shut. It’s a bit earlier than when she normally naps, but after all the walking we did, I’m not surprised she’s falling asleep.
“You're all set,” Cole says from behind me. I turn around to face him as he peers through the door, a smile dancing across his face as he sees Chloe drifting asleep. “Looks like someone's tuckered out.”
“I'm hopeful that a quick little nap isn't going to leave her grumpy when I wake her up to see the animals,” I laugh softly and shake my head.
Cole chuckles, the sound vibrating against my eardrums. “Well, I guess you won’t know ‘til you wake her up.”
I gently close the door and Cole walks over to the driver's side with me. I pull open my door, turning to face him, immediately meeting his gaze. His expression is unreadable and a nervousness washes over me under his watchful eyes. “Thank you again for coming to our rescue.”
“Anytime.” His eyes shimmer. “Can I give you my number? I'm sure you won't use it, but I'd like you to have it just in case.” He pauses his half rambling sentence and the corners of his lips twitch. “You don't have to give me yours. I just want you to have mine.”
I can’t tell him no with the hopeful look in his eyes. I pull my phone from the back pocket of my jean shorts and open up a new contact before handing it to him. His fingertips brush mine and the touch burns against my skin as he takes the device from me.
I suck in a sharp breath, heat creeping across my cheeks as his mouth twitches but he doesn’t look up at me as he types his number. His eyes flash to mine as he lifts his head and hands me back my phone. “There you go,” he says, his voice husky. “Havefun at the miniature farm. You should bring her to the ranch sometime.”
