29. Braydon
Iam practically shaking from nervousness as I slip the key into the lock at Read Between the Lines. It didn”t take much convincing for Mrs. Cooper to let me have it for the day. She always had a soft spot for Mads and I. but I am nervous to bring Madison back here after all the years. I have no reason to be nervous though. Madison and I are both grown adults, and we can go on cute little dates, and it”s all perfectly normal. I just don”t want to screw things up with her. again.
I flip the light switch and a soft glow covers the floor to ceiling shelves of books.
“What are we doing here?” Madison steps inside behind me.
the fairy lights make her eyes sparkle, and somehow it seems to enhance her beauty.
Holding out my hand for her to take, I lead us through the shelves back to the romance section. I came early this morning to set up the picnic that is spread out at Madison and I’s feet.
“Braydon this is incredible,” Madison breathes against my shoulder.
Madison drops to her knees and pulls me down with her. I watch her run her hand over the thin gingham blanket and the picnic basket before her eyes land on the specialty painted version of The Fault in Our Stars that I had to beg Amelia to do for me. She picks it up and runs her fingers over the constellations and Iris flowers painted on the edges.
“It”s stunning.”
“Well, that is the only thing I can”t take credit for. Amelia, the artist that does all the books for Mrs. Cooper, did it for me. After I practically had to get on my knees to beg her.”
“I saw the other one she painted for Mrs. Cooper. I actually bought it the other day, but this one is even prettier.”
Settling myself on the blanket, I motion for her to come sit beside me. She slides the book into my hands and curls up against my side.
“Are you going to read to me?”
I look down at her, and my heart feels like it is going to explode out of my chest. The feeling of unworthiness suddenly washes over me. How did I get lucky enough to get a second chance at my first love? Shoving that feeling deep into a corner of my heart, I place a gentle kiss on Madison”s forehead. Her eyes flutter closed and that just might be my undoing.
“Do you want me to read to you?” I ask, pulling us both down into a lying position.
“Always.”
I open the book and start to read to her. After almost five chapters, Madison starts to fall asleep in my arms.
“Hey, boots, you can”t fall asleep.”
“Why not?” she whines, curling further into my chest.
“Because we still have plans.”
Setting the book aside, I tickle Madison’s side.
“Can we change our plans to stay here and take a nap?”
“No, we cannot. Now let”s go, sleepy head.”
I jump up and reach my hand down to pull Madison up. She opens her eyes and glares up at me. She reluctantly laces her fingers with mine, and I pull her into me. I lock eyes with her, and the world around us vanishes, and I am suddenly eighteen years old again. Madison stands up on her tippy toes and places a kiss on my chin pulling me back to the present.
“You missed.”
She looks up at me with a confused look on her face before I cover her lips with mine. I kiss her like I was drowning, and she is the first breath of fresh air. I kiss her like she is the only thing keeping my head above the water. Madison breaks our kiss and leans her forehead against mine.
“I will never get tired of being able to do that.” I breathe against her lips. She pats my chest, and heads towards the door.
“Let’s go, cowboy.”
Madison hops in my truck while I pick up all of our stuff. I turn off the lights and lock the door behind me.
“Where to next?”
I intertwine our hands on the center console and head in the direction of our next activity on the list.
“I still am not going to tell you.”
Stealing a glance at Madison in my passenger seat, I try to stay focused on the road.
“Can you at least give me a hint?”
“Nope!”
I continue in the direction of the ranch. I am just showing her around the ranch, but I like torturing her with the secrets.
“Fine.”
Madison lets out a sigh and leans forward to turn up the volume on the radio. She sings along to a Tyler Childers song, and I think I just fell even more in love with this woman. If that is even possible.
The gravel of the driveway crunches under my tires as I pull into Ambrose Ranch.
“Are we taking a tour of the ranch?” Madison asks with an excited little squeal.
“Maybe,” I shrug, trying to fringe indifference.
“Are we?”
“We have a few baby calves that arrived early, and Bryce asked if I could check up on them real fast. Is that, ok?”
I am not lying about the calves, but Bryce didn”t tell me to check on them. I just know how much Madison loves baby animals.
“Of course! How many babies are there?”
“Five. but we have a few more that should be delivered by the end of this month.”
I pull up to the gate to the cow barn where we keep the babies when they are first born.
“You ready?”
Madison shakes her head vigorously before jumping out of my truck. Madison skips all the way into the barn, and I follow close behind.
“They are so little,” Madison whispers.
The calves start to wake up and move towards the sound of voices.
“Do you want to help me feed them?”
Madison jumps up and down at the question, and I take that as a yes.