Chapter 9
KATIE
I stared up at Bray.
“What?” I’m his? Him? Bray Wilder?
The way he was looking at me, with a fierceness I’d never really seen before, showed that he meant it. Still…
“What?” I repeated. “You can’t, I mean… we… you–”
“That’s right. We. This isn’t pretend. Never was.”
“We’re out of here,” Colt said, breaking into our stare-off. “Lainey’s with me. Buck and Zeb will be here in a little while. I’ll file a police report and get the security footage from Kyle.”
Lainey gave me an awkward side hug but I barely hugged her back because I was still staring at Bray.
He was staying here.
With me.
In my house.
What was I going to do?
Lainey’d been to my house often enough over the years.
She knew the condition of the place. She knew I hadn’t done any kind of upgrade or changes since Gran died.
Heck, since Granddad died. But the last time she’d spent the night–instead of stopping by like she did today–was in high school and Gran had made us her special peanut butter brownies while we gave each other pedicures.
Bray wasn’t going to want me to paint his toenails.
It was one thing for him to pretend to be my boyfriend at a bar, but this? It made no sense. It wasn’t too hard to fake it when I pretty much sexually harassed him at The Roadside. Even later, in the parking lot. That kiss…
Heat of the moment. Opportunity. Whatever.
Bray being in my house was going to give him the chance to look closely and see my life. All the flaws and frayed edges. He’d see I was boring and had no life. I wasn’t exciting. He’d scoffed at my ancient robe.
I’d been moving through life just… existing. I had goals like trying to keep the bank from taking my ranch and paying the electricity and food bills. I didn’t have hopes of a husband and kids.
I was twenty-six and I’d barely dated. I never caught anyone’s eye, because like the guy said the night before, I was a mouse.
I was nothing like Lainey. I was inexperienced, introverted, and alone.
The idea of whoever threw the rock through my window returning scared me.
I didn’t want to be here by myself if that happened.
I did have Granddad’s shotgun and knew how to use it, but I’d never once fired it for more than target practice.
But Bray being here? He’d been my crush for so long that now, with him saying these things… things like you’re mine, made me feel things like hope and longing. To dream of more kisses.
But when he stayed here and saw the real me, he’d walk. No, run. He’d pat me on the head like his little sister’s BFF and go off and find an alluring woman who’d look perfect at his side.
And that would crush whatever hope I had. What would I do then?
“I didn’t make myself clear. You don’t understand, and that’s on me,” Bray said. The sound of Colt’s sheriff SUV tapered away as he drove toward town. Bray scooped me up and carried me inside and I had no choice but to drop the broom.
“Bray!” I cried. “What are you doing?”
“If words aren’t working, then I’ll have to fuck you a few times to prove that this isn’t pretend.”
He took the stairs two at a time, not even breathing hard carrying my hefty weight. I felt the play of his hard muscles as he moved. He’d carried me twice since last night and I had to admit, I liked it.
Once on the landing, he stopped. “Which room is yours?”
“We don’t have to–”
“Which room?” he repeated.
I stuck my arm out and pointed. “The one on the left.”
He strode in like a man on a mission and kicked the door shut behind him. Setting me on my feet, he spun me around and pressed me into the hard wood. Then he kissed me.