Chapter Ten – Bradly
brADLY
After walking Mackenzie to the greenhouse and saying hi to Lou, I went back to my parents’ house. After a quick workout in my father’s gym, I showered and made my way downstairs—only to stop when I saw Mom, Dad, and Avery standing at the bottom of the steps.
“Did I miss the invite for a family meeting?”
“Bradly Littlewood! You’re dating Mackenzie?” my mother stated more than asked, with a wide smile on her face.
“Did you use protection?”
“Dad!” Avery and I both said at the same time.
He shrugged. “What? It’s a legitimate question.”
Mom waved her hands wildly in front of her. “Come to the kitchen, I have hot chocolate!”
“Oh my God, do you have the salted caramel I love?” Avery asked hopefully.
With a scoff, Mom replied, “Do you think I’m a monster? I wouldn’t have hot chocolate without it.”
Avery dashed away toward the kitchen as Mom reached a hand out to me. I moved down the last of the steps and took her hand. Kissing the back of it, I said, “I’m surprised you weren’t camped out waiting for me at the door.”
Lightly bumping me with her elbow, we followed my dad to the kitchen. “I’m excited for you, sweetheart. I don’t even remember you ever dating a girl more than a couple of times.”
“Mackenzie is different,” I said with a one-shoulder shrug.
With hopeful eyes, she said, “Tell me everything.”
Dad glanced back at us. “I tried to tell them both to let you be, but they wouldn’t listen to me.”
Avery was already pouring hot chocolate into four cups. I missed being with my family more than I realized. I loved my job, but man, I loved spending time with them even more. My father had lost his dad when he was young, and from what my mother has told us, he was devastated that he wasn’t able to spend more time with him. Growing up, he always made sure to spend plenty of time with both me and Avery, together and separately. The fact that they let Avery go off to France, and me follow my own dreams, was a huge testament to how amazing they were as parents.
Most kids never wanted to hang out with their parents, but I would give up a night out with my friends for family movie night, each and every time. It was another reason I knew I wanted to walk away from professional bull riding. Yeah, I was lonely. But hell if I didn’t miss this, right here.
I slid onto a stool and took the caramel bottle Avery handed me. Pouring some into the hot chocolate, I couldn’t help but smile. Looking around at the three people who meant more to me than the air I breathed, I cleared my throat.
“You know how much I love you guys.”
Three sets of us looked at me.
“You both are amazing parents, and thank you for always letting us follow our dreams and being there for us. I don’t know what I would do if I ever lost any of you.” I said this as I looked at not only my parents, but also Avery.
Avery blinked rapidly as my mother wiped a tear away. Dad’s eyes were filled with tears, and when he went to speak, nothing came out. He cleared his throat and tried again.
“The only thing your mother and I have ever wanted was for the two of you to be happy. You’re both the greatest gifts that we’ve ever received, and not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for each of you, your mother included.”
Avery walked over to my father and fell against him when he opened his arms to her.
“My goodness, what is this all about?” Mom asked, reaching for a napkin and blowing her nose.
I shrugged. “I think I’ve realized that when I feel things about something, or for someone, I want to tell them. I think about Granddad and how short life is. We’re not guaranteed anything, and I think when something good is placed in our life, we should celebrate it.”
Dad lifted his mug. “I couldn’t have said it better, son.”
We all clinked mugs. As I took a drink of mine, Avery set hers down.
“So! You and Mackenzie? Can I just say I’m loving this? Tell us everything about yesterday!”
I laughed. “Well, we spent pretty much the entire day together and talked a lot. I feel like I’ve known her forever, and I want to spend every moment I can with her.”
“How does she feel about you being gone as much as you will be?” Avery asked.
“Well,” I said on an exhale, as I looked at both of my parents, then back to my sister. My sister opened that door, so I knew it was time to tell them. “I’ve been thinking of leaving the Pbr and coming back home to Hamilton to work on the ranch with Dad. I’ve been feeling that way the last several months, maybe longer.”
Avery’s eyes went wide. “Are you serious?”
I nodded. “I feel like I’ve been gone for too long. I’m missing out on everything that’s important to me.”
“But…” Avery glanced around the table. “You’ve always wanted to ride in the Pbr. You pressured Mom and Dad for years to go professional. Is it because of Mackenzie? You hardly know her enough to make that kind of decision, Bradly.”
Laughing, I held up my hands. “Avery, take a breath, will you?”
Mom reached for Avery’s hand. “Your brother had already talked to me and your father, as well as Lewis, about leaving the Pbr. Well before he met Mackenzie. We told him to take this time over the holidays to really think long and hard about it. That’s why he’s been home for as long as he has. That, and to heal up from that rib injury.”
Avery’s mouth fell open. “You’re actually coming home?”
“I think so. I mean, I already knew it was what I wanted, seeing all my cousins getting married, all the new babies…but then I met Mackenzie, and it was like fate. That pretty much sealed the deal, regardless of the fact that I just met her. It’s just another reason for me to be here. I’d like to settle down someday, maybe get married and have kids of my own.”
Mom blew her nose again while Dad put his arm around her shoulders.
“Whatever you decide to do, Bradly, no matter how old you get, we’ll always support you,” Dad said with a smile and head nod.
“Absolutely!” Avery added.
“I believe in fate, and I think you were meant to walk into that barn on Christmas night,” Mom said. “Just like I believe Mackenzie was destined to move to Montana.”
I let out a slow breath. “I do too. And the fact that she’s willing to meet the entire gang tomorrow says something else about her. She’s brave.”
Everyone laughed.
Avery cleared her throat. “The bigger question here is—does she know it’ll be family game night?”
I groaned. “No, not family game night. Why does our family do this?”
“It’s a test,” Dad stated. “If they can survive family game night, then they can handle the family. Well, the Shaw family, anyway. The Littlewoods are normal.”
Mom huffed. “Says the man who came up with tomorrow’s game.”
“Oh, no, Dad, what’s the game?” Avery asked. “I really, really like Mackenzie, and it’s funny watching Bradly fall all over himself for a woman. Plus, Lou said she’s a huge asset to the farm. I want to talk to her about growing some flowers.”
“Flowers?” Dad asked.
Avery blushed slightly. “I like flowers, and I was thinking of maybe having a booth at market days with arrangements and stuff.”
Mom gasped with excitement. “What? Avery, that’s wonderful! I mean, I know you love flowers and arranging them, but I wasn’t aware you were that serious about it when you asked about growing flowers on the farm.”
My sister gave a little shrug. “There’s this girl in France who has a little booth at the city market. It’s amazing. She does up arrangements for people right there on the spot.”
“I thought you wanted to work with Georgiana and Morgan at the boutique?” I asked.
“I do, and I can still do that, but fashion isn’t my only passion. I don’t know…maybe I thought that was going to be my future, and it might still be, but I’d like to play in the dirt for a while. And that dirt is in Montana, where my roots are.”
Mom reached for Avery’s hand. “I love the idea, and there’s plenty of space on the farm to pursue whatever it is that you want to do.”
“And the ranch,” Dad added. “If you need more room to plant, we can talk about a spot on the ranch as well. Maybe even build your own separate greenhouse just for flowers.”
“That’s a great idea, Dirk,” Mom agreed.
Avery’s eyes filled with tears. “That would be…that would be amazing, Dad. Thank you.”
He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “Like I told your brother, no matter the age, we’ll support you in any way. Now—I need to get out and check on things. Bradly, you asked Smitty to bring your horse to the farm barn, right?”
“Yeah, if that’s okay with you, Mom, I thought Mackenzie could ride your new mare. I wanted to take her horseback riding today. She’s an experienced rider, just never ridden in the snow, and I thought it would be nice. Maybe show her around the ranch a bit.”
“Of course, it’s fine. There are plenty of empty stalls for you to keep your horse there, as well, if you like. I don’t believe they use him much on the ranch for the cattle. He’d probably love being turned out on the farm with Barkley and the other horses. Just keep an eye on the weather, you know how storms can move in unexpectedly.”
“I will,” I said, getting up to clean out my mug. Turning back to look at everyone, I said, “I’m glad we got a chance to talk this morning.”
“Me too,” Avery said, standing. “A piece of advice, Bradly.”
“Put the mug in the dishwasher or Mom will start bitching?”
“Hey!” Mom said as she lightly punched me on the arm.
Avery laughed. “Oh, and warn Mackenzie about family game night.”
I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Let’s hope she doesn’t run for the hills.”
Mom turned and looked at my father, who was slipping on his coat and wearing a wide grin. He laughed and simply said, “I hope she likes potatoes.”
Avery and I exchanged a confused look.
“What does that even mean?” I asked.
Mom placed the last of the mugs in the dishwasher and said, “It’s best if you wait and find out tomorrow.”
When they both walked out of the kitchen, I looked at Avery, who grimaced. “I’m glad I’m not bringing a guy to meet the family tomorrow.”
Mackenzie sent me a text that she would be finished up around ten-thirty. I told her what to wear, and Avery had given me a pair of her winter riding gloves for Mackenzie to use. She’d be able to hold onto the reins better with them.
When I heard the door to her apartment open, I looked up and held my breath at the sight of her. I couldn’t stand, because Pickles was currently curled up in my lap as I sat on a bale of hay.
Mackenzie had on riding pants, riding boots, a warm jacket, and a knit hat that looked adorable on her. “Pickles, you are not on his lap,” she said, walking toward us.
I chuckled. “She is, and she seems to be very content.” I held out the gloves. “Avery told me to give you these. They’re gloves for riding in the winter.”
“Oh, good! I didn’t think my gloves would keep me warm enough.”
I gently encouraged Pickles to slide off me, and Mackenzie shook her head and laughed.
“I have a scarf, as well, since it was pretty chilly this morning.” Her eyes moved up my face and landed on the black cowboy hat. “You’re not going to be cold wearing a cowboy hat, are you?”
“Nope.”
She nodded.
“Will has the horses out in the paddock. We got them all tacked up.”
Mackenzie drew in a deep breath and exhaled, looking a little uncertain.
“Trust me, you’re going to love riding on the ranch in the snow.”
Smiling, she replied, “I’m not nervous about riding.”
I took a step closer and ran my finger along her jawline. “Then what are you nervous about?”
Her eyes lifted and met my gaze. “I don’t think nervous is the right word. I mean, anytime I see you or think of you, my stomach does that weird little dip and roll move. You know, like when you’re about to go over the giant hill on a roller coaster?”
“I know exactly what you mean,” I said, as I leaned down and brushed my lips over hers. “I feel it too.”
She placed her hands on my chest, then dropped her head on it for a few moments before she stepped away. “Okay, let’s go ride each other.”
Then her eyes flew open wide in horror as I slowly raised my brows.
“Oh my God, I didn’t mean to say that. I meant to say, let’s go ride the horses. That’s what I meant.”
Her cheeks were red and getting darker by the second. She covered her face with her hands and let out a groan.
I reached up and gently pulled them away. “As much as I would love to do that, let’s start with the horses first.”
Her eyes closed and she shook her head. “I really wish the floor would open and swallow me right now.”
Damn if she wasn’t even more beautiful when she was embarrassed.
A nervous bubble of laughter slipped from her mouth, and she dug herself in even deeper. “Not that I don’t want to do that with you. I do. I mean, I dreamed about doing…stuff with you. With me riding…” She closed her eyes again. “Well, I’ve never actually been on top.” Another nervous laugh, and I had to move to adjust the growing bulge in my pants.
“My sex life has been very vanilla and boring and, well…oh my gosh…stop talking, Mackenzie. For the love of all that is good!”
Leaning in, I placed my mouth next to her ear and softly whispered, “If I remember, we both like vanilla. What you’ve been missing is a cowboy to show you all the different ways to enjoy it. Maybe add a little Bradly to your cream.”
Mackenzie swayed slightly and licked her lips.
Fuck horseback riding. I was about to tell Will we had a change of plans and carry her back up to her apartment. Unfortunately, a throat cleared, and Mackenzie jumped away from me. But the flush on her cheeks spread down her neck, and I groaned thinking about where else on her body she might be flushed.
“Chief is getting antsy, Bradly,” Will said from somewhere behind me.
Clearing her own throat, Mackenzie slipped her gloves on. “Right, we should get going for that ride. I mean…get to the horses so we can exercise them.”
When I looked back at Will, I shot him a dirty look. He smirked and gave me a shrug. After Kenzie left the barn, he lowered his voice and said, “Dude, you know how your horse gets after he’s been saddled up. He wants to ride.”
I rolled my eyes. “So do I.”
Mackenzie was standing next to Barkley when I walked out of the barn, Will on my heels, snickering under his breath.
“Need help getting on?” I asked.
“Nope, I’ve got it,” Kenzie said as she expertly maneuvered herself onto the horse.
I got up on Chief, gave him a pat and a rub on the neck, and turned back to Will. “Trail clear?”
He nodded. “It is. So far the weather looks good, I don’t think we’ll have any surprise storms. That request you made has been done, as well.”
“Thanks so much, Will. I owe you one.”
Will tipped his hat at me and started for the ranch truck.
Taking the reins, I looked at Mackenzie. “Feel comfortable? Do we need to adjust the stirrups or anything?”
“Nope,” she said with a smile and shake of her head. “Feels great.”
“Let’s head off. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
Her eyes lit up, and I couldn’t help but smile. So, my girl liked surprises, did she? I’d have to keep that in the front of my mind for the future.