Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
COLE
I see the way Reine’s hands are shaking and know that under all that bravado, my girl is two seconds from jumping out of her skin.
I wrap my hand around hers, squeezing just enough to anchor her. “Don’t worry, Montana,” I murmur low enough just for her, dragging my thumb over her soft skin. “It’s all good news. I promise.” At least, it had better be. Or I’ll break my brother’s goddamn neck.
She blows out the breath she’s been holding as some of the tension in her shoulders eases. That’s all I want. Just her, unafraid and sharp as ever. We walk to the barn office together, Grams leading the way and Hudson following close behind.
Once we’re inside, I pull the battered chair out for Reine, while Hudson helps Grams into the seat across from us.
After we’re all seated, my brother turns all business. “I’ll get to the point. Chet Hayes and his investment cronies are out of the picture,” Hudson says, looking straight at Reine. “They took the buyout.”
“Wait a minute,” Reine cuts in, looking back and forth between Hudson and me. “What buyout?”
“Carrington Enterprises purchased the third of The Rolling R Ranch that Chet Hayes had sold off,” Hudson explains as both women gasp.
“We’re going to be silent partners. You keep running the ranch however you want, no interference.
But if you need money, manpower, resources, you’ll get them.
Full stop. The only thing we ask is that you keep Thunderbolt’s bloodline in the Carrington family. ”
Grams whistles, low and long, but her eyes are sharp as flint. “Why the hell would you do that?” Each word drops like a stone.
Hudson shrugs like this is no big deal. “Because my brother fell hard for your granddaughter. And that makes you family.”
Reine's chest rises and falls in quick, shallow bursts, her fingers turning ice-cold against mine. I press my lips to the delicate blue veins crossing her knuckles, breathing in the scent of vanilla that clings to her skin. “Don’t worry, Montana. My family isn’t going to meddle with how The Rolling R Ranch is run. ”
Hudson nods, his lips twitching at the corners. “My brother’s right. We don’t plan on interfering in any way. The ranch remains yours, and if you want to buy our share back someday, we’ll work something out.”
Reine’s hand is trembling so badly that I have to take it in both of mine. I kiss her knuckles, ignoring Hudson’s eye roll. Just you wait, fucker. One day, you’ll see what it feels like to love someone more than your own life.
Grams stares at Hudson for a long moment, then nods once, sharp as a judge’s gavel. “You get one warning,” she says, ice dripping from her words. “Screw us over, and I will personally see to it that your balls decorate the Rockwell Christmas tree.”
Hudson throws his head back and laughs, but I see the relief in his eyes. “Understood, ma’am. Wouldn’t dream of it. You have my word.”
The tension drains out of the room, replaced by something almost like hope. Reine sits back in her chair, breathing hard, and Grams relaxes her death grip on the mug. I can’t stop smiling.
Reine looks up at me, eyes glassy but clear. “You did this for me,” she whispers.
“Damn right I did, Montana,” I murmur back, low and private. “I’d do anything to make you happy.”
Hudson makes a disgusted noise in the back of his throat, while Grams grins at him.
Reine swallows and glances over at my brother. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” My brother stands and walks over to gently pat her shoulder. “Just putting up with my asshole brother is payment enough.”
“Fuck you,” I tell him without much heat.
My family really did me a solid favor this time.
Reine leans against me, and I’m tempted to kiss her senseless, but I know she needs a little time to digest all of this.
Instead, I settle for holding her hand and watching the future start to unfold in real time.
My future. Our future. Even if it comes with the world’s most annoying helicopter family as part of the package.
Hudson tugs his suit coat into place, every inch the cocky bastard he’s always been. “Welcome to the family, Reine. We can’t wait for you and Grams to come down and visit The Carrington Ranch.”
“Thank you,” my girl breathes.
Grams gets up, too, and for a second, I think she’s going to shake his hand, but she pulls him in for a big hug. “We look forward to visiting and meeting everyone.”
Hudson grins, winks at Reine. “I wish I could stay longer, but I have an appointment in California tomorrow morning.” He gives my girl another pat on the shoulder, then turns to me.
“I’ll call you later and let you know if we’re going to make a move on the Carter horse. Answer your goddamn phone this time.”
“If I feel like it.” I can’t help myself. I fucking love to see steam coming from my brother’s ears.
“Good luck, Reine.” He smiles at her before glaring at me. “You let me know if this asshole gives you any trouble.”
“Thanks again for everything,” my girl tells him as he walks out the door, leaving us alone in the office. Reine lets out a shaky laugh and sags into my side, her head on my shoulder. “Holy shit,” she says. “Are all your family members as intense as your brother?”
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head. “Not at all. Hudson might be the king asshole, but the rest are all pussy cats.”
She looks up at me, her blue eyes shining. “I can’t wait to meet them.”
“I’ll arrange a trip down to Texas for us.” I bury my face in her hair, breathing her in. I kiss her, long and slow, then pull away just enough to meet her eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I can’t wait to get her alone—there’s a diamond ring burning a hole in my pocket, but I need to wait for the right moment.
The rest of the evening crawls at a snail’s pace. I keep glancing at the clock every two minutes, willing time to go faster. It moves so slowly that I’m convinced the universe is fucking with me.
Reine’s right there beside me, helping Grams finish up dinner, and all I can do is stare at her like a lovesick idiot. My chest is tight. The diamond ring in my pocket gets heavier with every second that ticks by.
I want to do this right. I want to make her mine. Forever. I want the whole world to know she belongs to me.
Once the longest dinner I’ve ever endured is over, we clean the kitchen while Grams heads off to the living room to watch her nightly shows.
The second we’re alone in the kitchen, all bets are off.
I crowd Reine back against the counter, pinning her with my hips, my hands braced on either side of her body.
She gasps, eyes wide, cheeks flushed, and I can’t help grinning like a motherfucker.
God, she’s gorgeous. The way she looks at me drives me absolutely insane.
“You have any idea what you do to me, Montana?” My voice is rough with pure need while my cock grows painfully hard. Her lips part, but she doesn’t answer, just stares at me.
I lean in and press my mouth to hers, slow at first, just savoring the taste of her.
She moans, soft and sweet, and my control shreds to nothing.
I kiss her deeper, my tongue sliding into her mouth, claiming her.
Fuck, I could drown in the taste of her.
There’s nothing in the world as addictive as the way Reine melts against me, her body pressed so tight I swear we’re fusing at the seams.
She gasps, her hands fisting in my shirt, and the sound drives every rational thought straight out of my fucking skull.
I grind her against the counter, pinning her with my hips so she can feel just how hard she gets me.
My cock is a steel rod in my jeans, and all I can think about is getting her naked and spread out for me, right the fuck now.
“God, you’re gorgeous,” I growl against her mouth, inhaling the little noises she makes when I nibble her lower lip. She’s panting, cheeks bright pink, blue eyes wide and wild. All for me. Damn right.
I slide my hand up under her shirt, dragging my palm over her bare skin. I palm her ribcage and catch the edge of her bra, tugging it up so my thumb can graze the underside of her tit. Her breath hitches. That's all it takes for my restraint to snap like a dry twig in August heat.
She stares up at me, lips parted, eyes blown wide, her whole body trembling.
Jesus. I want to tear her clothes off right here, lay her out on the kitchen counter, and make her scream my name, but I know now isn’t the right time.
I pull back and lay my forehead against hers.
“We’ll finish this as soon as Grams goes to bed,” I promise her.
She giggles, breathless, her hands tangled in my shirt like she needs the anchor. “I can’t wait.”
I let go, just enough to let her catch her breath, but I never break eye contact. Every time I look at her, I want her more than I want my next breath. Fuck.