Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
He takes off his seat belt, turns in his seat, and cups my cheek. “I love you, Baylor.”
“I love you, too.” I smile because it feels damn good to say those words. We tell each other as often as we can. For someone who came from a five-year relationship where physical touch was few and far between, and affirmations of love, even less so, being with Macklin is like being reborn, living a life I only ever dreamed of.
“Let’s do this.” He reaches for the handle and is out of the SUV, rushing to my side to open my door for me. I sit patiently, letting him. Not because I’m high maintenance, but because I love the smile he gives me when I don’t complain about him doing nice things for me.
Together, hand in hand, we head inside the arena. Macklin leads the charge, knowing exactly where to go. We scan our tickets and receive badges for behind-the-scenes access.
“So, do you think you’ll see anyone you know?” I ask. The words are barely out of my mouth when a shout carries over to us.
“Macklin McBride. The man. The myth. The legend!”
Macklin chuckles. “Yeah, I’ll know a few. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
With my hand tucked into his, he leads us toward a large group of cowboys, standing around in a circle. They’re all wearing tight-fitting jeans and cowboy hats.
“There he is. Damn good to see you, man.” One of the guys comes forward and pulls Macklin into one of those one-armed, back-slapping man hugs. I try to pull away, but he won’t let me.
“Good to see you, Hank. How are things?” he asks, letting go of my hand and sliding an arm around my waist, holding me close.
“Wait!” Hank says, his eyes flash from me to Macklin, and back again. “You settling down, McBride? I never thought you would ever get over—” he starts, but Macklin interrupts him.
“Hank, meet the love of my life, Baylor. Bay, baby, this is Hank. We rode the circuit together. He retired, as well, but stuck around. He has a riding school, and he still travels to all the events to coach his students.”
“Baylor?” Hank asks, his mouth falling open in shock.
“Wait, did you say Baylor?” another guy asks. He thrusts his hand out to me. “I’m Brad. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“You, too,” I say, slowly smiling at him, then glancing back at Macklin.
“Damn, brother, I’m happy for you,” Hank says. “Bring it in, darlin’,” he says, leaning in for a hug, but Macklin twists so that he misses, and I’m pressed tightly against him.
It happens fast. One second, I think I’m about to be passed off into a friendly hug, and the next, Macklin shifts, deliberately, turning just enough that Hank ends up embracing nothing but air. Suddenly, I’m pinned, firmly pressed against Macklin’s chest.
“Nope,” he says. His tone is possessive, but also final. It’s blunt and to the point. Heat rushes up my neck as laughter breaks out around us.
“I don’t even know why you tried,” Brad says, shaking his head like this is a well-known, long-established rule.
I blink, still half processing the way Macklin’s arm has tightened around me, like he didn’t even think about it. He just reacted on instinct. Because I’m his.
“I feel like I’m missing a few pieces of this puzzle,” I say, tilting my head back to look up at him. He doesn’t look bothered. Not embarrassed. Not even slightly apologetic. Just… calm. Certain.
“Mac here talked about you all the time,” Hank fills in, grinning like he’s enjoying my confusion a little too much.
I search Macklin’s face for some kind of denial, some sign Hank’s exaggerating, but all I get is that same easy shrug. Like it’s no big deal. Like it’s obvious.
Before I can say anything, he leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. It’s quick, but the warmth lingers, sinking into my skin, straight to my chest. “Love you,” he murmurs, low enough that it feels like it’s just for me, even with everyone standing right there.
Something inside me melts. The noise around us fades a little. The teasing, the laughter, it all blurs at the edges while his words settle in my chest, steady and real.
I curl my fingers lightly into his shirt, grounding myself in him, in this moment, in the quiet certainty of it. My heart feels too full for my chest. The love that I have for this man is bigger than anything I’ve ever known, and there’s no place I’d rather be than in his arms.
“All. The. Time,” Brad adds, smirking.
“She already knows,” Macklin tells them. “If you think you’re spilling my secrets, you’re going to have to dig deeper.”
“Right.” Hank laughs. “Like you have secrets. This one”—he points to Macklin, but he’s looking at me—“he’d turn every woman away that tried to get close to him. He wouldn’t even let them buy him a drink.”