Page 24 of Roped

All three of them are staring at me like I’m the biggest idiot that they’ve ever seen. Don’t they understand the kinds of irrational, crazy things love can make you do?

I growl, dragging my hands down my face.

“I realize that now!” I snap at them. “But now I’m too afraid to go back home and untie her.”

Griz and Wyatt burst out laughing. I glare at them as Remy tries to hide his own grin behind his hand.

“Yeah, yeah, yuk it up,” I mutter, crossing my arms over my chest. I hope to God I can laugh about this, too, one day. Right now, I’m trying not to have a panic attack at the thought of losing my girl.

It takes my asshole brothers forever to get themselves under control, and I glare at them as they slowly stop laughing at my expense. Griz is the first to sober up when he sees I’m being serious.

“She didn’t know I bought her parents’ place, and I didn’t know she wanted to take over the farm.

“Shit,” Remy grunts.

“They didn’t tell her?” Wyatt asks. I shake my head no.

“I thought they were desperate to sell that place,” Griz says with a frown.

“They were, which is why I offered to buy it. No one wants that huge mansion, but I figure I can remodel or bulldoze it and start over.”

“Might want to ask Oakley about that before destroying her childhood home,” Griz interjects.

“Of course,” I say, taken aback by his accusation. “Now that I know her dream is to be a rancher, I want to do everything I can to make that happen. If that means moving into that eyesore of a mansion, so be it. I’d do anything for her.”

“Does she know that?” Griz asks.

“What do you mean?”

“Did you tell her that?” Wyatt adds.

“Not exactly. I didn’t have much time to explain–”

“Before tying her to your bed,” Remy finishes for me. I glare at him, but then nod.

“She’s pissed at them for selling and pissed at me for buying it, and I don’t know how to fix it. She had all these plans on how to improve the farm and have it turning a profit. I honestly had no idea she majored in Agricultural Studies until she told me.” I run my hands through my hair, tugging at the strands. “I panicked. Everything was messed up, and I could see her pulling away from me.”

“Well, first, go untie her,” Remy snaps. I sigh.

“We’re together,” I tell them, though I figured they all knew. I guess not, as my brothers freeze, then look at me with wide eyes and shit-eating grins.

“Fucking finally!” Griz exclaims.

“For real,” Wyatt adds. “I thought you weren’t going to say anything and die alone.”

“Yeah, thanks guys. That’s kind of part of the problem though. I just got her and I can’t lose her. How would you feel if Monty tried to leave you? Or Kennedy? Or Gwen?” I ask them. Remy looks away.

“I’m not with Gwen,” he mumbles. I roll my eyes.

“Yeah, and why is that? She’s freaking perfect for you. Everyone can see that.”

“Let’s get your lady trouble out of the way before we worry about mine,” he suggests.

Part of me wants to argue with him, to remind him that he doesn’t have that much time left with her. It’s almost the end of the summer, and she won’t be working for him anymore. She’ll be back at school and he’ll be all alone.

I can see it in his eyes, though, that if I try to push him right now, he’ll just resist more, so I let it go. Remy can be a lot like those bulls that he used to ride. He’s stubborn as hell and once he gets an idea in his head, he sticks to it.

“So, what do I do about Oakley?” I ask them.


Tags: Shaw Hart Romance