“I don’t care if you feel like you can fly.” I bent down and kissed her temple where the swelling had gone down, but left a nice purplish-blue bruise instead. “You’re staying in bed or on the couch. I’m going to do the morning feeding, then run into town for supplies so I can take care of your every need while you recover.”
“Myeveryneed?” She lifted a brow.
“You’ve got a one-track mind. What else do I need to know about you before I go all in?” The mood was light, but I was serious. I’d have to find a way to make things work with Silverstone. Whitley was too precious to give up. Her dad wouldn’t like the age gap, but we’d make it work. Losing her was no longer an option.
“I’m an open book.” She demonstrated by rolling onto her back and flinging the covers away. Seeing her sprawled in the center of my bed, totally naked, my cock reacted.
“What do I need to know about you?” she countered.
“I come with too many warning labels,” I teased.
“That’s doubtful.” She skimmed her palm over my cheek. “Do you think you’ll ever go back to bull riding?”
“No. Even if I wanted to, now I’ve got too much to lose.”
Her eyes softened. My remark had hit the spot. I wasn’t trying to play her, though. I was serious. “I don’t know how to explain it except to say that my heart must have recognized you as its other half the second I set eyes on you. I love you, Whitley. You don’t have to say it back, but I want you to know. You come first now.”
“Aw, Chase. I love you too.”
I pulled her into me and wrapped my free arm around her. It’s not like the horses would starve. Figuring I could afford to hit the snooze button for another ten to fifteen minutes, I angled my hips so she could feel my morning wood.
“Thank goodness,” she mumbled. “I was starting to think maybe I’d worked you too hard last night, old man.”
“Old man? How old do you think I am?”
“Forty?” she guessed.
“Try thirty-five.”
“You do look a lot younger when you’re smiling.”
“There are probably a few things you ought to know about me.” Figuring she deserved complete honesty, I wanted whatever we were building to have the most solid foundation it could. “I’m a hard man to love, Whitley. I’m stubborn, and sometimes it takes me a little while to admit when I’m wrong.”
“You make yourself sound so appealing. We haven’t known each other nearly long enough, but I’ve seen enough to know you’re also generous, honest, and fair.”
This was the tricky part. She wasn’t going to like what I had to ask her to do. “I’m glad you said ‘honest’ because I can’t tolerate lying. Which is why I need you to tell your dad what’s going on between us.”
Her eyes rounded. “He’ll kill you.”
“We’re not going to be able to hide it. You want to live in the country, and I want you to move in with me. You’ve got to be up front with him. I can’t be part of a lie, even if it costs me.”
“You don’t know my dad. He can be mean and vindictive. I don’t want you to get on the wrong side of that. Can’t we see how things go and tell him later?”
“No. I knew from the moment we met that you were it for me. If your dad can’t handle it, then I’d rather know sooner than later.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “I’ll call him later today.”
“Good.” I leaned down and kissed her… a slow, deep kiss that instantly made me crave more. “I’ll go take care of the morning feed and be back before you even miss me.”
12
WHITLEY
Chase kepthis word and came back to check on me after he fed the horses. Then he made love to me again before he had to run into town. He warned me he’d be gone a few hours, so when I heard tires on the gravel, I was surprised. I’d barely rearranged the pillows and propped myself up in bed when the door to the bedroom flew open and my father stormed into the room.
“Dad! What are you doing here?” I’d pulled on one of Chase’s t-shirts to ward off the morning chill, so at least he didn’t catch me in bed in my birthday suit. Still, the look in his eyes was murderous.
“Get your things. I can’t believe I sent you down here to learn about the business and that low-bellied snake took advantage of you behind my back.” Dad was larger than life. His eyes were wild as his gaze darted around the room. “Where is he?”