Playing With Fire (Tangled in Texas, #2)(101)
“Meant to be?” I asked.
“I’m sorry, honey. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sure it doesn’t help.”
“No, it’s a fair statement. And true, too. Like you and Jeremy. Some people don’t belong together.” I sighed wearily. “I guess I just thought Cowboy and I might.”
Suddenly, something popped loudly outside, startling us both. Bobbie Jo and I exchanged glances, then I closed my eyes. “If those Barlow boys are setting off fireworks again, I’m going to—”
Another pop sounded, followed by a horn honking, and something that sounded like a dull roar. With puzzled faces, we rose from our chairs and headed to the door. I threw it open, stepped onto the porch, and gasped.
In what looked like a traffic jam, vehicles were lined up along both sides of the road out front of my home. Horns blaring. People cheering while standing in the back of their trucks or on top of their hoods. The Barlow brothers took turns shooting off fireworks over my house from my own front yard. What the…? Now they have an audience egging them on?
I double-timed it down the stairs and glared at them with my hands on my hips. “What the hell is wrong with you two?”
“Oh, hey, Miss Anna,” Clay said nonchalantly, setting off a chain of pops that exploded in colorful disarray above us. “What do you think? Pretty, right?”
Bobbie Jo joined me and nodded to the familiar faces on the edge of the driveway. Emily rocked Lily while Jake held wide-eyed Austin in his arms. They stood next to Ox, Judd, Hank, and Floss. All of them wearing wide grins. “What’s going on, guys?” Bobbie Jo asked, as confused as I was.
“Just came to watch the show,” Jake said with a wink. “Heard there’d be fireworks here tonight.”
I glared at Joe and Clay. “I thought you two weren’t going to do this anymore? You promised me!”
Joe set off another shrill whistle which combusted into a huge ball of blue lights in the sky and grinned. “Your boyfriend asked us to. He knew it was one way to get you outside.”
“My boyfriend? I don’t have a—”
The clomping of horse hooves sounded in the distance and my head—along with everyone else’s—spun in its direction. A white horse came into view, bobbing its head proudly.
Hank’s colt, Ruckus?
Cowboy was on the back of the trotting, once-wild stallion he’d tamed, whirling his white Stetson in the air. The crowd went wild, applauding and wolf-whistling as he grew closer.
Good grief. What the heck was he doing now?
Gravel crunched under the horse’s hooves as Cowboy steered him up my drive, then stopped in front of me. He rested an arm over the saddle horn and leaned forward, tipping his hat back and giving me a wicked grin. Then he offered me his hand.
“Have you gone insane?”
“Darlin’, the only thing I’m crazy about is you.” Cowboy scooted back in the saddle and gave the other guys a quick nod. “Boys, why don’t you give the lady a boost?”
“No, I don’t want—” But Ox and Judd grabbed a hold of me and gently lifted me into Cowboy’s waiting arms. Balancing on the front of the saddle with my legs hanging off one side, I wrapped my arms around his waist to keep from sliding off.
Everyone quieted and stared at the two of us, waiting for one of us to speak. Not used to being the center of attention, I felt my cheeks heat and lowered my gaze to avoid all the prying eyes. “What are you doing?” I whispered.
“I’m laying claim to what’s mine,” he said, lifting my chin. His intense eyes reminded me of the last time he’d “claimed” me.
My heart sped up and a tingling sensation rocketed through my lower abdomen, but there was still no way he was getting off that easy. “You can’t just come here and take whatever you want. It doesn’t work that way.”
“Wanna bet?” Cowboy wrapped his large hands around the back of my neck and roughly pulled my mouth to his.
Briefly, I froze. But the moment his tongue slid into my open mouth, the fever kicked in. My frenzied hands swept up his back, knotting his shirt in my fist, as he kissed me silly. So much for me playing hard to get.
A round of applause sounded, reminding me that not only were we on a horse, but there were others present, watching us make out. I was the first to pull away. Touching my swollen lips with my fingertips, I glanced around at all the smiling faces, wondering if they could all see what I was feeling.
I glanced up at Cowboy. “You’re sure you want me?”
“No, darlin’, I don’t want you,” Cowboy said, making a lump form in my throat and tears burn behind my eyes. “I need you. And only you.” He lifted my hand and kissed it. “I love you, Anna.”
My heart ballooned in my chest, filling with more joy than I could have ever imagined. “I love you, too.”
“Then what would you say if I told you I wanted to marry you and give you that happily ever after you deserve?”
Tears fell from my eyes, landing on my cheeks. “Really? You mean that?”
“Hell, yeah, I mean it! I may not be scaling a wall, slaying a dragon, or even be much of a prince, but I’m damn sure on a white f*cking horse, aren’t I?”
“Then I guess I’d say I’m feeling pretty jubilant right about now.”