The Ranch (A Second Chance Romance)

The more I talked, the wider her eyes opened, until it seemed like they might fall out or start rolling around in their sockets if she didn’t blink soon.

“But you probably aren’t ready for all of that,” I finished up quietly. I was an ass for pushing when I’d insisted that I wouldn’t. Everything I’d said was true, though. If I couldn’t tell the people I loved how I felt about this—about us—then what was the fucking point of any of it?

She shook her head. “I’m not ready yet. I-I want to be. But I’m not. The entire town knowing about what we did that day, or what we are doing together.... It kills me. It’s private, and it isn’t anyone else’s business.” She shuddered. “God, the idea gives me hives even now.”

I wanted to stand up and pull her into my arms. I wanted to tell her it would all be okay no matter what else happened or didn’t happen between the three of us. That wasn’t the truth, though. Eventually, she’d have to make a choice. And while we would all be okay regardless of which choice she made, only one of the options would make us all happy.

“What about the part where you tell your family about the three of us?” I asked because apparently, I was hell-bent on torturing us all of a sudden. “What about your dad?”

I braced myself for another answer I didn’t want to hear because that was the only answer possible unless she’d had some revelation in her dreams to bring about a transformation in her attitude toward him.

“I need a little more time.” Her voice was barely above a whisper when she answered.

“We’ll give you more time,” Nolan said before I had a chance to respond at all. “We’ll give you as much time as you need.”

I clenched and unclenched my jaw. “Yes. We will. I’m sorry if I’ve pressured you, but I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you, Poppy. I want us to be happy together. All of us. Every hour that passes by is another hour that I don’t get to be with you, and it’s making me crazy.”

“We’re together now, though,” she said. “Doesn’t that count for something?”

“Yes,” Nolan and I said at the same time.

“Yes,” I repeated, because I wanted her to really get it. I was seriously delighted about what we already had. “It counts for a lot. I’m glad you’re here, and I don’t want you to think for a minute that I ain’t. And even though I am impatient,” I paused to grin, “I’m gonna keep reminding myself to slow down and give you the time you need. I just might have to remind myself a lot.”

Nolan nodded. “I’ll help remind you. Don’t worry about that.”

My phone rang, but that was okay. It was probably a good time for a distraction.

“It’s Vic,” I said, my brow furrowing as I looked at the screen.

“Which means it probably isn’t good news,” Nolan muttered.

I watched him take Poppy’s hand as I answered the phone. Vic began shouting before I even said a word.

“Cooper? Coop, are you there?” The call was mostly static, but Vic’s voice still came through loud and clear. I flipped him on to loud speaker.

“I’m here, Vic,” I shouted back. “Can you hear me? What’s going on? What do you need?”

“Oh, thank God.” He lowered his voice a little, but it still sounded as if he were shouting. “I’m about to have people lining up with pitchforks if I don’t get more help with the sandbagging. We’re preparing for more bad weather and flooding in the town.”

“Okay, calm down. We can help. Tell me what you need and where you need us.”

“Just bring your muscles and a couple of shovels to the center of town and get to work as soon as you can. There are a few people already there, but we’re gonna need a lot more able bodies today. I have to go, but—”

“Wait,” I raised a hand up, even though he obviously couldn’t see me.

Damn.

“We’ll be there as soon as we can,” I said to Vic, who had already gone from the other end.

“Guess we should start getting dressed?” Nolan quirked a brow as he stood up from the table.

“Yeah, sorry.” I gave a sheepish grin. “I didn’t mean to volunteer both of you without asking first, but you heard Vic. He was in such a panic, I didn’t know what else to say when he asked.”

Poppy walked over and stood on her toes to kiss me. “You don’t need to apologize for volunteering me. I’ll be glad to help. I just need to take a quick shower and I’ll be ready to go.”

“Sounds good to me,” I said, then gave her one more quick kiss because, damn, she was sexy in the morning. And in the afternoon. And in the evening.