1109 Cowboy Way

“Baby, I can stay in the bunkhouse.”

“You’re going to leave me alone?” My eyes pop wide as my body freezes. Gray’s jaw clenches, and I watch as his fists do the same. When he realizes I’m watching him, he relaxes his body, and his stare softens.

“I just… I don't want you to feel uncomfortable with me in your home, Hadley.”

“I won’t,” I reassure him. “Please.” I'm flat-out begging, but I don't care.

“Hadley, I can’t go with you if you’re worried about being alone with me.”

“Gray—”

“Especially since”—he swallows hard, and I’m mesmerized by the way his corded neck flexes and his Adam's apple bobs—“I'm attracted to you.”

I don’t say anything.

I can’t.

I don’t know what to say.

“Did you hear me, Hadley?” he asks as he slowly approaches me, only stopping where there is a mere inch of space between us. Without hesitation, he pulls me into his embrace. His strong, powerful arms wrap around me, and I swear I can’t see anything other than the man in front of me.

“I’d follow you to the depths of hell if you asked, baby. I’d go anywhere with you. But you need to know where I stand. It would feel wrong otherwise. And all I want is to do right by you. Do you get what I’m saying, Hadley? I’m attracted to you. I want you. It's a lot to lay on you. We just met, and I get you're normally skittish around people, and fuck, I’m here telling you all this.” One of his hands leaves my hips to rub the back of his neck.

“Grayson,” I whisper. I don’t know what to say. “You can't be attracted to me.”

“I beg to differ, sweetheart.” he growls, pressing his front just a little closer and letting me feel the rock-hard bulge behind his Wranglers.

“How is that…” My eyes feel like they are going to pop out of their sockets. “Maybe it's the adrenaline of the storm and the tornado watch and—”

“It's you.”

“Grayson…” The wind pulls the barn doors open. It’s raining cats and dogs out there. “You can’t stay out here! What if we get hit? You could die!”

“I don’t want to, but you have to know where I stand.”

“Did you hit your head?” I ask, trying to figure out how he could be saying this. His eyes darken. He looks at me beneath his brows.

“I’m being a man and telling you how I feel.”

“I… I … You…” I stutter and jump when lightning hits and his face is lit up bright. I see it clearer then.

Everything he's saying is confirmed with the way he's looking at me. It’s all reflected back at me.

“You can’t be attracted to me,” I argue, but there is no real bite in it, and he knows it.

The hand he had at the back of his neck comes over and holds my face as the other has me pressing against him just as his mouth falls on mine, and he kisses me for all he’s worth.

And holy crap, he’s worth double his weight in gold.

For a moment, I’m not worried about the tornado or the storm. I’m not the scarred girl hiding on her land. I am just a woman being kissed breathless by a man, who by God seems to know exactly what he is doing. My hands grip his wet shirt, not to push him away, but in fear he will push me away. His hands move to my face, and the second they touch my right side, I flinch. It’s instinct.

“Hadley.” My name sounds rough off his tongue, and I lick my lips. His taste combines with mine, and I like it a lot, but I still don’t trust everything happening so quickly.

“What do you want? Why are you here?” I ask defensively. My hands are still clenching his shirt.

“You.” Grayson swallows, his face serious, “I’m here for you.” God, I want to believe it. I want to fall into everything that is this beautiful man, but I’m scared.

“What do you want from me?”