by MISSY HARPER
“Oh, good! Because I’m ready for you to be sweet to me for a change.” Ethan continued to tease her.
“Ethan! Damn it! You better say it right now!” Rylee fisted her hands at her side. “I’ve waited my whole life for this! You’ve ruined all my firsts! Don’t you dare ruin this one, too! You will tell me you love me! You will, damn you! Now, say it!” Rylee yelled as she punched him in the stomach and began to pound on his chest.
“Shh… Shh. I’m sorry, baby.” Ethan smiled down at her as he gently stopped her hands. Man, he loved it when she was out of control!
“I hate you, Ethan!” Rylee mumbled with her face against his chest.
“No, you don’t.” Ethan laughed as he fisted his hand in her hair.
“Yes, I do! You ruined all my first! You’re a first ruiner… and I never want to see you again.” Rylee yelled as she lifted her head to look him in the eye.
“Liar. We both know there’s one first you have no complaints about. Admit it, you love me, Runt, and you always have.”
“Not anymore!” She informed him as she defiantly raised her chin.
“Too bad, cause I spent the first half of my life not realizing what you meant to me. The last couple of months trying to deny it, and now I kinda got my heart set on admitting it and following through on it for the rest of my days.”
“Damn it, Ethan Hawkins! You had better say it, and say it right now, or I’m gonna punch you right in the mouth! You know I’ll do it, too!” Rylee threatened, madder than he’d ever seen her before.
“Say what?” He asked, playing dumb. She was so cute when she was ticked off.
“Say you love me, you bastard! Say it!” Rylee yelled as he caught her fist just before it made contact with his face. This was the woman that made his blood boil and would keep him happy and entertained for the rest of his life.
“Well, all ya had to do was ask, Runt.” Ethan grinned, loving her more in that moment than he ever had. “I love you, Rylee, and I think I always have.” He tenderly confessed as he cupped her cheek in his palm. His lips were so tender when they met hers. There was no possession or steamy passion in this kiss. It was a sweet, innocent kiss that said he treasured her above all else.
“I just have one question for you now, Runt.” He asked with his head leaned against her temple.
“What’s that?” She sniffed back the tears that had started to fall, then she heard the teasing in his voice. He had a lot of nerve after what he’d put her through!
“Are you getting in the truck or am I putting you in it?” Rylee shoved away from him and gave him a good glare before she stomped over to the back door and shoved her foot into her boot. She reached down and pulled it up by the boot straps.
“I guess you just think you can come in here and say, I love you and I think I always have, and that’s gonna make everything okay.” She shoved her foot into the other boot and stomped it on, not bothering with the boot straps this time. “Well, I got news for you, Ethan Hawkins. You are sadly mistaken, and I’m gonna show you just how mistaken when I get your caveman ass home! You think we’re not gonna fight? Ha!” Rylee jerked her coat off the hook and shoved her hands through the arms of the coat. “I should make you carry me out to the truck! All the trouble you caused!” She mumbled as she slammed out the back door. “Stupid ass man! Can’t even say I love you…”
Ethan watched her storm off with a grin on his face. “And bring my suitcase!” He heard her shout just before the truck door slammed shut.
Ethan rocked on his boot heels as he looked over at the other Van der Brooks in the house. “I think that went pretty well, considering it was Rylee you were dealing with.” Oliver offered. “I mean, you’re not bleeding or even bent over in pain.
“You married my sister and you didn’t even bother to tell me?” Tanner questioned in shock.
“No, no, as I recall, he told us at the breakfast table the next morning. We just didn’t believe him.” Rory reminded his older brother, shaking his finger back and fourth. Ethan smiled at them all as he walked over to momma Gina and took Rylee’s suitcase from her. He leaned in and kissed her on her cheek.
“You think you’ll ever tame that little hell cat?” Thor asked as he looked out the kitchen window toward Ethan’s truck. He could see Rylee sitting in the front passenger seat with a big smile on her face. He could almost hear her giggling. Ethan smiled his trademark grin and looked back over his shoulder at his father-in-law.
“I sure the hell hope not!”
THE END
Table of Contents
Cowboy, Interrupted
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
