It wasn’t that I was pushing him away, especially now. But I understood what she was telling me. Callan wasn’t someone I’d ever take for granted, and I quickly figured that out shortly after we met. 

“I won’t,” I promised her. Lettie looked out for her brothers like they looked out for her, and I loved that about the Bronsons. Not many families were as close as they were, and it filled my heart thinking one day, Avery and I might be a part of that. 

Some days, it felt like we already were.

Lettie and I watched in silence as they made their way to the end of the street, then circled back. The entire time, Avery had the biggest smile on her face, and halfway back to us, Callan leaned over to place his hat on her head. She beamed up at him, the hat clearly way too big for her with the way it bobbed. 

Things were so perfect right now, regardless of what was going on in the background.

All my mind could focus on was those two and the way they completed me.

We were happy.

36

Callan

Reed and our dad worked to get everything packed and loaded up so they could head back to the ranch with the horses. Most of the crowd had dispersed, heading over to the fair right behind all the buildings. The short walk was convenient, which was why they always did the same events in the same town each year.

Avery had helped my dad with his side of things, her little hand always moving to adjust my hat on her head. I’d have to get her one of her own if she wanted to be a cowgirl, but for the time being, mine would suffice.

“Did you have fun?” Sage asked, finding me in the cluster of people.

“Not as much fun as Avery,” I replied. “Did you?”

She nodded as she slipped her hands into the pockets of her sundress. “You looked very cute up there.”

Heat rose in my cheeks. “I did, did I?”

Another nod. “Bit distracting, if you ask me.”

My arm snaked around her, bringing her close. “Is that so?”

Our noses were almost touching now as she fought a smile.

“Do you not like when I distract you?” I teased. Little did she know, she distracted me from any anxious thoughts that might’ve crept their way into my mind before. With Sage, I felt somewhat unstoppable.

“Depends how you’re doing it.”

“Mama!” Avery said, skipping over to us with a hand on my hat, holding it in place.

Sage didn’t move away as she looked down at Avery.

“You looked so good out there!” Sage exclaimed.

Avery’s little feet jumped up and down in place. “It was so much fun! Can I go on rides now?”

Before Sage could reply, my mom came up beside Avery. “Why don’t I take her on some?”

“Are you sure?” Sage asked.

My mom nodded, then looked at Avery. “Can’t go on any rides with Callan’s big ol’ hat like that.”

As if it dawned on Avery that the hat was too big, she took it off, handing it back to me.

“I want a hat,” she said with a small pout as I took it.

“I’ll get you one. You can pick it out and everything,” I told her.

Her eyes lit up as Charlotte reached out to grab her hand. “Yay!”

“What do you say?” Sage asked.

“Thank you,” Avery answered, aiming it at me.

“You’re welcome. Now go have fun. We’ll see you in a little.”

Charlotte and Avery disappeared as they headed over to the rides, leaving me and Sage alone.

“Do you want to go over there?” I asked. She fit in the crook of my arm like she was made to be there.

“You really want to go on rides?” she questioned, like she couldn’t believe that a twenty-eight-year-old man could ever want such a thing. To be fair, I was deathly afraid of them, but I’d do anything if it made her happy. Plus, how hard could it be to shove that fear aside if it meant I got to see that beautiful smile light up her face?

“As if I wasn’t the one to ask if you’d go on them with me.” My hand slipped lower on her back, toward the curve of her ass under her pink-and-white plaid sundress. “Unless you had other plans?” 

Pink tinged the apples of her cheeks as she pivoted, setting her hands on my chest. “What if I do?”

“Yeah?” My voice lowered so only she could hear me. “Does your plan include me hiking this pretty little dress up and making a mess of you?” My hands fisted in the fabric, the material rising ever so slightly up her thighs.

“It may,” she said, her words laced with satin.

“That what you want, baby? Me to bring you over to my truck and have you ride my cock until your screams fill the cab?”

She swallowed, her throat bobbing. “Yes.”

I dropped her dress and grabbed her hand, leading her over to where my truck was parked in the back of one of the parking lots. My windows were tinted, so the chances of someone seeing us were slim, but even if they did, all I needed was her panties moved aside, so she’d be covered. 

I made quick work of removing my chaps once we got to the truck, tossing them in the bed before pulling the handle on the passenger door. I got in, then helped her into the cab. She maneuvered her legs around my thighs as I closed the door and locked it from the inside.

She set a hand on the seat behind me as I quickly unzipped my jeans, freeing my cock. Then I grabbed my hat, tossing it on the driver's seat.

“Are you sure we should do this?” she asked, even as she hiked her dress up her thighs.

“We don’t have to if you don’t feel comfortable.”

Her teeth bit into her bottom lip as I reached up to brush a strand of hair behind her ears from where it was dangling in her face.

“I want to,” she admitted.