He puts his hand on my shoulder and squeezes, and I stare up at him, my mouth hanging open wide. Uhhh, did that just happen? I look at Chance and then back at King. “Uh, Mr. Bryant...”
He chuckles. “King. Everyone calls me King.”
I nod. “King, uh, I just want to make sure you know all the facts. I’m uh, a McCoy.”
There’s no surprise on his face. He just smiles bigger. “I know who you are, and I meant everything I said.”
He pats me on the shoulder and turns to walk away as Nat, Mia, and Hailey all come up to me and draw me in for a group hug. Overwhelmed, I don’t even try to keep my happiness in. I thought for sure I’d be coming here tonight and Chance would find out that I’m more trouble than I’m worth. I never dreamed that it would work out like it has.
The girls are all laughing as we walk into the house. Paulina, their cook and housekeeper, serves the meal, and we all sit around the table eating and laughing. They all try to draw me into the conversation, and as I look around at everyone, an intense feeling of belonging overcomes me. I haven’t felt that in a long time. At least not since my mom passed away.
Chance reaches for me under the table and grabs on to my hand, squeezing it. He looks at me with so much understanding, and I realize I’ve been sitting here without guarding my face. I’m sure he can see the happiness and acceptance I feel right now. I squeeze his hand, and for the rest of the meal, we hold on to each other.
After dinner, we take the side by side, and he shows me the Bryant land. He drives me past his house and points it out to me, and a part of me wishes that he would stop. I know he’s worried about being completely alone with me, but I’m finding more and more that’s exactly what I want. When we get back to the main house, it’s getting late. Well, late for ranchers anyway.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” I ask him.
He nods. “You’ll definitely see me tomorrow.”
He kisses me bye, and I look in the rearview mirror as I drive away. He’s watching me the whole way. I get lost in reliving tonight and what a success it was that when I pull past my house, I barely see my brother’s truck pull out behind me. He flashes his lights at me, and I stop in the middle of the road. I don’t get out. No, I roll down my window and take a deep breath.
Ray comes up to my window. “What the hell you doing coming from the Bryants’?”
I should just come clean. I want to, but I also know that my brothers and my dad are not going to react the same way Chance’s family did, and I’m not ready for this to be ruined. Hell, I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep Chance in my life longer. Even lie. “I had to take a book order out to Hailey.”
He looks at me skeptically, and I don’t dare look away from him... I don’t even blink. He puts his hands on the side of the car door and squats down. “You’re spending a lot of time with the Bryants lately, aren’t you?”
I shrug. “Yeah, well, I know you may not realize it, but I am an adult now. I can spend time with whoever I want to, Ray.”
He grits his teeth. “I knew it was a bad idea when you moved away from the ranch. I don’t know what Dad was even thinking letting it happen.”
I laugh. “I’m twenty-three, Ray. I’m not a child that you and the others can boss around still. Look, I love you, but I can be friends with whoever I choose. I’m not going to let some crazy old feud stop me from having a.... friendship with someone.”
He leans in. “That’s just fine, Amanda. We don’t care who you’re friends with. But don’t go getting any crazy ideas about dating one of them Bryants. You know that would kill our father.”
He stands up and pats the car door. “Be safe on your way back into town.” I watch him walk away, and my stomach drops. The excitement from before is gone, and in its place is apprehension. Surely, my dad will understand. But even I have a hard time convincing myself of it.
Chapter 9
Chance
I almost make it to my truck before my brother Griffin stops me. “Where you going in the middle of the day?”
I stop and think fast before I turn around. Truth is, I’ve been skipping out a lot during the day and going into town to see Amanda at the bookstore. I’ve seen her every day since last week when she came out to the ranch to have dinner with my family. My feelings have grown so much for her that I pretty much count down the minutes that I get to see her. I still haven’t gone to see her father, but I know I’m going to have to go soon.