Gotta Have You, Cowboy (Ford Brothers Book 2)

Chapter Seven: Nathan

  Country music is playing softly in the background as I drive Lottie home. Tonight was one of the best nights I have had in a while. I loved spending time with her and my family. We always have an enjoyable time and having Lottie there with me made it more special to me. I have never brought anyone to a family gathering before. I am glad that I waited so she could be the first. I know that she has been missing her family and I am glad that I can share mine with her. She does not deserve to be alone in this enormous world.

I do not know what was going on with Aidan tonight. I am worried for my younger brother. He has changed so much in a short amount of time, and it is not for the best. He has not acted this way in the past and I am not liking this road that he is traveling down. I must wait till he comes to me. I cannot force him to talk to me and I will not make him. It has to be his choice.

I glanced over to Lottie seeing her stare out her window as the landscape passes us by. Returning my eyes back on the road in front of me, I blindly placed my hand on her knee and gave it a gentle squeeze. I do not know why I did it, but it felt right. Like I needed to reassure myself that she is really here beside me. I caught her movement from the corner of my eye and turned to see her smiling at me. I gave her one back and moved my eyes back to the road as she placed her smaller hand on top of mine.

I can feel the heat on my hand from hers and I have a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. I know that I have strong feelings for her and that I have been falling for her since I first laid eyes on her. I cannot say how I know she is the one for me, I can just feel it. It is a feeling deep down in my bones and soul. I know that Lottie is the only woman for me. With everything in me I know that she is the one I want to spend my life with.

I parked behind her car and shut the engine off. I unbuckled and hopped out making my way to the passenger side. I opened her door and helped her down so I could walk her to the front door.

"Thanks for the ride." she said as we stepped up onto her porch.

"No problem." I replied, looking up I noticed something white sticking out of the screen. "What's that?"

"What?" she asked, turning around to face her screen door.

"In the screen door." I told her pointing with my index finger to the paper. I knew she could not see me, but I did it anyways for some reason.

"Oh that. It's nothing." she rushed out as she pulled the paper from the door.

I have no idea what is going on here. So, I stepped up behind her and placed my hands on her shoulders. I spoke low and gently when I asked. "Lottie, what's going on?"

"Honestly, I have no clue. This is the second one today." she whispered clutching the paper in her fist.

"Let's go inside and we will read it together. Okay?" I asked as I held my palm open for her keys.

"Okay." She placed the keys into my hand. "It's the one with black around it."

I put the key into the lock, turning it till I heard the click, and I pushed open her front door. I held the screen open with one hand, the other on the small of her back. I let her go in before me, but I kept her close. After what happened to Maddie and her kids, you could never be too careful. I shut the door and turned the locks into place. I took hold of Lottie's hand as I led us through her tiny home. I went through the house making sure no one got in before I could relax just a little.

I circled us back around to the living room and I sat down on her couch. I pulled her into my arms holding her close. I pried the paper from her white knuckled grip on it and opened it up smoothing out the page.