Love in Xxchange: Miles to Go, Bailey Bradford [the reading strategies book txt] 📗

to wait and see. Why don’t you get dressed and all moisturised and stuff while I shower?”

Bo was disappointed and so curious he almost bounced with anticipation upon hearing his theory confirmed. He didn’t even argue, although he did grab Max for a dirty grind and a hungry kiss when the man tried to walk past. Bo also added a good slap to one firm cheek that made Max yelp then shake his butt before disappearing into the bathroom. Then he set about getting ready as he hummed the love song Max had sung to him.

MILES TO GO

Bailey Bradford

124

Chapter Nineteen

Max was glad Bo had been so excited when he’d seen the horses saddled up and ready to go. This was the most romantic thing Max could think of, and he knew by the sappy smile on Bo’s face and the tender glances from the man that Bo thought it was pretty romantic, too, especially once he realised where they were headed. Bo didn’t say anything, but Max would swear he could see every bit of the joy Bo felt in those pretty hazel eyes.

They rode together in companionable silence, except for a few words here and there, or when Bo hummed a tune Max had sung to him one night months ago. Max had joined in, humming along for a line or two before singing instead. And damned if Bo didn’t just glow.

Once they reached the spot by the stream where they’d first made love, Max

dismounted and helped Bo do the same. Not that Bo wasn’t perfectly capable, but they both enjoyed it when Max helped. There was lots of touching and that long glide of Bo’s body sliding against his once he finally got out of the saddle.

And kisses, Max wouldn’t trade those kisses for anything. Long and slow, hard and deep, saying so much more than words could sometimes. By the time they stepped apart, they were both breathing heavily and a bit glassy-eyed. Well, Bo was, and Max figured he had to look about the same.

“Got to tie the horses,” he rasped. Bo nodded and Max took the reins from his hands.

“Can you get the blanket and pouch from my saddle bags?”

“Yeah,” Bo murmured, his voice as rough as Max’s. “Do you—can we put the blanket in the same spot?”

Max nodded as he waited for Bo to retrieve the items. “Yeah, that’s what I had in mind.” He watched closely as Bo pulled a small, prettily wrapped gift from the saddle bag.

The way Bo frowned was kind of worrisome, but maybe it was just because Bo didn’t know what was in the box. It was long and rectangular, and Max knew Bo would likely have some idea that was close to the truth soon enough. Turning, he sighed and hoped he wasn’t fixing to screw everything up. He led the horses to a thick branch and tied them there then walked to where Bo was now spreading the blanket out.

MILES TO GO

Bailey Bradford

125

Max helped settle the corners and smooth out the worst of the wrinkles before taking one of Bo’s hands in his. He looked at the gift setting on the ground right beside the blanket then back at Bo, who was frowning again.

“You’re starting to worry me,” Max told him when Bo’s frown deepened. Bo blinked and looked at him. His lips tipped up slightly and he gestured at the present. “I’m just trying to see through that pretty gold paper. Trying to decide if there’s jewellery,” Bo’s eyebrows arched as his voice hitched higher into a questioning tone. “Or…or what? I don’t know. I’m leaning towards jewellery. A watch, bracelet, or maybe a necklace? It’s driving me nuts not knowing.”

Now or never. “Well, we can’t have that,” Max said, glad his voice didn’t quaver. “Wait right here.” He squeezed Bo’s hand then went and picked up the box. Turning back around was hard, because his knees seemed to have turned into jelly or something, but Max locked gazes with Bo and found the strength to hold it together and go through with his plan. He just hoped to hell Bo didn’t freak out.

When Max was a couple of feet away, he slowed even more. Bo’s eyes never left his, and when Max dropped to one knee in front of Bo, those eyes nearly bugged right out of his head. Max’s heart pounded so hard in his chest his ribs hurt, but his voice was steady as he pulled the ribbon off the gift and popped the box open.

Bo had stopped breathing when Max had knelt in front of him, but seeing the glistening rings in the box had him sucking in so much air his lungs burned. Max had tricked him but good, having the jewellery put in a rectangular box. Bo would have recognised a ring box, even if he’d never been given one before. He’d seen enough of them on TV and such. Then it hit Bo, really hit him what it meant to have Max down on one knee, holding a box with two men’s wedding rings in them, and he got dizzy as adrenalin flooded his system. Joy and a bit of fear chased after it, but before Bo could do more than kind of squeak, Max took his left hand.

“I’m not the best with words, but I’m just going to say what I feel and hope that’s okay.”

MILES TO GO

Bailey Bradford

126

Bo nodded, not trusting himself to make another embarrassing sound. He held Max’s hand tightly, trying to blink away tear-blurred vision. He didn’t want to miss seeing a second of this.

Max took a deep breath then blew it out. “Bo Jenkins, I’ve loved you almost since the day we met. No one ever moved me like you did, and still do. I figured I’d spend my life alone, then one day you came into my world and shook it up in the best way possible. Now, I know it