hips and pulled her close. “Come on. I’ll walk you out. You’ve had a long day. I’m sure you’d like a hot shower and some sleep.”
She walked with him to the front door. “Thank you for inviting me out for a ride and dinner.”
“I like having you out here. You know that.”
She smiled at him as they took the steps down the porch and headed for her car.
He took her hand before she got in and turned her to him. “Listen, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
Her eyes turned wary. “What?”
“Clint.” The guy worried Tate.
Her head tilted. “What about him?”
“I don’t like that he showed up at the farmers market today. I want you to be careful. Alert. And let me know if he’s still giving you trouble.”
“I think he got the message today.”
“He should have gotten it the first time you said you didn’t want to see him anymore.”
Her hand brushed up his chest. “I’m done with him. I’ve stopped reading his texts and listening to his voicemails.”
“He’s still calling you?” Tate couldn’t believe the guy’s audacity.
“He’s persistent, but that doesn’t matter. I’m with you.”
“You should block his number.” Tate didn’t know why she put up with this.
“I thought about it, but if he’s stupid enough to leave all that evidence, let him.” She had a very good point.
Tate didn’t know what to make of Clint’s behavior. It didn’t follow reason.
Liz wanted to be with him and that’s all that mattered to Tate. “Text me when you get home, so I know you’re okay.”
“I will.” She started to turn to the car, but he hooked his hand at her hip, spun her toward him, and kissed her, long and deep, letting her know how much he wanted her. How important it was that she stay safe and sound.
He tried to keep things tame for the sake of his own sanity since she was headed home and not up to his bed. But damn, it was hard to stop kissing her and let her go.
Liz broke the kiss, stepped back, but still had a fistful of his shirt. “You know, I’m not sure I would have been ready for all that when we were younger.” She held her free hand up in front of him and circled it in the air to mean all of him and the heat between them.
He chuckled. “Think you’re up for it now?”
“Looking forward to it. Immensely.” She exaggerated that word and it only made him smile more.
“Go home. I’ll see you soon.”
She slipped into the front seat of her car. He leaned in and gave her another quick kiss because he couldn’t help himself, then closed the door for her. She backed out of the drive and gave him a wave before she headed to the main road.
He went back to the house, missing her being there with him already. It made him stop on the porch and turn to the vast ranch and confront his memories of his time here and what it felt like now. He loved working here, but he wanted more in his life.
He and Liz had been a part of each other’s lives forever. They had shared many experiences and a gazillion conversations. It seemed like enough. He enjoyed what they had and felt lucky to have a friend like her. But he wanted them to join their lives in a more meaningful and permanent way.
They were moving in that direction, but the desire to hurry it all up and get to what he really wanted surprised him. The more he thought about the concept of him and Liz, the more he wanted it. Her. Them to be an us.
He never expected things to go like this, this fast. But there it was. And he was ready for more.
Chapter Twelve
Tate jumped when someone put their hands over his eyes, but he immediately recognized the smaller hands as a woman’s and smiled, hoping it was the woman he hadn’t expected to see today.
“Surprise,” Liz said, moving her hands to his shoulders as she leaned over him and kissed his cheek.
He grabbed the file he’d been using to fix the mare’s hoof, stood, turned to Liz, and got himself a real kiss. “I thought you were having dinner with your folks today.”
She shrugged. “I turned Sunday dinner into Sunday lunch so I could come out here and see you for a couple hours.”