nodded. She’d done her share of stupid things, but not on the relationship side.
At least not yet.
She wasn’t getting the feeling that this was a stupid thing. She did think she was taking a risk, but maybe it was how he had talked about the Lord, and the decisions that he made that had given her the feeling that everything was going to be okay.
Preston seemed like less of a risk and more of a sure thing.
Also, he’d been so good with the kids tonight. Watching him had been beautiful because he was so gentle and kind, yet rough enough to mark a sharp difference between himself and her.
She liked their differences.
“I think you might be asking me to marry you. And I haven’t even kissed you yet,” he finally said.
“Is there something wrong with that?” she asked, feeling brave.
“I guess not. I actually kind of like that. We could have our first kiss as man and wife.”
Maybe her bottom lip stuck out a little bit, she wasn’t sure. She hadn’t been thinking along those lines, although there was a certain appeal there. But she’d had her heart set on tonight.
“I suppose we could.”
“You don’t sound excited about that.”
“I’m more excited about having it tonight.”
That made him smile, a confident smile, as he looked at her with tenderness in his eyes.
Which made her feel safe.
“I think that’s something we’re in agreement on.”
“Kissing tonight?” she asked, the hope in her tone making his smile grow even bigger.
“Yeah. But first, maybe I should tell you that I want to marry you. That’s where this is going. And, you know I come with a kid and, we haven’t even talked about what were going to do.”
“Do?”
“My parents want me to go to Houston and work in the business. But we thought we could stay here in Cowboy Crossing, or I could follow you around the country from job to job, and work remotely with whatever dad gives me.”
“They want you in Houston? For something specific?”
“A leadership position has opened up, and dad said I’d worked for it, which is true. Before Shane died, I had put a lot of time in the company. Since I was about twelve.”
“I know. Your dad had you there all the time.”
“Yeah, except when I was with Andrew and Shane.”
“You loved it.”
“I did. But...I guess you might as well know, I love you more.”
She gasped. She couldn’t help it. She supposed they were talking about kissing and relationships and, marriage even, and it shouldn’t have surprised her, but she knew immediately that she could return those words.
Maybe he needed to hear them.
“I want you to know, I admire what you’ve done in the short time that you’ve been here, taking Liam, having Joyce in your home, quitting the alcohol, and coming to terms with Shane... All of it. When you decided to get right, you didn’t mess around.” She smiled. “I love you too. I have for a long time.”
He seemed surprised at that. “How long?”
She laughed, a little self-consciously. “Before we graduated. I don’t know. How long have you and Andrew been friends?”
“You’re kidding.” He shook his head, his mouth open in disbelief. “You were so serious. So different. I had no idea.”
“I know. I didn’t think you could ever fall for someone like me.”
“You’re the kind of person that complements me perfectly. You are exactly what I need.”
She couldn’t argue with that. She happened to agree.
“And I need you. I need you to push me out of where I’m comfortable and make me take risks.”
“Hmm.” He stepped closer, sliding his hand behind her back, and folding their hands that were clasped together between them. “So, is it too far out of your comfort zone to kiss a man in the moonlight?”
“Not as long as it’s you.”
“I think I’d be kind of upset if you were kissing someone else.”
“I can’t imagine that I would want to.” Athena shuddered. It was true. Kinda funny if she thought about it, but she didn’t, because she stepped closer until they were touching, and lifted her free hand up to his neck.
His eyes seem to search her face, maybe checking and making sure that she really wanted this, before his head lowered, and he kissed her, soft and sweet, and she sighed, a whisper across his lips, before it became something different, and she liked that too.
She wasn’t sure how long it was before he finally lifted his head, and rested his cheek against hers, and whispered in her ear, “I