I won’t be tripping over them.”
He frowns, and I wonder what he’s thinking.
“My other choice would be to save up for a while until I have enough to rebuild properly, but that could take years,” I go on, sighing and then trying to push away this helpless feeling that has no place ruining this perfect date he organized. “Why don’t we dance?”
Ranger smirks. “I was hoping you’d ask.” He picks up his phone and presses a few buttons until soft, instrumental music starts to play. Then he shoves his chair back and gets to his feet, offering me his hand to help me up.
“Such a gentleman tonight.”
“Don’t get too used to it,” he jokes, leading me over near the skylight and pulling me into his arms.
I relax into him, following his lead as our bodies sway together slowly to the beat. He’s put on quite a bit of muscle since we first met, and I definitely don’t hate the way his new bulk feels against my body. We grin like fools, dancing and twirling under the starlight. I dramatically ask him to dip me, and he obliges, nearly dropping me before recovering at the last minute, pulling me laughing against his chest.
My whole body feels lighter than air, with the steady beat of his heart matching my own, our chests pressed together, and our foreheads touching as we both savor this beautiful moment.
“I love you.” The words fall from my lips unintentionally, but they’re too honest to take back, even if I could. Maybe it’s too fast, maybe this is crazy, but I’m madly in love with this man.
To my relief, Ranger smiles. “I’m so in love with you.” My heart does its best to beat right out of my chest, and as does his, galloping against his ribs. His hold on me tightens. “Stay here.”
“What do you mean?” I pull back just enough so I can study his face. He can’t mean forever, right? Moving in together is a huge commitment.
“Sell your land and stay here with me. We’ve already started fixing this place up together, and we can do more. We can make it all our own, grow old here together with a dozen ornery goats and all the dogs you want.”
A nervous, giddy quiver rises in me. Is he serious? The expression on his face is earnest, but can this be real?
“You mean that? You don’t think it’s too fast?” I ask. “I don’t want you to feel pressured or like we have to do this just because I’m in a bad situation with my house. I can figure things out with a place to stay, and we can take this at a more comfortable pace. I mean—”
He cuts me off with a kiss. “I don’t feel rushed. Who cares if it’s fast? I want you with me.”
I search his face for any sign he’s not being honest, that he feels pressured to move things forward before he’s ready. All I see is calm certainty and the same overwhelming love filling me up inside.
“Okay, I’ll stay.”
35
Ranger
He’s staying. He loves me. It’s still hard to wrap my head around, even though I see on his face he means it. Not that he would ever joke about something like this, but the love is radiating off his face in such a way that I wonder how I could’ve missed that before.
“I love you,” I say. How right those words feel on my tongue.
His smile has never been so beautiful, and my heart flutters all over again. “I like hearing those words.”
“I like saying them.”
I’ve always laughed when couples got all lovey-dovey with each other because it seemed so cheesy and corny, and yet here I am, embracing it with all my might. A romantic dinner, slow dancing, and saying I love you… It’s a Hallmark movie come true. Not that I’d ever choose those. My mom did, and so we were forced to watch them with her. Oh, the horror.
She’s always been a sucker for a happy ending, and mine is happening right now. Only one thing is missing…
I take a deep breath. “I want to tell you about Alex…”
He nods instantly. Then he takes my hand, and we sit down in the hay, nice suits and all.
Where do I start? It still feels so raw in my head, in my heart, but Julian deserves the truth.
Julian raises our joined hands and presses a kiss on mine. “Take your time.”
I sit in silence, searching for the right words. “We