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He takes my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. “I appreciate it. You make me feel like I can actually do something different with my life.”
I turn to him, feeling a sudden surge of courage. “You can. You can do anything you want.”
He leans in, his lips hovering just inches from mine. “Anything?”
I nod, feeling my heartbeat quicken. “Anything.”
Without hesitation, he closes the distance between us, his lips meeting mine in a passionate kiss. The warmth of his bodyenvelops mine, and I feel a sense of comfort and belonging that I’ve never felt before.
Here, right now, it feels like we’re the only two people in the world. The ranch and its legacy fade away, replaced by the warmth and comfort of his embrace.
I could do this forever. Be with him, just like this.
In fact, I’m starting to feel like I don’t want to go back to San Antonio at all.
My heart flips at the thought, which is both scary and thrilling. What if I stayed here? Rented a little house in town and got a job at the hospital in the next town over?
I know that’s thinking too far ahead, that Josh and I have only just begun and I don’t want to jinx things, but the idea makes me want to sing.
The next thing I know, Josh is scooping his hands underneath me and pulling me onto his lap right here in the truck. Flush between him and the steering wheel, I sink into him, every muscle relaxing and letting go completely.
We hold each other tightly, our bodies pressed against each other. I can feel his heart beating against mine, and I can’t fight the feeling any longer. This is where I belong.
Maybe the next time I return to Fort Williams, it won’t be for a trip. Maybe it will be to stay. I don’t know, and I can’t say for sure right now because the world is completely open.
Yes, I don’t know what the future holds for us, but for now, in this moment, what we have is more than enough.
CHAPTER 19
JOSH
Sitting in the window seat in my bedroom, the first rays of morning light poking into the world, I open my laptop and stare at the search browser.
On the other side of the room, Erin murmurs something in her sleep and then rolls over in bed. I smile to myself.
Last night was such a mixed bag. While I tried to be optimistic about dinner with my parents, once we were there, I could hardly stand staying. My dad was just too relentless with his questions about the ranch. Several times, I almost took Erin’s hand and led her out of there.
But I made it through the meal. Barely.
And then I was rewarded with alone time with Erin.
In my whole life, I’ve never known anything like this.
This isn’t like a crush or things I felt for girlfriends in high school, which always felt more like a competition than pure, honest feelings. My feelings for Erin are so much more than that.
I feel like I’ve found my soul mate.
But that’s the problem — Erin’s returning to San Antonio. And we said that we’ll do the long-distance thing, but I want more than that.
I can’t shake this feeling deep in my bones, this feeling that we were meant to be together. If I could be with her always, I’d do it in a second.
But thinking like that is selfish, and crazy. Erin’s a successful doctor with a life in San Antonio. I’m just a cowboy here in this small town, and that’s what I’m stuck being.
…Unless I switch things up.
Talking to Erin about it tonight lit a fire under me. I’ve wanted to have a sanctuary for animals for as long as I can remember. A place where all kinds of critters, both big and small, can be cared for.
I know that kind of place would have to exist on donations, and that wouldn’t leave me much more than enough to survive on, but I don’t really care. It would be enough.
