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“I’m glad you decided on the truck,” she teased. “Is it always this cold at night?” she asked, but her eyes were bright in the moonlight, and she smiled as she looked up at him.
He laughed. It was just above forty degrees. “Pretty sure it gets a hell of a lot colder in New York come wintertime.”
Her smile fell.
Shit. This wasn’t how they were supposed to start the night.
“Hey…” He hooked a finger under her chin. “Forget I said that. It was just small talk, right? Stupid weather small talk. It doesn’t mean anything.”
He grabbed her cold hand, threading her fingers with his, and squeezed.
She squeezed back.
“Are we still doing this?” he asked, his pulse quickening not only at her touch but at what it meant for both of them to walk through those doors together.
She nodded. “We’re still doing this.”
He closed her door, filled his lungs with the cool, crisp air, and then side by side they strode through the entrance to Meadow Valley’s one and only night spot. Together.
Boone saw them first. The guy was already smiling because when was he not smiling these days, but Eli swore the second his brother glanced their way, it was the happiest he’d seen him yet.
Maybe Eli should have gone easier on Boone when he’d first brought Cirrus home and talked about getting the ranch up and running again. But all he could see back then was the danger in rehabbing a practically feral horse, the supposed selfishness of Boone doing it behind his back. But that same “selfish” brother now stood behind a bar with a grin Eli knew was solely for Eli.
Boone nodded at his older brother’s usual seat at the bar and raised his brows.
Eli shook his head.
“Bar or table?” he asked Beth as she scanned the room.
Delaney popped up from a large booth opposite the bar and waved.
“Shit,” Beth said. “I forgot to tell her I wasn’t exactly meeting up with the girls tonight.”
Shit. The girls?
Eli’s palms grew damp, and the air seemed to thin.
“I’ll be right back.” Beth dropped his hand and smiled nervously. “I’ll just tell them we’re going to sit somewhere else…and then answer all their questions. I should be back sometime before…um…midnight?” She winced.
“No.” Eli squared his shoulders. It was time to rip off the bandage. “I’m going with you. But first…” If there were going to be questions, they might as well answer some right here.
He slid his finger into her loose blond waves, dipped his head, and kissed her good.
Like…really good.
His head spun. He felt her body start to go limp and caught her by the small of her back.
She melted into him, and the fact that they had an audience completely escaped his mind…until a voice sounded in his ear.
“So, Eli…what are your intentions with my sister?”
A month ago, the whole situation would have spooked the hell out of him. Then again, a month ago, Eli never would have been in this situation.
He smiled against Beth’s lips, and Beth laughed.
They broke apart to find Delaney standing to their right, hands clasped under her chin and the biggest, broadest smile spread across her face.
“And, Bethy,” she added, “what are your intentions with my friend? With your life? Tell me you’re moving to Meadow Valley permanently, and make me the happiest person on earth.”
