My girl.
Old Roy sits in the corner, his hat clutched in his hands, his old hound Buck lying at his feet. The dog’s tail thumps lazily when he sees me.
Sedona’s at the front counter, talking to Roy. She’s so damn pretty it hits me right in the chest.
She glances over her shoulder, and her face lights up. “Hey! I’ll be right with you.”
“Take your time,” I murmur.
She finishes up with Roy and gives Buck a fond scratch behind the ears. Roy tips his hat at me as he stands. “Take care of this one, Billy.”
“Always do.”
He chuckles and heads out with Buck following.
And then it’s just her and me in the quiet lobby, the hum of the fridge in the corner filling the air.
I stride toward her, hook a hand around her waist, and kiss her slowly, savoring the taste of her. “Missed you.”
Her fingers slide along my jaw, thumb brushing my lower lip before she deepens the kiss. A soft sound escapes her—I feel it more than hear it.
Heat curls low in my belly. I pull back just enough to whisper, “Where’s your dad?”
“At Wildflower Hollow Ranch. Rhett called about that cow they helped calve last night. She’s acting out, so Dad went to check her.”
I nod, relieved. “You wanna have dinner with me? We could head to the diner.”
She smiles, brushing a curl behind her ear. “I just have some paperwork left. Then we can go.”
I dip my head to kiss her neck, letting my mouth drag lightly along her skin. She shivers, her hands fisting in my shirt.
“Billy…” she breathes. “You’re insatiable.”
“For you, baby? Always.”
I kiss her again. Her little whimpers slip into my mouth, and I swallow each one like a promise. I hold her hips, rubbing my thumbs along the strip of skin between her T-shirt and her jeans.
She melts into me, her body arching, her breath warm against my cheek.
When I pull back, I mean to tell her she’s gorgeous. Or that I love her. Or something simple and sane.
Instead, what falls out is?—
“Marry me.”
She goes still, hands pressing against my chest, eyes wide. I feel the shift before she even speaks.
“What… what did you just say?” she asks.
My heart kicks against my ribs. “I said, marry me.” I reach for her hand, bring it to my chest. “I love you. And I want you to marry me.”
She swallows hard. Her pupils are blown wide. Her breath comes uneven. I don’t know what I expected—smiles, tears, maybe even laughter.
Not this.
Her silence sinks like a stone straight through me.
“Say something,” I whisper, voice rough. “You’re my best friend. You know that, right?”
