Page 10 of Bride ’N Boots

“Me.”

My heart fluttered in my chest.

“So I guess that means you guys are doing the long-distance thing?” he said.

“Hmm.”

“That's not a response.”

“It was an I-don't-want-to-talk-about-this-anymore response.”

“Do you plan on moving back to Seattle?” he asked.

“Oh, so you’re doubling down. Wonderful.”

“So are you? Moving back to Seattle?”

Relentless.

“No,” I sighed.

“Does he plan on moving out here?”

“Eventually.”

The truth was, Ethan wasn't that keen on moving to Coeur d'Alene, even though the company he worked for had already made it clear that he could work remotely.

“So if he's not going to move here anytime soon and you're not going to move there, why are you two together?” Stratton asked.

“Habit,” Arden called out.

“Hey,” I said, lifting my gaze to my best friend. “You're not supposed to be listening to this conversation.”

“Kind of hard not to,” Arden said. “But I'm with Stratton on this one. I'd like to know the reason why you and Ethan are still together.”

“I have to go to the bathroom,” I lied.

“You do not,” Arden said as she lowered the camera.

“I do too,” I protested.

I held my arms out. Stratton dropped the reins and came to help me. Only when he pulled me off of Honeysuckle, he didn’t let me go right away.

“Can I say something?” Stratton asked, peering down at me while his arms were still woven around me like a warm security blanket.

“I suppose,” I allowed.

“You sound pretty lukewarm about your boyfriend,” he said. When I didn’t say anything, he continued, “And you deserve a man who is doing everything in his power to be near you.”

My hands rested on his biceps. It was impossible not to notice how strong he was.

How . . . virile . . .

I gulped.

His head dipped.

But just before he could kiss me I shoved out of his arms, hiked up the dress, and ran toward the ranch house.