Page 14 of Bride ’N Boots

“Which is only a forty-five minute drive to Huckleberry Hill.” He stepped even closer, grasping the lapels of his jacket to keep me in place. “And I don’t live in a bunkhouse.”

“No?”

He shook his head slowly. “I rent a cabin. It’s small. Cozy. With a wood stove.”

I suddenly wanted to be snowed in with him.

Maybe that’s how we’ll make our first baby . . .

A shiver of longing wracked my entire body.

“I kind of lied to you. Before,” I blurted out.

“When? About what?”

My tongue darted out to touch my suddenly dry lips, which only dragged his attention to my mouth. “I do have a long-distance boyfriend. But he’s not willing to move to Coeur d’Alene.”

“I don’t get it. If you’re not moving to Seattle and he’s not moving here, then what are you doing?”

“I don’t know,” I murmured.

“Who’s idea was it to do long distance? His, right?”

“Yeah,” I admitted.

He sighed. “I knew that without having to ask.”

“How did you know?”

“Because he wants to keep you around in case he doesn’t find what he wants close by. He’s fucking around on you, Maisie.”

His words speared through me. And I rejected them instantly.

I tried to run, but his hands were still on the lapels of his jacket that was wrapped around me and I couldn’t move. And then Stratton pulled me closer to him until I was pressed against his chest. Trembling, waiting for the pain of truth to subside.

“I’m not saying any of this to be a dick,” he said, cradling the back of my neck in his large warm hand.

“I know.”

“And I’m not saying this because I want you. Even though I do.”

I shifted and felt his erection against the fly of his trousers, but I said nothing.

“I’m saying this so you can face the fact that your relationship was over a long time ago, only you’re just now realizing it. It’s time to move on, and I want you to move on with me.”

He gently squeezed my neck and forced me to look up at him.

“Are you ready?” he whispered.

“Ready for what?”

“Ready to move on.”

I nodded slowly.

“I’m going to kiss you now.”

“Okay,” I whispered and nodded slightly.