Page 114 of One Wild Chance

“I am.” Then he gazes at the pasture, his expression shifting as he pulls a blade of grass.

“There’s something I need to tell you, Summer,” he says, watching the horses graze. “I got a phone call from the Michigan Mavericks. They wanted me to come out and interview for an assistant-coaching position.” He rolls the blade of grass between his fingers. “I told them I couldn’t.”

I sit up straighter. “You turned down an NHL coaching interview?”

“Yep. Already knew my answer.”

“Jaxon.” My brows furrow. “Are you sure about this?”

“I am.” He nods. “I keep waiting to feel like I made the wrong call, and I don’t.” He reaches over and takes my hand. “I want to be here with you, Summer. I don’t want to leave Lucky Chance ever again.”

I look down at our threaded fingers, the way this decision spirals through me. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I didn’t want you to feel guilty about it.” His thumb moves across my knuckles. “You’re the one who made the answer about the interview clear to me.”

I’d been so careful not to put too much hope into him staying, and here he is, handing it to me like a gift. My dad made me feel like I wasn’t worthy of his love. But I never had to prove my worth to Jaxon. He’d already decided before I even knew about the offer.

The sky has turned deep violet, with shades of petal pink and pale tangerine where the sun has sunk behind the hills. Sitting under an oak tree with the flower crown he braided, learning he’s chosen me, makes the emotion catch in my throat. “I’m glad you told me.”

“The choice wasn’t hard.” He lifts my hand and presses his lips to my knuckles before his other hand cups my face.

I lean my cheek into his palm, closing my eyes.

“I love you,” he says, brushing a kiss over my temple. “I should’ve said it sooner because I’ve known it for a while. I just didn’t want to scare you away.”

I shake my head. “You could never scare me away, Jaxon Chance.”

Closing the distance between us, I move onto my knees, and he meets me there, his hands coming up to cup my face, thumbs brushing over my cheekbones. His mouth slants over mine, and he kisses me with an intensity that tells me he means it.

When I pull back, I tip my forehead against his. “I love you too,” I say against his mouth. I want to remember this kiss, the feel of his hands holding me close.

He pulls me down onto the blanket beside him, wrapping an arm around me. I tuck my face against his chest and listen to the thrum of his heartbeat.

Keeneland is in a few days, then the open house right behind it. Life is barreling toward us, and I’d be lying if I said I’m not worried about how it’s all going to shake out.

But here, with his arms around me and nothing in the world urgently calling to us, I let myself forget everything else for a little while.

He presses a kiss to my head, one last promise before the sun sets. “You’re the only future I want, Wildflower.”

Chapter 32

Jaxon

We leave for Keeneland so early, the sun isn’t even up. Our first group of yearlings has been at Keeneland for two days thanks to Earl and Colton, but today they’ll go through the ring.

Summer is already waiting for me in the truck, her hair pulled back under a trucker’s cap, looking so incredibly kissable right now, I have to hold myself back from pulling her face to mine.

“Good morning,” I say, handing her coffee in a travel mug.

“Are you ever going to stop being so good to me?” she asks, her face brightening into a smile.

“Never,” I say, then leave a kiss on her cheek.

We don’t discuss the event today. We’ve done everything we can do, and at this point, talking about it just makes the road trip longer.

Instead, Summer tells me that Wanda Roy told Colleen Cromwell that she saw us holding hands downtown, which means we’re practically engaged, according to the current consensus at Minnie’s Diner. They also added deep-dish apple pie to the fall menu, and Leroy is rejoicing over the news. Java Jane’s switched dark roasts, and Earl has already declared the new one inferior to the bargain instant coffee from the market, even though he’s never set foot inside a real coffee shop. Even with my nerves humming under the surface, Summer’s small talk is a good distraction.

By the time we arrive at Keeneland, the sale grounds are already hopping, with buyers moving through the barn aisles and farm managers chatting like they’re at a family reunion.