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“You have our blessing.”

I know I’ll fall asleep tonight thinking about Hattie. And not as a friend. But what I said in the kitchen still stands. It would be suicide to go for it when this thing between us is so fragile and new.

It’s late when she and I get back to the ranch, and all these thoughts must trigger something subconsciously because my hand moves to the bracelet that’s still on my wrist, partially hidden under my watch. I spin it around.

I want her in my life. For good. I want to be able to tell her things. Confess the parts I’ve held back and let her see everything I keep hidden away.

I’m starting to see, there’s no future for me here without her.

Maybe there’s no real future for me anywhere without her.

I realize now that it wasn’t the town drawing me back here. It was her. I can’t mess that up.

Noble, do not mess that up.

I watch as she closes the door, then take off my hat and hang it on one of the hooks in the entryway. The lodge is dark and quiet, and Hattie is right there. So close I can smell the vanilla lotion she puts on after she showers.

My skin heats at the thought.

“That was fun,” she says. “I think Jordy has a little crush on you.”

I laugh and shove my hands in my pockets just to keep from reaching for her. “They’re great kids.” I don’t say so, but Quent’s girls kind of made me think that one day, I’d like to have kids of my own.

She smiles. “You’re good with them.”

“So are you,” I say.

“Well . . .” She wraps her arms around herself. “Years of having brothers who act like children trained me well.” She smiles, but doesn’t move.

There’s a lull, and I know I should either fill it with small talk or walk away. I don’t do either of those things. Instead, I bring my eyes to Hattie’s and don’t look away.

After the hike, she changed into a pair of jeans and a floral top that’s loose on her shoulders. My eye drops to the dip of her collar bone. I want my lips on that exact spot.

I look back at her. She goes still, and when she holds my gaze, my heart races.

What are you doing, you idiot?

My brain is screaming at me to say goodnight and walk upstairs, fresh memories of all the ways I could mess this up playing on a loop in my mind. But the pull toward her is too strong.

And frankly, I don’t want to walk away. I want to taste her lips. Feel her soft skin under my fingers. I want to show her exactly how I’d like our relationship to be in the future.

“What were you and Rowe talking about in the kitchen?” she says, voice low.

“You.”

Her forehead twitches. “What about me?”

“She thinks I like you.”

“Oh.”

I’m sweating.

“Did you set her straight?”

“I did,” I say.

She nods, mouth curved in a soft smile. It’s a very nice mouth.