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“Oh, absolutely,” she giggled, the sound soft and light. I could hear her shifting in bed, the faint sound of blankets moving. “They were so good! Easily the best cookies I’ve had in a while.”

“I have to agree. The chocolate chip-to-dough ratio? Perfect,” I said, leaning back against my pillows.

“Right?” she exclaimed, her excitement spilling over, a little too loud for the hour.

I chuckled, shaking my head even though she couldn’t see me. “You’re going to wake up your whole building.”

“Let them hear!” she shot back, her voice filled with mock defiance. “Everyone deserves to know how good those cookies were.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” I huffed out a laugh.

“Come on, we make a pretty good team. You know your way around the kitchen. We made those cookies our bitch.”

“Are you trying to flatter me? Or maybe,” I teased, “you just want an excuse to get me alone in that apron again.”

There was a pause, the kind that makes your heart race, before she replied, her tone softer now. “Maybe I am.”

I hesitated, trying to figure out how to keep the conversation going. I didn’t want it to end.

“So,” I began carefully, “are you liking Wyoming?”

“It’s beautiful,” she said, her tone lighter now. “I haven’t seen much of it, but from what I can tell, I wouldn’t mind coming back someday.”

Her words sent a flicker of warmth through my chest. Coming back. That small possibility wrapped around me tighter than I expected. Maybe this wouldn’t be the last time I’d see her. But as quickly as the thought took hold, I shook it off.

No.

When she left, it had to be for good. There couldn’t be a “what if.”

Except—what if there was?

Jesus.

I threw my head back, and the loud thud that followed echoed through the quiet room.

“Is everything okay?” Eleanor asked, her voice tinged with concern. “What was that sound?”

Rubbing the back of my head, I groaned. “Nothing. Just me being an idiot.” I paused, desperate to shift the focus. “So…which ranch is your favorite? Montana or here?”

Eleanor didn’t answer immediately. I imagined her biting her lip, mulling it over. “Montana,” she admitted, then quickly added, “but I really love this one too. They’re so similar but unique in how they’re laid out.”

Pride swelled in my chest at her answer. I didn’t usually care what people thought of the ranches, but hearing her say that mattered more than it should.

“Montana’s my favorite too,” I said quietly. The dark room around me felt smaller, less significant, as I closed my eyes and focused entirely on her voice.

“I’d like to go back there…” she murmured, almost as if she hadn’t meant to say it aloud. “Someday.”

“Do you have your countdown going until you return to the city?” I asked, half-expecting her to light up at the thought of returning to her world. “I bet you’re excited.”

She let out a huff, followed by the faint rustle of blankets. I pictured her rolling onto her side, getting comfortable, and it tugged at something inside me.

“Don’t tell Laney this…” she began.

“Who’s Laney?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

Eleanor laughed softly. “Don’t worry about it. But if a very tall, very blonde, and slender woman ever shows up at your door, run.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Noted.”