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She heard Cash whinny. Her heart skipped a quick beat until she reminded herself there was no more danger here. She wasn’t a part of that life anymore. She walked toward the barn, ready to take inventory of the feed supplies when she saw Cash ambling toward her with a man on his back wearing a cowboy hat tipped low over his brow.
Jacquie gasped, and her heart filled with joy. “Chase! What are you doing here?”
He grinned. “I promised Cash a ride.”
“But you just left a couple days ago.”
“True. I needed to transfer my cases to my partners, so I’d be free to come back.”
She stared at him for a long moment, unsure how to process what he’d just said. “I don’t understand. What are you saying?”
“I’m moving back to Granite Falls. I’ve taken over an administrative and training role in the company. Let my partners do the heavy lifting for a while.”
Shocked, she looked at him with wide eyes. “Not because of me.” She didn’t want him to change her life for her. That would be a disaster in the making.
“Partly.” He climbed down off of Cash. “I’ve enjoyed the last few weeks we’ve spent getting to know one another again. I realized all those old feelings never went away, they were just buried. I still care for you, and I’d like to see where we can take this, if you’re up for it.”
He’s staying? For her?
“You can’t change your whole life for me, Chase. What if it doesn’t work out?”
He stepped closer, his warm, woodsy scent traveling through her, sending shivers up her spine and making her head swim. His blue eye glinted, clear as an afternoon sky. “What if it does?”
“Will an administrative role be enough for you?”
He shrugged. “Maybe. If not, I can always help Josh. Or you, running this ranch.” He gave Cash a pet.
Her chest tightened, then warmed. Could they make this work? “I like the cowboy hat.”
He smiled as he touched the brim. “I found it in the barn.”
“No one has worn it since you left,” she admitted.
“I found something else too.” He pulled a ring box out of his pocket and flipped it open, showing her a beautiful diamond engagement ring sitting in black velvet.
Fear, stronger than any she’d felt when Quentin was after her, stole her breath. Fear that she might put her heart on the line only to have it broken again. Fear that too much time and hurt was still between them. “Chase…”
“I know, it’s too soon, but I plan to prove to you that you can trust me to put you first. Your dreams, and our future. Someday, I’m going to put this ring on your finger and we’re going to create the future we’ve always dreamed about.” He closed the ring box and placed it back in his pocket.
She didn’t know what to say or think as she fought the tears threatening to spill out of her eyes.
Suddenly, Killer came running toward them, barking her little head off, her little backside shimmying up a storm, her tail wagging as she ran toward him. She jumped up, putting her paws on his leg, and begged to be picked up.
Jacquie shook her head. “Would you look at that? I thought she was coming to see me?”
Chase laughed and picked her up. “What say you, little girl? Do you want to be a family?”
She barked and licked his face.
He looked at Jacquie, his handsome face beaming with satisfaction. “Don’t think you can say no now.”
She grinned and shook her head, still amazed by how much her dog loved him. “No, I don’t see how I can.”
He leaned down and kissed her, his lips filling her with warmth. “I still love you, babe. I never stopped, and I’m certain now that I always will.”
She put his arm around his back and leaned in close. “Then it’s a good thing I never stopped loving you. Come on, we got a lot of work to do.”
They walked Cash into the paddock and started planning their future at Big Stone Ranch.
Together.
The End
