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She grasped his arm, needing to touch him. “I figured I had to apologize. I shouldn’t have gotten so upset with you that day. I should have given you the benefit of the doubt. I’m so sorry.”
Heath shook his head so fast it messed up his hair. “No. Ruby. I’m the one who’s sorry. And before we get any deeper into this conversation, can I please just tell you that I love you?”
The words went into her ears, registered in her brain, and the next thing she knew, she was flattening herself against his solid chest and wrapping her arms around his waist. “You do?”
He pulled her in even tighter, kissing the top of her head. “I knew that I loved you, but I hadn’t admitted it to myself. I think I never thought that you would fall for me. I always thought I would be the one doing the falling.”
Ruby reared back her head. “What? Did you really think that?”
He nodded. “I did. I’m not always the sharpest tool in the shed.”
A laugh escaped her lips. “Oh, shush. You’re brilliant. From everything Chelsea said, you really saved the day today. I can’t believe you figured it all out.”
“Chelsea called you?”
“She did. I think she feels just as bad about everything that happened that day at Morgan’s shop.”
“Maybe we should forget the whole thing.”
“I think that sounds like an excellent idea.”
“Well, we’re not out of the woods yet, but I think we have a solid plan, and most important, we’re all on the same page. No more warring between families.”
She smiled and peered up into his face. It was a chilly afternoon, but she didn’t care. Heath was all of the warmth she needed. “That’s so great. I don’t want there to be any more war. All I want is peace and happiness. Especially between us.”
“Good. Because that’s exactly what I want, too.” He brushed aside a lock of her hair. “You and I have talked so many times about how hard it is to say goodbye. But I don’t ever want to say goodbye to you, Ruby.” Pulling her closer, he planted a soft and sensuous kiss on her lips. “Tell me I don’t have to say goodbye.”
Ruby was nearly floating from the kiss. “From now on, we only say hello.”
Epilogue
Seven months later
Heath had hoped for better weather today, but apparently that wasn’t meant to be.
“Clouds? How can it be this overcast in the middle of August in Texas?” he asked Ruby as he poured himself a cup of coffee and peered out through the kitchen window. This view out onto his property was especially beautiful this time of year, with the meadow of perennial wildflowers planted by his mother years ago in full bloom. August was one of his favorite months in Royal. He loved the first taste of summer heat, the way the air was sweet and sticky, but not quite suffocating yet. “It’s supposed to be a happy day. When I think of happy, I think of sunshine.”
“Itwillbe a happy day, regardless of whether or not there are a few clouds.” Ruby was seated at the kitchen island, drinking coffee and reading on her phone.
Of course, she was right. And in many ways, she was the only sunshine he needed. “Thank you for telling me to stop being so negative without actually pointing out that I was in fact being negative.”
“That’s my job. Kindly putting you on notice.” She cleared her throat and slid her mug across the kitchen island. “Like now. Refill, please.”
He happily obliged her request, then walked the cup around to her. “What if it rains?”
“Then it rains and people get wet if they don’t bring an umbrella.”
“Should we call everyone and tell them to bring one?”
Ruby sighed and set her phone aside. “I know you want everything to be perfect, but it’s not possible, okay? It doesn’t mean today won’t be great. I promise it will.” She ended her long string of assertions with a smile, probably knowing he could never disagree with her when she had that look on her face.
Indeed, he did want the opening of the Ashley Thurston Therapeutic Riding Center to be perfect. But simply the fact that they’d gotten this far was enough. “I’m so glad you’re here for this. I couldn’t do it without you.” He couldn’t fathom what today would be like without her. “Now we should probably sit down and look through the to-do list. Just to make sure we don’t miss anything.”
Ruby dropped her head to one side. “Heath. Do you really think I would let anything go undone? I want you to enjoy today. This is your victory lap. Take it. I promise you that everything will be perfect.”
Good God, he loved her so much. She was the one person on the planet who enjoyed taking care of him. It was such a delicious change of pace. He’d spent his first thirty-three years on this earth worrying about others. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
She smiled. “Last night before we went to bed, but I wouldn’t mind hearing it again.”
