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"I never stopped." Kaleb cradled her hand in his, sending butterflies flapping their wings in her stomach.
"I'm scared, Kaleb," Cinnamon confessed. "I don't want to repeat history."
Kaleb rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. "Can you be more specific?"
Cinnamon blew out a long breath of air. "I don't want decisions to be made for me. I'm a grown woman, able to decide things on my own, or with someone."
"That's fair." Kaleb pressed his lips together. "I will do my best to be more open with you and ask your opinion before making decisions. I'm not perfect, but I'll try."
"And I'll try to tell you how I'm feeling and not expect you to guess." Cinnamon offered him a sweet smile.
"We're really doing this?" Kaleb leaned closer. The air between them sizzled. His strong hand cupped her cheek.
She leaned into his touch, melting on the inside. It'd been so long since he held her like that. "I'm willing if you are."
A light filled his eyes she hadn't seen in a long time. "I am." Kaleb's eyes flicked to Cinnamon's lips, waiting for permission.
She'd seen that look before and gave him a small nod. Kaleb's lips captured hers, soft and tender, yet possessive and claiming them for his own. All too soon, he broke the kiss, brushing his lips across her forehead before resting his head against hers.
"I've waited a long time to do that."
"I've been waiting just as long." Cinnamon lifted her thumb to his swollen bottom lip.
"Not cringe-worthy, was it?" Kaleb wagged his eyebrows.
Cinnamon giggled. "Not in the least."
"Good." Kaleb rolled up their windows. "Should we grab your Bible and head to the store so we can get back to the farm?"
"If you insist." Cinnamon tossed him a saucy grin and climbed out of the truck. She unlocked the door to her house and waited for Kaleb to enter before closing the door behind him. "Welcome to my home."
"I can't believe you bought a place."
Cinnamon surveyed the living room as she wandered to the end table where her Bible sat. "It helped my grandfather left me a nice inheritance."
"The one you and your mom fought over?"
Cinnamon ducked her head in acknowledgment. "It surprised me she was so angry that I won the settlement. I thought for sure she'd let it go."
"She still hasn't spoken to you?"
"Nope." Cinnamon lifted the Bible. "Ready to go when you are."
Kaleb took the Bible from her and set it down then wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry that happened. I'm even more sorry I wasn't there to help you walk through it."
"It wasn't easy, but I had Sadie and Poppy. Not to mention God giving me strength when I had none." Cinnamon's hands slid up and down Kaleb's muscular arms. "We can only move forward, right?"
"That's right." Kaleb dropped his arms.
Cinnamon missed his closeness already. What was it going to be like as they spent more time together at the farm? She never tired of being with him before. She doubted she'd feel that way now.
Outside, the sun still hung in the sky, not willing to release its grip on the day. Its rays cast shadows along her driveway.
"Ready to head back?"
Cinnamon buckled the seatbelt. "Back? Didn't you have an errand to run?"
A sheepish grin crossed his face. "No."
