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I peeked back over my shoulder, realizing A.J. was going to scare Tim off within two minutes of his arrival if I let that little face-to-face happen.
“Leave her alone,” Mom said. “Shep and Caleb like Tim. They approve. So, back off,” she warned.
I took my chance to hurry away to my room to change. Once inside, I closed the door and looked around. I only stayed at the ranch whenever our parents had parties, or A.J. or Beckett came home. It was nice to still have a space of my own there.
It’d been over a year since I’d slept in my childhood bedroom, and since I had no plans to sleep with Tim after our date tonight, I knew I’d be back later.
A touch of nostalgia hit me when I caught sight of the white corner desk my dad had built when I was a kid. He was a talented craftsman and a good teacher. He’d shown Jesse a thing or two when we were younger. Jesse used to eat up every ounce of affection and attention my father had given him. It was sweet how he’d looked up to him.
I went over to the desk and opened the bottom right drawer to grab one of my old journals. In truth, I’d been writing to Jesse ever since I was a kid. Letters inside my journal I’d never let him or anyone read. Not much had changed.
I started to flip through the pages when a knock at the door startled me and I dropped the journal onto the desk. “If you’re here to lecture me again about Tim, you can go away.”
“It’s Jesse.”
Goose bumps covered my arms, and I whipped around to face the door. “You’re not home.”
“You’re right. I’m standing outside your door instead.” He was quiet for a moment, and I took the chance to collect my messy thoughts. “Any chance I can see you?”
“It’s unlocked.”
The door clicked and opened a moment later, and he stood in the doorway and folded his arms, leaning into the interior frame.
Holy hell.
He was . . .
Everything.
My everything.
Tanned, golden arms, hard and muscular, flexed across his chest. His black ball cap faced backward, and I could clearly make out the slant of his brows over his stunning eyes.
Faded denim jeans. A tee. Boots. His typical look that always got my heart going a few beats faster.
“Hi.” I tucked my hair behind my ears, nervous as hell.
“Hi.” He smirked. “Been a minute.”
“More like eleven months.” I chewed on my lip, searching for what to say. To do.
“Does that mean I deserve a slap for being gone so long, or can I maybe get a hug?” He lifted a brow, continuing to stand like a statue of muscle, filling my doorway. His gaze roamed over me, taking in my outfit. Nothing fancy. Jeans and a tee with cowgirl boots. Something he’d also seen me in plenty of times, but the way he was looking at me now felt . . . different.
I took a few steps his way, my boots clicking across the hardwoods. “A hug, please.”
He pushed away from the doorframe and ate up the space between us.
I smashed my cheek against his chest and wrapped my arms around his hard body. He squeezed me right back. And I’d swear he was even inhaling me. Breathing me in. Maybe that was just my imagination?
“Ella.” My name came out more like a choked sound. “I’ve—”
“Ah, there you are. A.J. said you were here.” Mom’s interruption was the last thing in the world I needed.
What had he planned to say? Was the moment—our moment—lost; the opportunity to find out what his words would’ve been gone forever?
Jesse let go of me, and I untangled myself from his arms so he could greet my mom. As she pulled him in for a hug, he told her, “I came to visit, um, A.J. Try and make sense of this quitting business. I had the weekend free, so . . .”
Visit A.J. Not come here and confess your undying love. That’s crazy.
