AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her heart that had been fluttering at his word, at his touch, quietened at those last two words.
Trust me.
She knew if this relationship was to ever have a chance of working—if she ever wanted any relationship to work—then she’d need to let go of her inhibitions and trust again. Trust a man again. Trustthisman. This man had proved himself loyal and faithful, his compassion and kindness running as deep as what he seemed to see in her. He deserved nothing less than total honesty.
“I do trust you,” she said.
“Yeah?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
The moment seemed to stretch with weightiness. She knew what he was asking, and she knew it was time to tell him the truth. But even the security provided by the night didn’t make this task easier.
From somewhere behind them a light switched on, pooling a small square of yellow on the lawn. Then came the sound of Ellie and Cooper talking, Fido’s whimpers as Cooper shut the door, then Ellie’s cheeky “good night” floated across the still night air.
“She’s a card,” Lexi murmured.
“Yep.” But Jackson didn’t sound annoyed with his sister, instead sounding rather pleased at his sister’s blatant desire to see Lexi end up with him.
Which stirred her heart flutters again.
His fingers gently caressed hers, and her chest grew tight. “So what are your plans, Ms. Franklin?” he asked.
“My plans?”
“Your future plans. I mean, I can hope all I want, but if you’re planning to go back to Australia one day, then I don’t think I have enough heart in me to let it break.”
Oh. He sounded so much more invested in this than she’d realized. Trusting him meant honoring him with the truth. “I …”
His clasp tightened.
“I have been investigating ways of transferring my qualifications so I can practice nursing here.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good to know.” His teeth flashed white in the night sky. “Are you saying you like it around here?”
“Yes.”
“The countryside, or the people?”
“Both,” she murmured.
“Can I ask if that’s anyone in particular?” His voice was low.
“You can.”
He chuckled, the sound like warm honey to her ears. “Is there any particular cowboy you might like?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?” He pushed from his chair and moved to crouch in front of hers, holding her hand as he leaned close. “Or definitely?”
“Definitely.”
He grinned again, and her heart took flight. “Can I guess who that cowboy might be?”
