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His expression softened but he still didn’t smile. “So, you’re going to tell me about these dreams someday or what?”
A part of me wanted to share everything with him then and there, but I was almost scared to hear what his reaction would be. Would he think I was being dumb? “I will,” I told him.
“When?”
“I don’t know. Tonight? Tomorrow? We’ll think of a time, okay?” I faked a yawn.
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
“Fine,” I said, flustered. “I’ll talk to you later.” I jumped into my car, fumbling with the keys as I tried to start the ignition. “Come on,” I mumbled under my breath. Finally, the engine sputtered to life. I sped off quickly, not daring to look in my rearview mirror until I got to the end of the driveway.
Behind me was Wyatt, a solitary figure in the distance, still standing there, still staring after me. I wondered what he was thinking. He probably knew that he was driving me crazy, but I didn’t want him to know just how much.
As I drove out of Horseshoe Ranch, I touched my lips lightly. They were still tingling from his kiss. As much as I didn’t want to admit it to Wyatt, I couldn’t get him or his kisses out of my mind. Of course, the way everything had changed between us was making me think twice about our relationship. But I didn’t know what he wanted from me. I didn’t know if the kisses meant anything to him at all. They were special to me. They were toe-tingling, heart-stoppingly powerful, and they had me all confused.
As I pulled into my own driveway, I saw my mom puttering around in the front yard with a watering hose.
“Hey, Mama,” I called out the window as I parked the car.
She smiled at me as she stood up, holding some recently cut sunflowers. There was a streak of dirt on her right cheek and her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun.
“Hey, Sadie, how was the camping trip?”
“It was really fun. I had a really good time with the girls, and we talked about life, and what we want to achieve. And you know, I’m really focused now on trying to have a career.”
“I’m proud of you, Sadie.” Mom beamed at me. “You know, when I was young, no one expected me to do anything more than to get married and to be a good mother. Maybe to be a teacher or a nurse, but that was it. I was just expected to find a husband and settle down and be a good wife and mother. But you’ve got something different to look forward to. Your father and I, of course, we want you to get married and have kids. We support you because that’s noble. But if you want to get married and have kids and have a career as well, I support you. And if you just want to go for your dreams and travel and live for yourself, I support you in that as well. You can have as many boyfriends as you want. Have some real romance in your life.” She smiled wistfully.
“Really, Mama?” I’d never heard her saying anything like that before.
“Of course, Sadie. You are a strong, beautiful woman, and you can do anything you want to do. You can be anyone you want to be, and I’m not just saying that.” Her gaze grew more intent. “Don’t let your father … or myself …tell you what to do with your life.”
“Thank you, Mama, that means a lot.”
“You’re welcome.” She looked past me and smiled. “Looks like I’m not the only one who’s happy that you’re home.”
I turned to see a car coming down the driveway. My first thought was that it was Wyatt, but I didn’t recognize the truck.
It pulled up and stopped, then Dominic Olivio got out of the truck with a bouquet of roses in his hands. He grinned and gave me a little wave as he walked towards me.
What was he doing here?
“Things are different for you now,” my mama said softly in my ear. “You can have a husband, you can have kids, and you can have a career. You can have it all, Sadie. And I support you. Go for your dreams, my love, and go for the man of your heart. You might be surprised at who that man will turn out to be. If you’ll just be open to anything and everything, you might find excitement like you’ve never known before.”
She turned to walk back inside. I watched her go, surprised by her mysterious words, then turned towards Dominic.
“Hi, I’m surprised to see you here.” Surprised was an understatement. Shocked was what I felt. Why was he here with flowers?
He handed me the bouquet of roses. “I just wanted to let you know that I was very impressed with you when we met the other day.”
“Oh?” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Is this about business or is this about romance?”
“I didn’t make it a secret that I’m very attracted to you,” he said, his gaze roving over my body, “so the roses are to show you that I’m interested in wooing you.”
“Wooing me?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “You’re hot. And smart. And sexy. And frankly, I haven’t met a cowgirl I’d like to fuck more. Excuse my language.”
I studied the man in front of me. He was handsome, but he was no Wyatt Hamilton. Not by a long shot.
