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But as I stare at the card and then to Trace’s lean, angry face, I start to wonder if it is weird.
What if I’m supposed to be with Trace but he’s going the wrong way and I need to help him? What if he’s still confused about love thanks to his parents and needs someone like me to show him exactly what love is. It’s a gift. It’s not a curse. It’s not a burden. It was never meant to be either of those things. Yes, his parents twisted that up in their heads but it doesn’t mean he will.
We get in his truck and he starts to drive and then we make our other stops, easily getting all the items that we need. He drives into town and we’ve both been quiet, each lost in our own thoughts.
I don’t want this to end. I want more time with Trace. I want him to know how I feel. I want him to be mine.
As we step out of the truck and walk up to the building, I jerk away from Trace and stand still on the sidewalk, thinking.
He turns towards me and I study him, unashamedly committing his handsome face to my memory because if this is my last look at him, I need it to be good.
“Trace. I need to talk to you before this is over.”
“Can’t we talk later?”
I shake my head. “No.” I take a deep breath. “Trace, I need to know something. Do you have feelings for me? Because sometimes I feel like you do and then other times, I don’t. I love you. But if you’re still fighting your feelings for me, which is pretty evident that you are, then I need to find a new love. A new hope.”
“You can’t mean that, Portia. You don’t really love me.”
I nod my head and smile at him gently. “I do. I want more than anything on this planet to be yours. Please don’t let me walk away.”
“Portia,” he groans. “Look at my parents. Look at my Dad. He was an evil man. Jealous and manipulative. We already know that I’m just as jealous as him. We know that because we’ve seen it on this little jaunt. Who’s to say that I wouldn’t do something just as bad as him and end up in jail? I couldn’t bear it if I hurt you.”
“You will not. You are nothing like your parents. I’ve seen it every day with you. You help people. You genuinely listen to people. You care. That’s the best basis for love out there. I don’t think your dad cared for anyone but himself. Same goes for your mom. They were wrapped up in their own pain and couldn’t see past it.”
He smiles softly at me. “I have enjoyed this time with you more than anything on this planet.”
I nod my head and sigh. “And do you think you could ever love me the way I love you?”
“I already love you,” he sighs and then miracle of miracles he pulls me into his arms and his lips touch mine, feather-light and so gentle that it makes tears start to my eyes. He pulls back. “And I always will, princess. I can’t believe I was really going to let you walk away. Just to what? Prove to myself that I am a good person? Protect you from a bad gene pool?”
Alicia and Sarah step outside and wave, toddling over on their little fluffy shoes. “I see you found our little present.”
I çock my head at them, confused. “What?”
“The steer.”
“That was you guys?” Both of them grin at me and I’m hard-pressed not to smile.
“Of course. Because he owns steers and he needs to be steered into realizing that true love is worth any risk. Trace is not his mom or dad and never will be. He’s a good man with bad parents. Doesn’t make him any less than a good man.”
I glance over at Trace to find him smiling happily. “Are you willing to risk it?”
I smile back, my whole body sinking into his, his warm arms wrapping around me, holding me safe and secure.
“I would risk anything to be with you but I don’t think it’s a risk at all. I think it’s the best idea I’ve ever had. I’ve been in love with you since I was fifteen.”
His jaw drops and I want to kiss his scruffy cheeks but I smirk when he groans. “I’ve loved you since I was sixteen.”
“And yet, we almost never realized it,” I sigh and wrap my arms around him.
“And we’ve got a winner!” Both of us lift our heads and groan as the sheriff and the librarian race past us to place their scavenger items on the table.
He looks down at me and smirks. “I guess we’re the second place losers.”
I shake my head and lift my chin, smiling when his mouth edges closer to mine. “I feel like the winner here, Trace. I got the man of my dreams and surely that’s worth more than any silly placard or trophy.”
His green eyes soften. “I think you’re right. You will always be my trophy.”
