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Confusion settles over her features. “I thought Tate told you …”

Now it’s my turn to be confused. “Yeah. He said you’d left. That he dropped you off at the airport this morning. It was great to hear it from him and not you, by the way,” I add.

She flinches ever so slightly, and I’m torn between guilt and vindication. “I wanted to tell you in person. My parents too. That’s why I went home and why I’m here now.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I snap, the hurt and frustration suddenly becoming too much for me.

“I’m staying!” Addison retorts, fire in her eyes. “I flew home to tell my parents that I don’t want to be part of their company anymore. I talked with Tate, and he offered me a job at the ranch. Working with Hank. I don’t know if it’s what I want to do forever, but I want to do it now. I like it, it makes me happy, the ranch makes me happy, and you …” She trails off, her eyebrows knitting together. “Why are youangry?” she practically yells.

I stare at her in silence, her words washing over me. She’s staying. She’sstaying. Here. In Montana, at Thatcher Ranch. I feel like kicking myself for practically running away from Tate when he was probably about to tell me about Addison’s fucking return flight. Here I’d spent the day feeling abandoned and destroyed, when in reality, Addison had chosenherwants—and in doing so, she’d chosen me.

“I’m angry, Addison,” I breathe, even though all the anger has been practically washed out of me—like I’ve been doused with cold water, “because I thought you’d gone home for good.”

Her eyes widen in realization.

“I thought you’d left, and I’d never see you again,” I say.

“Cruz, I didn’t mean …” She shakes her head.

But I don’t care what she has to say. She’s already said everything I need to hear. I spanthe distance between us, scooping my arms around her waist and pulling her against me, lifting her off the ground as I bury my face in her hair. Her backpack falls from her shoulder, thudding to the porch floor. I squeeze her tighter. “I’m in love with you, Addison Thatcher,” I whisper.

She stiffens in shock, and I lower her to the ground, suddenly scared I’ve said too much, that she’s just come home and I’ve already scared her away. She leans back just enough to look me in the eyes. “I love you too.”

A grin spreads across my face, and I press my lips to hers in a hungry kiss, like this last day without her might have just starved me to death. I pull her across the threshold, kicking the door shut behind her.

“Could’ve told me that before you broke my heart this morning,” I murmur against her lips.

She gasps, pulling back. “I didn’t mean to—”

But I devour her words, pulling her back against me, our mouths colliding. I turn her, pushing her up against the nearest surface—the kitchen counter. “Idon’t care that you didn’t mean to,” I murmur against her skin, pressing kisses down her neck. “I don’t care that you flew back to Seattle.” I slide her jacket off her shoulders, angrily tossing it away and then pressing my lips to the exposed skin on her collarbone. “I don’t care that you didn’t tell me.” I grab the hem of her tank top, yanking it up and over her arms, leaving her in nothing but a white, lacy bra. My eyes meet hers. “All I care about is that you love me.”

She smiles up at me, biting her lip. Then she pulls me back in, and we’re kissing again, my hands roaming her body. I find the button of her jeans, undoing them and then shucking them down her legs as she repositions herself to help me. Her underwear is next to go, then her bra, until she’s standing completely naked in front of me.

I pull back to gaze down at her, softly running my hands over her skin. Her eyelids flutter shut as my fingertips dance across her breasts, lightly plucking at her nipples before descending lower and lower, finding thetelltale wetness between her thighs. She spreads them for me, exhaling softly.

I move my hands to her hips, gripping her flesh and roughly turning her around then bending her over the counter. She yelps in surprise, but I hold her there, slowly running my hands down her back, over her ass, her thighs, then spreading her legs.

I can see how ready she is for me, and my cock twitches in my pants. “Fuck, Princess,” I mutter, sliding two fingers inside her with no resistance.

She whimpers, bucking her hips.

I lean over and grab her ponytail, turning her head so I can press my lips to her ear. “Be a good girl and stay right here for me. Don’t move,” I order.

I step back, turning on my heel and hurrying to my bedroom dresser, grabbing a box of condoms from my sock drawer and pulling one free.

When I step back out into the living area, the sight of Addison, buck naked, bent over the counter and waiting for me just about makes me come right therein my pants. I slowly stride across the room, shedding clothes as I go.

I tear the wrapper open and slip the condom on, coming up behind Addison. I slide my hands up her back, and she arches into me, sucking in a soft exhale.

“Such a good girl, waiting for me,” I praise. My hand roams over her lower back, her ass, and then I squeeze. “Although you weren’t very good today.”

She looks over her shoulder, and our eyes meet. “I’m sorry,” she breathes, but by the look in her eyes, I can tell it’s only half true. She’s sorry she hurt me, but she’s not sorry about what’s about to happen. I remember lightly spanking her before and her seemingly taking it well, so I hope to God I’m making the right call here.

Eyes on hers, I cock my head to the side and bring my hand down on her ass—not too hard, but just enough to sting.

Her mouth opens, and fire lights in her eyes.

Yeah, I madethe right call.