For a man who had spent months not uttering a word, he knew how powerful they could be. So he chose them carefully. “The more important question is what do you think.”
She stepped into the barn, silent for a long moment. He could practically see her working through her thoughts, weighing considerations he couldn’t begin to guess at.
He took her hands in his, the cold bite of her fingers making him want to pull her closer and warm her up. He turned her fully to face him, needing her to see the truth in his eyes when he spoke.
“I’ve never had anything like this before. This kind of relationship, this level of…openness. It’s new territory for me.”
“For me too,” she whispered.
The admission made his chest tight. Willow, who seemed so confident in every other area of her life, was just as uncertain about this as he was. The thought was both terrifying and comforting.
“I want it to be perfect,” he continued. “I don’t want to mess things up by moving too fast or pushing too hard. If you needmore time, I can get a place in town. I’m sure there’s something for rent—an apartment or a house. Give us both some breathing room to figure this out.”
She looked up at him then, and the intensity in her expression made his breath catch.
“I don’t want that.” Her statement came out with a firmness that he recognized as the steel that made up Willow. “If we’re apart for half an hour, I’m thinking about you. Aching for you. I don’t want to be separated from you, Decker. Not by a few buildings, and definitely not by the miles between the Black Heart and Willowbrook.”
The honesty in her words hit him like a physical blow. This was Willow at her most vulnerable, admitting needs she probably rarely acknowledged even to herself.
“It’s a big step.” He needed to make sure she understood what she was signing up for. He was ready—God, he was so ready to build a life with her.
But he didn’t want to freak her out or push her into something she’d regret. “Living together, sharing space every day…it changes things.”
“I know.” She squeezed his hands. “I’ll start looking for boxes this afternoon. You have atonof books. We can pack up your room this weekend, maybe get Theo to help move another dresser into my bedroom for you—”
“Stop.” He cut her off gently, then pulled her closer. When she searched his eyes in that direct way, his heart rate doubled, and his gut clenched with need.
“Love, this is important, so listen to me.” He curled his fingers around her braid and let the soft length slip through his palm. “I see how you take care of everyone, how you show love by doing things for people. But you don’t need to do all of that for me to know you love me, Willow. I’ve got this. I’ll pack. You canhandle the other stuff—making space in your closet, clearing out drawers, whatever you need to do to get ready. But the physical labor? That’s mine to handle.”
She stared at him, and he watched emotions flicker across her face—surprise, resistance, and then something that looked like wonder.
“I’m still so surprised that you know so much about me. We’ve been friends for a long time, but we never talked about any of this.”
“Wasn’t hard to spot. You’ve been taking care of this entire ranch since you were old enough to reach the coffeepot.” He swept a strand of hair away from her face. “Everyone appreciates the things you do for others. But you don’t have to earn my affection by doing things for me.”
“Then what’s your love language?” Her voice was soft with curiosity, the tone mingling with the shifting of a few horses dozing in their stalls.
He shrugged, the question more complicated than he was ready to share. “Guess you’ll find out.”
But she was watching him too carefully now, reading between the lines like she always did. “You’re not sure, are you?”
He pressed his lips together. The words came out with more difficulty than he expected. “How I got here…”
She stilled, listening.
“I really loved someone. And when she died in the line of duty, I couldn’t show it in any way. Whatever I wanted to do for her, I couldn’t. I had to keep it hidden. I guess I’m still figuring it out.” He paused, making sure she understood. “I never got to be openly in love with someone. I never got to be openly in love with you—not in the beginning, when I was still just a resident of the program. Now I get to figure out how to love you without hiding it.”
His heart felt too full. One more tender exchange with Willow and it would overflow.
They were shedding so much—old defense mechanisms, old wounds, old versions of themselves that didn’t fit anymore. They were becoming their truest selves so they could be their best versions for each other.
“I’m genuinely happy.” His admission felt like a revelation. “I never knew life could be like this.”
She nodded, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “I know. I dreamed about it. Saw it in movies and read about it in books. But I never believed it could be mine. Never thought I’d find someone who saw me—reallysaw me—and loved me anyway.”
The words seemed to unlock something in her, like she’d been holding back forever and finally felt safe enough to release her emotions. This relationship was freeing for both of them in ways he was only beginning to understand.
He closed the gap between their bodies. She kissed him, rising up on her toes to press her lips against his. It was soft and sweet and full of promise, and when she pulled back, she was smiling through her tears.
