She laughed. “Do you love me?”
“I just said I did.”
“No,” she said, flicking her finger on his arm. “You didn’t say that. Not the actual words.”
“Do you need them?” he asked.
She sighed. “Not all the time, Clay. But it’s nice to hear once in a while. I don’t do well with guessing. Haven’t you realized that in the past few months?”
“I suppose you’re right. I love you, Meredith Banks.” He lowered his lips to hers. “I have for weeks but have been afraid to admit it to myself.”
“I thought Clay Ridgeway wasn’t afraid of anything.”
“Only afraid of letting people down. Of not being enough. Of proving myself.”
“Doesn’t it feel good to get that off your chest?” she asked.
“Maybe.”
She gave him a quick kiss. “Never be afraid around me. Not of letting me down or not being enough. And you sure the heck don’t have to prove yourself. Who else can save me as wonderfully as you?”
“No one,” he said, hugging her tight to his chest.
EPILOGUE
Six Weeks Later
“This isthe first New Year’s Eve that we’re all going to be together since we were kids,” Ash said. “I can’t believe we all had the night off.”
They were in the barn getting ready for a New Year’s Eve bash. Clay and his brothers were hanging decorations. His father was behind the bar getting that ready.
His mother was in the kitchen with Reenie, Gale, and Meredith prepping the food. Finger foods for the fifty people they’d invited.
Friends, employees, coworkers.
Somewhat of a private affair.
Meredith’s idea. She wanted to end the year with a party and Clay wanted to give it to her.
Her lease was up next month, and she wouldn’t return there. She’d been staying with him and, though he’d told her she could continue to do that, she was getting antsy over it and talking about looking at another place next week.
In his mind, there was only one way for her to stay with him for good.
The same thing his brother Ford did on Thanksgiving with Reenie.
“It might be the last time it happens,” he said. Which was all the more reason for him to do this now.
In front of the people who had been there for him the most and always would be.
They should share in his joy.
Happiness. And a lighthearted feeling that was returning to his life.
There was only one woman to thank for it.
“This could become a tradition,” Blaze said. “I know a couple of the guys at work are thrilled with it. Maybe not driving back to Glens Falls after, but there will be a few designated drivers.”
“Meredith talked about getting deals with local hotels if we did that again for people who might not want to drive. They could bring shuttles up.” She was great at coming up with ideas for the business. Things he never thought of. They made one hell of a team.
