“Fair enough. After the meeting I’m hoping we can talk. But if, when the meeting’s over, you want to go straight home, I promise to take you immediately. No questions asked.”
She heard Granny’s voice in her head.He’ll do it, luv. He’s a man of his word.“Okay then. I’ll see you at one forty-five.”
“Thank you.” He squeezed her hand and let go. “I’ll take a wild guess you’d like to go home now.”
“You read my mind. If I go back in there, Irving Quick will be waiting.”
“Can I walk you to the front door?”
Her heart melted. “That would be lovely.”
He didn’t take her hand on the way out and she wanted him to. But she’d restored a boundary when she’d balked atgetting a ride over here tomorrow. He was respecting her bid for autonomy.
“Have you told your mom about the changes we made to the manuscript last night?”
“No, ma’am. Didn’t mention the Christmas idea, either.”
“Why not?”
“I want to see what she and the other Wenches come up with on their own. I don’t want them piggybacking on your suggestions.”
“I appreciate that.”
“After they’ve had their say, I think you should have yours. If they came up with the same things, you could tell them you’ve already made those suggestions. But only if you want to.”
“Of course I want to. I don’t understand why we’re fast-tracking this meeting, but I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to hear their critiques.”
“I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to hear yours.”
“So why can’t we do this after Christmas, since I’ll be here until New Year’s?”
“I’ll tell you after the meeting.” He sorted through the coats piled on the coat tree and plucked out hers.
“You really can’t tell me now?” As he held her coat, she turned and put her arms in the sleeves. His warm breath caressed her cheek when he settled it on her shoulders.
“I really can’t.”
His murmured words sent heat spiraling through her body. For one electric moment, she considered asking him to follow her to his cabin. Granny would be asleep by now. He’d probably snap up that suggestion.
But she’d be taking advantage of a man who’d just said he loved her. Turning around, she buttoned her coat and fished the truck keys out of her pocket. “See you tomorrow.”
The glow in his dark eyes nearly destroyed her resolve.
Then he reached out and opened the door, letting in a blast of cold air. “Tomorrow.”
She stepped outside and the door closed behind her. Hurrying across the porch and down the steps, she paused to glance up at the night sky. The stars glittered in a dazzling display. That was something she didn’t have in Trenton.
She didn’t have the scent of evergreens mixed with the aroma of a cedar fire, either. Or a certain cowboy who had captured her heart and wouldn’t let go.
She breathed in the crisp cold air of a Montana winter night. “I love you, too, Rance McLintock.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
The Armstrong’s yellow truck sat in front of their cabin when Rance pulled in. Lani could have driven herself over, but she hadn’t texted to back out of their arrangement. He took that as a good sign.
He'd been getting many of them today. His mom and Andy were on fire with this idea of an indie press. They’d already secured the domain name for DezAndy Press. Trent was designing a website.
Oksana had caught the indie bug and said she’d put out her next book through DezAndy Press. Bret’s wife Molly had asked to do book trailers and wanted to take a crack at cover design.
