She glanced at the empty signature lines on both contracts. “Except you didn’t sign your name while you were over there. That would have saved time.”
“Signing with you as my witness is symbolic.”
“Then I won’t sign until you come back.”
“Good.”
She’d just finished rereading the new clause when he climbed in next to her.
He shivered. “Cold out there. So… any changes?”
She gave him a look. “What if I found a mistake? You just turned everything off.”
“I’d turn it all back on.”
“It’s perfect.”
“I know. I was reading over your shoulder.”
“You’re as big a nerd as I am. Why didn’t you become a lawyer?”
“Didn’t need to. You were going to handle that so I could join Mom and Dad in running the Bridger Foundation.”
She blinked. “What if I’d changed my mind? What if I’d been halfway through school and decided I’d rather be a paleontologist?”
“Wasn’t gonna happen.”
“It could have. I loved dinosaurs as a kid. Still do.”
“But you loved this town and the Bridger Bunch more. I saw the light in your eyes when you talked about opening your own law office and helping my folks.”
And him. She wouldn’t reveal that, but she understood it now. Digging up dinosaur bones would have taken her away from this place, away from the boy who’d stolen her heart years ago.
She held up the pen. “Who signs first?”
“You do. The escape clause was your brainstorm.”
“Or we could draw straws.”
“We could, for old-time’s sake, but I’m fresh out of straws. Go ahead and sign.”
“Alrighty.” Clicking the ballpoint, she signed her name with a flourish on both contracts, along with the date. “I appreciate you putting in my middle name.”
“Makes it more legal. Besides, I like it. Tracy Lorraine has a nice ring to it.”
“Your turn, Adam Jeremiah Bridger.”
“It’s a mouthful.”
“It’s cool, not to mention historic. I can’t believe nobody used that name until you came along.”
“My dad couldn’t believe it, either, but they didn’t. He checked the records.”
“It’s none of my business, but if you have a son, I think you should name him Jeremiah.”
“It’ll be on the list, but his mother has a say-so. She might not like it as a first name.”
She bristled. “How could she not? It’s a family name with great historic significance.” She already disliked this person.
