He takes off and rides over a few hills to a creek where we let the horses drop their heads for a drink. After the horses have quenched their thirst, Cody turns and starts heading back toward the ranch. I’m so curious to see what he has planned, I don’t even ask him to give me a clue.
We approach the tree where the fence has started to grow into the trunk.
“Here,” he says, pulling Jasper to a stop and dismounting.
He pulls a blanket out of his saddlebag and lays it out on the ground.
I dismount Lark and tie her off next to Jasper. Then I walk over to the blanket and sit next to Cody. He wraps his arm around me and holds me close. The sun beats down on our faces, but a breeze blows through, rustling the branches and cooling my skin. I close my eyes and sigh.
“Do you remember this spot?” Cody asks.
“Of course,” I tell him. “This is where I met you before we rode up to the other tree—on that first ride, the one that got rained out.”
He smiles. “That is true. But this spot is also where I stood before I ever kissed you. You came through from over there.” He points toward our farm and moves his finger to show the direction I rode that day. “And I watched you. The way you looked on Lark, wild and free, your hair blowing back behind you.”
“I saw you.”
“Eventually, you did.” He smiles. “Back then I felt like you’d always be out of reach.”
“You were the one out of reach,” I tell him.
“I never planned to cross those lines.”
“I’m so glad you did.”
He turns so he’s looking me straight in the eyes. “Would you take any of it back? Knowing how we hurt McKenna and Jace?”
“I’d take back hurting them,” I say. “But I wouldn’t trade or change one second of our time together. I love every single memory.”
“Mmm.” Cody hums. “Me too.” He brushes my hair back from my face.
“I must look crazy right now,” I say, smiling at him.
“You always look beautiful to me. Even more so out here.”
He leans in and kisses me. There’s something almost forlorn about the way he lingers on my lips, like he’s memorizing me because he doesn’t know when we’ll kiss again. It’s foolish to think that, but I know Cody and this is the kind of kiss he’d give me when we were sneaking around and we didn’t know when we’d connect in person again. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him, leaning in to assure him I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.
When he pulls back, I search his eyes. A soft smile blooms on his face.
“You’re so gorgeous,” I say, tracing over his lips with my fingertip.
He kisses my finger and holds my hand in his.
“I love you, Carli.”
“I love you too,” I say.
“And I want more with you,” he says.
“Me too,” I assure him. “Everything. I want everything with you.”
“Good,” his smile grows.
Then he pulls away from me, shifts his weight and pulls something from his pocket.
It doesn’t dawn on me—until it does. “Cody?”
“Carli Buckner, I love you with my whole heart. You’re the most important person in my life …”
