Even a man who makes me feel like there’s hope for a future here—for all of us.
“I think we should go to him,” Arlo declares. “He would come for us.”
That’s all I need to hear. “Jackets and boots. Then we go.”
It takes almosttwenty minutes to get from the ranch to our land. The sky is clear of clouds, allowing the stars to shine for the first time since we arrived. The moon hangs in the sky, not quite full but not small either. Out here, light pollution doesn’t even touch the darkness.
I pull in behind Caleb’s truck, breath falling from my lips in a rush. “I’m going to leave the car running. Just stay here for me, okay?” I say, glancing over my shoulder.
Bundled in their hats, gloves, and heavy winter jackets, I only barely catch their nods of agreement.
That’s all I need. I jump out, entering the icy air, and suppress a shiver as I make my way to the truck. The engine is off, but there’s a figure in the driver’s side.
My heart leaps into my throat. In the distance, a door opens, and footsteps sound on a wooden porch. In the back of my mind, I know it’s Winnie, probably her mother, too.
But my focus is on Caleb.
I open the door with a trembling hand. His scent hits me: earth and mountain and rain, all of it crashing into me as I watch him stir.
“Caleb?” I call quietly, reaching for him. There’s a part of me worried he might be drunk, and that’s why they left him here. I literally don’t know enough to be sure.
But when he sits up and those blue eyes fall on me, a breath catches in my throat. “Cassidy? What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be out in the cold.”
A lump forms in my throat over his concern. “Winnie called. She was worried about you.”
Caleb looks from me to the cottage with a frown. “I—I came here to check on it,” he admits. “But I think part of me just wanted to be close to you. I couldn’t go back to the cabin without you—without them, either.”
The lump turns into tears. “Caleb…”
“I can’t…Cassidy, I don’t think I can’tnotfight for you.” He looks at me, eyes full of fire. “I’ve been falling in love with you since the moment I caught you in my bathroom. And I can’t let you go again.”
My breath catches in my throat, hope and fear thumping in my chest. “You—you’re what?”
“Let me fight for you,” he whispers, grabbing my hand and holding it to his racing heart. “Let me fight for them, too. Let mehelp you build the life you all deserve. And please, let me be a part of it. Let me love you.”
I don’t know what it is about those words, but my answer comes in a rush that surprises us both.
“Yes.”
ELEVEN
CALEB
“The keys,” Bryce Fletcher grumbles, handing over the start to my new life with Cassidy and the kids.
I take them with a smirk as I look around his office. “See you in six months.”
He says something under his breath as I leave, but I ignore him. Clutching the chain of keys in my hand, I smile. It isn’t forever, but it’s a damned good start.
For now, at least, it’ll give the kids some stability so they can start school. It’s the middle of the school year, but thankfully, they’re caught up enough that there’s not only room in one of the middle school classes, but they aren’t going to be too far behind their peers. We just needed an actual house, and not the cabin.
Leaving the realtor’s office, I meet Cassidy and the twins at the cafe next door. The smell of freshly ground coffee, as well as cakes and lunch, hits me as soon as I enter. I find them in the back with drinks waiting, including a milkshake for me.
“So?” Cassidy stands, twisting her fingers. “How did it go?”
I hold up the keys, dangling them as I join her. Gently, I press a kiss to her temple. “We’re good.”
She blows out a shaky breath as I pull back. “Thank you for going in there.”
