The vulnerability in his admission made my chest ache. “And now?”
He met my eyes. “Now I’m starting to think maybe I can afford to dream about it. With the right person.”
The weight of what he wasn’t saying hung between us. I reached across and cupped his face. “Good. Because you deserve to dream about all of it.”
He turned his head and kissed my palm, and the moment felt significant somehow. Like we’d crossed some invisible threshold.
“Okay,” I said, deliberately lightening the mood. “Enough heavy talk. What are we doing after breakfast?”
His smile returned, slow and mischievous. “Do you have a swimsuit?”
I blinked. “No. Why would I have a swimsuit?”
“Because the Ranch has an amazing indoor pool, remember. With slides. And I want to see you in a swimsuit.”
Heat crept into my cheeks. “Lex.”
“What? I’m being honest.” He signaled for the check. “Come on. We’re going to the gift shop.”
Besides having western wear like the boots Majesty had gotten me, the Ranch’s gift shop was surprisingly well-stocked. T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and apparently, an entire section of swimwear.
“This feels like a trap,” I said, eyeing the selection.
“It’s not a trap. It’s an opportunity.” Lex pulled several suits off the rack. “Try these on. Model them for me.”
“You want me to model swimsuits for you?”
“Very much yes.”
I took the suits into the dressing room, shaking my head but smiling. The first one was a simple black one-piece. Classic, practical, boring.
I stepped out, and Lex’s eyes traveled over me slowly. “Nice. But not quite right.”
“Too boring?”
“Too safe. Try the next one.”
The second was a deep-burgundy bikini with high-waisted bottoms. More coverage than a traditional bikini, but definitely showing more skin.
When I stepped out, Lex’s expression shifted. His eyes darkened, and I watched his jaw tighten.
“Better,” he said, his voice lower.
“Just better?”
“Much better. But there’s one more.”
The third was a dark, emerald-green two-piece. The top had good support, and the bottoms were cheeky without being scandalous. When I put it on and looked in the mirror, I had to admit it looked good.
I stepped out, and Lex stood from the chair he’d been sitting in.
“That one,” he said definitely. “Absolutely that one.”
“You like it?”
“I like you in it.” He moved closer, his hand settling on my hip. He tilted my chin up toward him with a single finger, making me gaze into his eyes as he said, “You look incredible.”
“We’re in a gift shop,” I whispered. “With other people around.”
