I thought Luke was struggling, like me.
But this is the kind of ranch that families pass down from generation to generation. And it sure doesn’t look like it’s struggling.
As I pull my Jeep up beside the assemblage of trucks parked outside the house, Luke is already coming out of the front door. A border collie bounds out beside him and greets me with a happy bark as I get out of my car, circling me with energy that suggests she’s powered by nuclear batteries.
Luke is in full cowboy mode today, from the boots to the faded jeans and flannel to the cowboy hat.
It’s the first time I’ve seen him wearing one.
He looks way too damn good.
I stand awkwardly, hands in my pockets. “Hi,” I offer him as he closes the distance between us.
He pulls up short, his eyes flicking down to my hands. I guess my body language is giving defensive vibes, because he doesn’t reach out.
“Hi,” he says quietly. “You look beautiful.”
Did I get all done up to get broken up with? Yep, and not for the first time. Might as well go out a bang, if we’re not going to be banging anymore.
Except Luke’s not giving me that guilty look that guys give you after they fuck you and got what they wanted, so now they can move on.
He’s giving me that same deep, serious look as always.
And it sure seems like he can’t take his eyes off me.
My defenses crumble a little despite myself. Removing my hands from my pockets, I step towards him for a hug.
Immediately, he pulls me into his arms.
His embrace is warm and firm. He smells so good. Feels so good.
As he presses a kiss into my hair, I melt against him even more.
I’ve gotten goodbye kisses before—a literal kiss-off, as it were—but this doesn’t feel like one of those.
As he holds me, his body is relaxing against mine.
Like maybe he needed this hug too.
Like maybe he’s really glad to see me.
None of this is what I expected.
For once, a guy has managed to surprise me—in a good way, no less.
“So what did you want to talk about?” I mumble into his flannel shirt. “Because I gotta tell you, ‘we should talk’ is a very scary pairing of words.”
“Yeah. I get it.” His hand strokes slowly along my back. “Almost as scary as having your girl run off like you did last night.”
Cringing, I pull away to look at him.
But he doesn’t look mad or annoyed. He’s looking at me with patience, waiting for me to explain.
Your girl.
The idea he thinks of me ashis girlmakes my heart do a little happy dance.
“I might have freaked out a little,” I say slowly.
