At last his eyes opened, his gaze meeting hers at once, and the group began to cheer.
Andie did the same as she wiped moisture from her eyes.
“That was freaking awesome,” Emmitt hollered as he clapped.
Betty let out a loud whistle and cheer. “That’s my boy!”
Trenton came to his feet, nodding in thanks from the compliments.
Richard gave her a nudge. “Go on. I’ll hold your plate.”
Andie glanced over, surprised to see approval on her older brother’s face. “Thanks.” With a fresh sense of encouragement, she set the plate in Richard’s waiting hand, then took a step in Trenton’s direction. And then another, the butterflies in her tummy flying full force.
He was doing the same, taking one cautious step at a time, holding her gaze as he moved. By the time they’d met in the middle, a new song picked up over the speaker.
Trenton closed the gap enough that she could feel the warmth of his chest. And smell the scent of his spicy cologne.
“I’m so sorry, Andie,” he rasped. “I was a real jerk.” His hands slid up and over her hips as he encouraged her to dance while they talked. It was their best shot at privacy in the crowded space. And besides, Andie had been aching to be close to him. She slipped her arms up and around his shoulders as he continued, speaking very close to her ear.
“My biggest fear in falling for you was that, if I gave you my heart, you’d soon pack up, leave this place behind, and take my heart with you.” He paused there, seeming to weigh his next words as one flattened hand smoothed up the center of her back.
A wonderful wave of goosebumps spread over her arms in response.
“I was scared of losing you. Convinced that you were simply too good to be true. I guess that’s why, at the first hint of deception, I assumed my biggest fear was right all along. I figured you’d say that, despite falling in love with me, you had to leave. That it was only a matter of time. So I decided to beat you to the punch. Jump town and never return.”
“I’m so glad you came back, Trenton,” she said, wrapping her arms tighter around him and breathing him in.
“I had a little help seeing reason,” he said. “I’ll have to fill you in on the whole story later, but just know this—your brothers love you very much. And if it wasn’t for them, Richard in particular, my ranch would have gone to the highest bidder today.”
Andie’s eyes widened.“Richard?”She brought her voice down to a whisper. “How much did he tell you?”
Trenton was at her ear again. His warm breath trickling over her skin as he answered. “He didn’t have to tell me much. I only know that you’re in a position similar to Milt’s when he first came. I should have guessed.” He stopped swaying for a bit and leaned back to lock eyes with her.
“Speaking of Milt,” she said, “I should tell you that he contacted the relocation program and offered the property. That’s how we got it. He’s the reason we ended up here.”
A grin spread over his face. “So in a way, it reallywasMilt who sent you to me.” Trenton’s brow furrowed as he shook his head. “I truly regret leaving like I did. Will you forgive me?”
Her heart skipped a beat. Did he not realize she’d already done so? “Of course, Trenton.”
At once, his lips were on hers. As if he’d been counting down the days, hours, and very seconds until they could kiss again.
A thrill rushed through her from the warm pressure of his mouth. The heavenly desire she sensed in each gentle push and urging pull. Andie basked in the bliss, unable to believe the moment was truly real. Hopefully, she wouldn’t wake up to find this had all been a dream.
The kiss came to a slow, reluctant end. Trenton mumbled against her lips. “I’ve got something for you,” he said. “A peace offering, I guess you could say.”
Andie couldn’t imagine what that offering might be.
“You remember what you brought up at the end of our very first meeting?”
She sifted through her memory of that day. Trenton and her brothers had gotten along well for the most part, but it wasshewho caused a rift at the end by saying she wanted the shed torn down.
“I think,” she said, not sure where he was going with this.
Trenton grinned. “First thing tomorrow morning, I’ve got a crew coming out to tear down that old shed. I want you to have that space. Use it for your project if you’d like.”
Her heart skipped a sad, heartbreaking beat at the idea of tearing it down. “I don’t need it,” she assured. “I already know what I’m going to do. And where.”
“Listen,” he said, eyes fixed on hers. “I acted like a jerk when you brought it up. But I’ve realized that it doesn’t really matter. That shed is a part of my past. My hope is that you'll be a part of my future.”
