“You’ve been carrying this,” she said.
“Yeah.”
“You brought me here on purpose.”
“Yeah.”
Another pause.Her mouth softened, just enough to show him she understood exactly what he’d done.He hadn’t dressed it up.But he had chosen it.Chosen her.Chosen the moment.That mattered.
She pushed the ring onto her finger.It caught at the knuckle.She worked it through without hesitation until it settled in place.Then she stepped in close and grabbed his shirt.Her mouth found his.
He answered her, hands coming to her waist, pulling her in until there was no space left between them.The kiss deepened, slower on the second pass, like they both needed to feel it all the way through.
Her fingers slid into his hair at the back of his neck.His hand spread across her back, steady, keeping her right there with him.
When she pulled back, her forehead stayed near his.Her breath moved uneven, but her eyes held his.“You took your time,” she said.
There was no accusation in it.Just truth.
He let out a quiet breath.“Had to get it right.”
Her thumb brushed over the ring, testing the fit, then she looked at him again.“You did,” she said.
He leaned in and kissed her again, slower this time, letting it settle into something that would last longer than the moment itself.They stayed close when it ended, bodies lined up, hands still linked, the valley stretching out behind them like the start of everything that came next.
No rush to leave.No need to fill the silence.They had already said what mattered.
They remained there as the light faded.The valley darkened.Ranch lights appeared one by one.Fences softened into distance.The sky deepened toward night.Wind moved steady across the overlook.
Titus pressed his mouth to Kyla’s temple.Once.Then again.She covered his hand, keeping it there.He cupped her face, thumb brushing along her cheek.No doubt remained in her expression.She gave him a small smile.Open.Certain.
He stepped back just enough to reach the truck.He opened her door and waited while she climbed in.She turned on the seat, boots dragging across the mat.He reached in and pulled the seatbelt across her lap, clicking it into place.His knuckles brushed her thigh.
She caught his hand.“You buckling me in now?”Her tone carried that familiar edge, softened now.
He turned her hand slightly, his thumb moving across her skin.The ring caught the last of the light between them.He leaned in and pressed his mouth to her forehead.No hesitation.Then he stepped back and closed the door.
He moved around the truck, boots pressing into gravel, and slid into the driver’s seat.The cab filled with the quiet sound of fabric shifting and her soft breath.She watched him, her hand resting on the dash, thumb turning the ring.
He started the engine.For a moment, neither spoke.The radio murmured low.Heat gathered slowly inside the cab.She stretched her legs until their knees touched.Her hand turned palm up between them.
He took it.Their fingers fit together easily.He pulled the truck back onto the road.Headlights swept across the ground ahead.The overlook fell behind them.The road curved forward, steady and clear.
They drove in silence.
The ring caught the light with each turn.
