“I love you. Iloveyou, and I don’t want this to be some in-between thing anymore. I want us to be real. Official.”
The world stilled. The screen, the cars parked around us, even the night air—none of it mattered compared to the girl beside me.
I set the popcorn aside, reaching for her hand. Her fingers fit into mine so naturally it damn near hurt, like we’d been made this way and just hadn’t realized it until now. My throat tightened as I stared at her, all fierce and vulnerable at once.
“Ellie,” I said, voice low, steady even when my heart was racing like a stampede, “you just gave me the only thing I’ve ever wanted. I love you too, more than I’ve ever loved anyone. Being yours? That’s all I’ve dreamed about. And now that I am… I’m never letting go.”
Her smile spread wide, the kind that reached her eyes and made them sparkle like the stars overhead. She let out a little laugh, half joy, half disbelief, like she couldn’t quite hold in how happy she was.
“I’ve never been as loved as I am with you, and I would be doing us a disservice if I let anything hold me back from being completely yours. There was no reason left to wait and ask because I know how serious I am about you.”
“Good thing you didn’t wait,” I murmured, tugging her closer until her shoulder rested against my chest.
I wanted to leave it up to her. I didn’t want to be the one to ask and possibly force her hand. Hearing her say she wants us tobe official, that we would be holding hands, and I could show her off in public? That was music to my ears.
I’d do anything to show off Ellie Cassidy the way she deserved.
She laughed, softly, tucking her face against my arm. Then, just when the moment had settled sweet, she shoved a handful of popcorn at my mouth. “Boyfriend or not, I’m still not sharing my popcorn equally.”
I sputtered, choking out a laugh, half the kernels falling into my lap. “You’re terrible.”
“You love it,” she shot back, grinning as wide as I’d ever seen.
And she was right. I did love it. I lovedher. Every stubborn, smart, mischievous part of her.
The movie started, colors flashing across the screen, but I barely noticed. My girl—my girlfriend—was curled against me, her hand in mine, joy radiating off her like the glow of the projector.
I placed my thumb beneath her chin and tilted her head to mine. Her eyes darted back and forth to each of my eyes as she studied me, capturing my face in her hands as I leaned in.
I kissed her, slow and sure, a promise and a thank you all in one.
Thank you for trusting me.
Thank you for giving me a chance.
Thank you for loving me.
Because I’ve loved her for practically all my life and now that I have her, there was no letting her go.
She melted into me, smiling against my lips, and I knew—this was it. The start of everything.
49
LOGAN
Weeks had passed, and things between Ellie and me had been going perfectly. We were solid. Steady. Happy. Life finally felt like it was unfolding in the right direction.
Hell, I was the luckiest damn man alive.
Having a woman like her at my side—sharp, beautiful, all heart—made everything else fade into the background. The rest of the world could go to hell, and it wouldn’t matter, not as long as I had Ellie Cassidy.
She was the spark in every dark room.
Ellie Cassidy was every cowboy’s dream. And somehow, I’d been the one she chose.
Today, I was on my way to Petal Pusher to pick her up. We were headed to the Cassidy Ranch barn for a little get-together with our friends. From what I’d heard, there was a bonfire planned—our usual kind of thing, and I had one guess as to why.
The sun was high and warm, casting everything in that golden glow that made Faircloud look like a damn postcard. The mountain range sat proud in the distance, brushed with wisps of cloud, and the air carried that sweet, earthy scent that always came before a summer night.
