Page 159 of Colt

“Speaking of—I’d appreciate it if you didn’t shoot me down.”

“Uh-oh.” Her eyes search mine. “This sounds serious.”

“It is. Because I’m seriously obsessed with you, and I want…” I clear my throat. “It’s not right to ask you to stay, ’cause I know you got big dreams you wanna chase. I’m not gonna be the one to hold you back. But I wanna make you mine, honey. For real. I don’t know how it’d work or what it’d look like, but I’m in. Try with me. Please.”

Her eyelashes flutter as her eyes fill with tears. My heart plunges into a bucket of ice.

Shit, I came on too strong. I asked for too much⁠—

“Yes.” She breathes the word into my mouth a split second before she kisses me. “Oh, Colt, I was hoping you’d ask. Yes. Yes. Yes.”

CHAPTER 31

Man to Man

COLT

“So what’d you wanna talk about?”

I yank my brows together and let out a scoff as I glance over at my son, who’s riding Little Brother beside me. “What makes you think⁠—”

“Dad, it’s Saturday. You let me skip soccer to ride with you. You wanna talk to me about something, I know it. Is it about Lainey?”

I blink. Yes, the sun is strong this time of day. But it’s my son’s perceptiveness that’s got my eyes doing funny things right now.

Maybe I’ve learned to pay attention from him. I wasn’t exactly perceptive when I was with Abby. Then again, I was young. I know better now.

At least I hope I know better, ’cause I wanna be better.

Threading Big Brother’s reins through the fingers of one hand, I put my other hand on my thigh. December brought with it beautiful weather: The heat and humidity of October are gone, replaced by temperatures that are actually enjoyable and a crisp breeze.

I suck in a lungful of cool, clean air and glance up at the sky. It’s clear and very blue, a beautiful contrast to the greens and browns of the Hill Country below. The pasture we’re riding through undulates into the distance as far as the eye can see, a series of canyons and crests I know like the back of my hand.

As I look at it, my heart feels tender and swollen. I feel like I’m too biased to weigh in on Lainey’s decision to make a home here or not. I really do want her to chase her dreams. She’s so talented. Smart. Creative. Last thing I want to do is smother her or hold her back by “keeping” her in a small town like Hartsville.

But when I’m out here on the land, it doesn’t feel small. And Lainey did say the ranch was inspiring. Could she spread her wings and set down roots at the same time? Is it even right to ask that of her?

Fact is, though, I did ask her. And she said yes. And now we just have to figure out a way to make that idea a reality, which means I have to run it by my son first.

“It is about Lainey,” I say to Dean.

His face creases into the toothiest, happiest smile I think I’ve ever seen on him. “Is she your girlfriend now? I hope she’s your girlfriend, because then she can come live with us and build LEGO sets with me forever.”

I’m laughing now, quickly wiping a tear or two of relief from my eyes with the back of my hand. “She is my girlfriend. And I hope she’ll be sticking around to build LEGO sets with us.” I pause. “Wait. How do you even know what a girlfriend is?”

“Aunt Billie is Ryder’s girlfriend now,” Dean says with a shrug. “I asked her what it meant, and she told me.”

I hold the reins in a death grip. I’m over their betrayal, but God knows what my sister said about relationships. “What did she tell you?”

“That boyfriends and girlfriends are best friends and like each other very much. But sometimes they kiss, which is gross.”

I smile. I can’t wait to tell Lainey about this conversation. She’ll get a good laugh out of it.

Well done, Billie.

“Totally gross.”

“But otherwise, it sounds pretty cool. Having a girlfriend, I mean.” Dean squints up at me. “Does that mean Lainey is gonna stay with us? Like at our house?”