Page 178 of Dusty Spur Ranch Cowboys

Arizona chuckles. “She almost won.”

Red opens the cabinet, grabs a bottle of whiskey, and pours four glasses before sliding one across to her. She wraps both hands around it, warming her fingers against the glass while her eyes move from one of us to the next.

“I’ve been trying to say this since the arena.” She sucks in a sharp breath. “When Travis had me cornered, I kept wondering if I’d already used up all the chances I was ever going to get.” She glances toward the hallway. “I wasn’t thinking about another show or another town. I wanted to come home.”

Her eyes drift toward Sadie’s bedroom.

“I kept picturing that little girl waiting for us.”

Emmett lowers his head with a faint smile.

“I wanted one more morning sitting in this kitchen with terrible coffee while Willy tortured another country song.”

I grin. “Tortured’s a strong word.”

“It’s accurate.”

“I prefer ‘creatively interpreted.’”

She laughs, and hearing it eases the tightness that’s been riding my chest since the rodeo. Then she turns to Red. “I even missed you fussing over me.”

“I don’t fuss.”

The look Arizona gives him says she doesn’t believe a word of it. “You absolutely do.”

He shakes his head, but the corner of his mouth gives him away. “I worry.”

“I know.” She draws a breath before looking at all three of us. “I spent a long time believing it was easier to keep moving than stay anywhere long enough to belong.” Her fingers tighten around the whiskey glass. “I don’t believe that anymore.”

She looks toward the hallway.

“I love this ranch.” A smile touches her face. “I love that little girl asleep down the hall.” Then her eyes meet mine before moving to Emmett and finally Red. “And I love the three of you.”

Silence crashes over the table.

Red blinks like she spoke another language. Emmett’s mouth actually falls open.

I just stare at her because Arizona McCay doesn’t say things like that. She doesn’t stay. She doesn’t put down roots. She sure as hell doesn’t hand people pieces of her heart without making a joke or finding the nearest exit.

Arizona shifts in her chair under the weight of our silence and lets out a nervous laugh. “You don’t have to say anything.”

She barely gets to her feet before I catch her hand. “You really think we’d let you walk away after that?”

Her fingers tighten around mine as she searches my face.

“I fell in love with you because every day with you felt easy.” I smile. “I kept telling myself you’d leave sooner or later, so I’d take whatever time I could get.”

I bring her hand to my lips. “I don’t want borrowed time anymore.” Her breath catches. “I love you, Arizona.”

A smile spreads across her face. “I love you too.”

She slips a hand behind my neck and kisses me, soft at first, then deeper, until the fear that’s been chewing at me all night finally lets go.

When we ease apart, Emmett steps in and takes her other hand.

“I convinced myself you were passing through because that hurt less than believing you’d stay.” His thumb brushes over her knuckles. “Then this place stopped feeling like home unless you were in it.”

Her eyes glisten. “I’m here.”