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I wrapped my arms around his neck while Beau pulled me against him, and the weeks of trying to figure out what would happen when the festival ended disappeared when his lips touched mine.

My phone rang inside the SUV. Neither of us moved. It stopped.

Beau lifted his head. “Are you going to get that?”

“No.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

He kissed me again. The phone rang a second time. I laughed against his mouth. “That one might be Lauren.”

“I still hate your phone.”

“I know.”

I kissed him once more before pulling away.

Lauren had left a voicemail. I played it on speaker.

“We can make Montana your home base. Two travel weeks a month maximum unless you approve more. You’ll lose the travel premium, but the lead title stays. Call me.”

I looked at Beau. He smiled. Not because I was staying for him. Because I’d asked for what I wanted.

I called Lauren back before I could overthink it. When I ended the call, I slipped my phone into my pocket.

Beau reached for me. “I love you.”

I looked up at him, my heart almost too full to speak. “I love you too.”

His hand slid around the back of my neck, and he kissed me.

Then Beau took me inside.

His kitchen looked exactly the way I’d left it. One of my coffee mugs sat in the drying rack, and my handwriting covered a notepad near the refrigerator. That was evidence that I’d been fitting myself into his life without admitting I wanted to stay in it.

Beau closed the door behind us.

I turned. “Now what?”

His gaze moved over me. “You’re the planner.”

“I am.”

“Then make one.”

I stepped closer and hooked my fingers through his belt loops. “First, take off your shirt.”

A smile slowly spread across his lips. “There she is.”

This time, when he kissed me, neither of us had anywhere else to be. He didn’t bother with the buttons. He reached behind his neck, pulled his shirt off one-handed, and dropped it on the kitchen floor.

Two weeks ago, I’d stood in a dirt staging area and asked a total stranger to do exactly that. He’d refused. Now he stood in his own kitchen with the morning sun coming through the window, and I got to look as long as I wanted. I took my time.

“Are you planning on saying anything?” he asked.

“I’m reviewing. It’s step one. I like to be thorough.” I flattened my palm against his chest. His heart was beating a lot harder than his face let on. “Step two is you kiss me.”