Page 46 of A Gift for the Hopeful Cowboy

“I wished for you.”

Her words caught him so off guard, he lost his balance briefly as his hand slipped from the edge of the well. He couldn’t even find the strength to ask her to repeat what she said. Thankfully, she didn’t expect him to.

“After that first summer… when we made that pact…” Her cheeks flushed once more. “I spent two quarters on the boy I fell for in Montana. I wanted him to have a reason to move from Rocky Ridge to Sweet Bloom so we might have a chance to be more than just friends who enjoyed kissing a little too much.”

Pippa dropped her gaze. He was shellshocked. There was no other way to explain it. His mouth had dropped open and his heart was practically beating out of his chest. She’d wanted him even at his lowest? She’d wished to be with him back when he hadn’t deserved her one bit.

“Was there more?” He finally managed the whispered question if only to stall for time. Was it possible she’d wished for him to fall in love with her, too?

Her eyes flitted up to meet his. “I didn’t dare ask for more.”

Rob took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “Well, heck. If I had known, I would have come sooner.”

Her eyes widened, fluttering with the surprise he’d stirred. Rob grasped her chin with his finger and thumb.

“You are the most perfect woman I’ve ever had an on and off thing with.”

She choked out a watery laugh, but her eyes didn’t leave his.

He grinned. “I’ve been wrong about so many things, but I know I’m not wrong about this.” He reached into his pocket and his fingers wrapped around the change that he hadn’t bothered cleaning out. Turning, he tossed the fistful of coins into the well.

Pippa gasped, then laughed and blinked several times. “What did you do that for?”

He stared at the opening of the well for what felt like a full minute before flashing her a grin. “I guess it’s time I made my own magic.”

With that, he pulled her roughly against him, capturing her lips in one of the most sensual kisses they’d shared over the years. She gave her whole self over to him in that moment—he could feel it.

This was what it had all been for. She was worth the risk and trepidation he’d been feeling since the moment he’d arrived. Now that he knew they had a shot, he wasn’t going to squander it. They were going to end up together if he had anything to do with it—and quite possibly sooner than either one of them had planned.

Pippa had shown him how magical the world could be as long as he had the right woman by his side.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Wrapping paper littered the floor. The smell of sizzling bacon, fluffy waffles, and maple syrup clung to every surface of Lucas and Allie’s home, and Brent’s children ran amuck with their presents from their uncle and aunts. Even Molly was getting in on the fun.

But it wasn’t Pippa’s own family that had her captivated. It was the man she’d allowed herself to risk it all for. Rob stood on the far side of the room speaking with Brent about something while Pippa caught up with Allie and Jackie, who each wanted all the details from the night before.

Every few minutes, Pippa and Rob would catch one another staring. She might as well admit that she’d fallen hard for him and there was no other option for them but to get hitched. She’d waited long enough for him to come to terms with the idea of settling down. It was time to make a move like she had the other day—with Allie’s help, of course.

“You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I’m dead serious,” Pippa said. “I’m going to ask him to marry me and he’s going to have to save face by telling me yes.”

“I don’t think you understand what that term means.” Jackie chuckled. “He wouldn’t be saving face if he has to turn you down or accept your proposal. Maybe you should let him take charge.”

“Like I let him take charge over the last decade? I’m not doing that,” Pippa huffed. “I can feel it. This is the next step for both of us. I have to get him to see that.”

Allie laughed. “Then you need to drop the right kinds of hints.”

Pippa glanced at her with doubt. “What kind of hints?”

Allie rolled her eyes. “Like go wandering down the street and stop in front of the jeweler’s and point out the rings you like. It can’t get more obvious than that. I’m sure he’d love to pick you out a pretty one.”

“A pretty what?” Rob interrupted them.

All three women gasped and stared up at him, startled.

“Nothing,” Pippa blurted.

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