Page 42 of That Kiss

But I don’t just want to do fun. I don’t want hookups. I want it all with her.

“She’s gone?” Ranger asks as we look out over the pasture from our horses.

“Yup.”

“Damn,” he shakes his head, “and nobody knows about her, other than me?”

“And Juniper.”

“Shit, Juney. So now that Camilla has gone back to Texas, are you two a couple or . . . ?”

“She basically wants nothing to do with me, so I’m not even sure if we’re friends anymore.”

“Oh, come on,” he laughs, “it’s Juney we’re talking about. She can’t hold a grudge. She’ll be hanging on you in no time.”

I don’t tell him I’m worried I’ve burned that bridge beyond repair. Not just because I wasn’t man enough to tell her from the jump that I wanted more with her, but because she sees me like everyone else now: a playboy who only wanted her for a good time.

“Hopefully. Only this time, I won’t screw it up.”

“It’s the real deal? Love and all that?” Ranger gives me the biggest grin.

“Yeah, I think it is . . . fuck, I know it is, for me anyway.”

“Can I take a moment to say I told you so?”

I know that the second I get the chance, I’m going to apologize to Juniper and tell her exactly how I feel. But the challenge will be getting her to even look at me. I pull out my phone and send her a text.

Me: I’m picking you up from work. We need to talk.

When I pull into the garage parking lot several hours later, I see a few remaining cars in the parking lot, but no sign of Juniper’s Subaru. I get out and walk around, glancing into the office that’s already closed. It’s just after 6, and seeing as how they close right around now, I figured I’d catch her before she left. I jump back in my truck, pulling out and making the drive over to her house. She’s not going to avoid me this easily.

“Evening, Decker. To what do I owe the pleasure, Son?”

My hand is still lifted in a knocking position, Ron swinging the door open before I even get the chance.

Well, fuck, there goes that plan.

“Hey, Mr. Riley. How was your trip?”

“Oh, just fantastic. Come on in and I’ll show you some pictures.” I’m not about to tell him the real reason I came by, or that I had no idea he and his wife had returned home. I want to tell him I’m in love with his daughter, but I can only imagine how that would go down if I told him before telling her.

“Wow, that is incredible.” I swipe through each photo on the iPad, each more breathtaking than the last.

“Yeah, Mary and I loved every second of it, but I gotta say, there really is no place like home. I’m sure you know that better than anyone now that you’re moved back from Texas. Happy to be here?”

“I am. It’s good to be back with family and friends.”

“I was surprised you didn’t end up coming home with a wife.” He laughs. “I think your dad was hoping you’d meet some nice woman and settle down.”

“Yeah, he’s been saying that to me recently too. I told him in due time—no need to rush it.”

Ron laughs. “You’re right there. But I will say, when you do find the right one, hold on to her. And don’t sweat finding her. Trust me, when you’ve found the right one, you’ll know.” He points to his heart. “It’s a feeling, Son. One your father and I both experienced when we met our wives.”

After chatting with Ron for an hour and checking my phone on the sly for any response from Juniper, I decide to head out to try to find her. I only make it to one stop: the bar where I know she loves to line dance on Thursday nights.

Sure enough, she’s there. Dancing, laughing, throwing her head back as she twists and turns around the dance floor. She doesn’t see me walk in, so I walk to the back, leaning against the wall as I watch her. For a second, I question everything: Should I be doing this? She looks happy without me. Maybe she’s right about everything.

But then when she turns fully toward me and my eyes catch hers, I see it. I don’t know what it is or how to put it into words, but something is exchanged between us the second she spots me. I don’t lose eye contact as I walk toward her. She tries to continue with the dance, but she stumbles, catching herself just as I reach her.

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