Page 105 of The Cowboy Who Worked Late

She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “My boyfriend has been telling me how amazing equine therapy is for the past few months, and I thought it was time I checked it out for myself.”

Henry laughed, so much joy pouring through him. All the angst and worry and work that he’d done in the past several days had culminated into this moment of pure joy.

He looked at Angel and said, “I love you,” then matched his mouth to hers and kissed her.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Angel wanted to address what Henry just said, because those three words in that specific order meant a great deal to her. She had a hard time expressing them to other people. While her momma, daddy, and Trevor told her they loved her all the time, sometimes Angel didn’t feel very lovable.

Henry kissed her though, and she didn’t want to stop that. She kissed him back, hoping that she could say those three little words through actions. Perhaps he would get the message without her having to use her voice. At the same time, she needed to use her voice; shewantedto use her voice. He needed to hear her voice.

He pulled away, and they breathed in together. “I’m sorry I’m taking your therapy time.”

“That’s what you’re sorry about?” she asked.

Henry opened his eyes and looked at her. Angel smiled softly at him. “I want you to have as much time here with your family as you need. But I also wanted you to know that I’m hearing you, Henry.”

“I know that,” he said.

“No, I don’t think you do,” she said. “Equine therapy is important to you, and I’ve dismissed it for months. Us gettingup on that platform and telling everyone we’re together is important to you, and I’ve put it off and put it off. I know you’re frustrated.”

She stepped away from him and tucked her hands in her back pockets. She faced the wall-to-wall window that looked out into the arena. “I’m frustrated too. And I want you to know that the very first roll call you’re back, we’re going to stand on that platform together. It doesn’t matter if we have a plan.”

She threw him a dirty look like he’d been the one to postpone the announcement until they had a plan. But that had been all Angel, and they both knew it.

“I don’t care, Angel,” he said.

“You do,” she said. “And it’s fine that you do. I guess me coming here today is….” She trailed off, trying to find the right words. “Well, one, it’s selfish. I miss you and I want to see you. But two, it’s to let you know that what you say is important to me. And what’s important to you is also important to me, even if I don’t understand it in the beginning.”

He approached Angel, and her body tingled in anticipation of being touched by him. He slid his hand around her waist, barely touching her until his hand rested on her opposite hip. She leaned into him, enjoying his warmth, his strength, and his height.

“I should warn you,” she said. “Levi’s bringing Trevor in half an hour. It’s really his appointment.”

“Hm…so why did you come early?”

She bumped him with her hip. “Maybe to hear you say you love me.”

Henry cleared his throat. The air in the waiting room turned tense and thick. “I mean,” he started. “I’m not gonna take it back, but it wasn’t exactly how I…maybe it wasn’t exactly how I wanted to say it the first time.”

“How long have you wanted to say it?” she asked.

“Not long,” he hedged.

“Probably not as long as me,” Angel said.

“Yeah, except you haven’t actually said it.”

Angel turned toward him, running her hands up his chest and fisting his collar in her fingers. “When you told me you were looking into the future and that you could see us together, I started doing the same thing—looking into the future.”

“Mm hm.” He brushed her hair back, which caused a sensation to dance along her skin where he touched.

“And I could see us, Henry, me and you, together. And you know what? You were right. It’s not at Lone Star.”

Henry blinked a couple of times and then closed his eyes.

“I want to build a life with you,” Angel said. “I want to talk about marriage and what you want and what I want, and I want to talk about kids, and I want to talk about where we’ll live. And I want to talk about how Lone Star fits into all of that, because if it doesn’t fit, Henry, I’m willing to let it go.”

His eyes shot open, and “No,” burst out of his mouth. “No, we’re not letting Lone Star go.” He searched her face almost frantically. “Why would you think you need to give up Lone Star? I’m not asking you to do that. I wouldneverask you to do that.”

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