Page 116 of We Redeemed the Rain

“Sorry.” I murmured, still smiling but trying not to. How could I not feel wonderful? The tips of my fretting fingers burned—a tingling reminder that I’d found a missing part of me.

Glory was still smooshed against my chest, and nosy Tillie nudged Tag in the back.

“When you didn’t come to the kitchen this morning…I have been lookin’ for you all over the ranch. I almost called the cops.” He huffed a breath as his fingers tightened protectively around my knee. “What’re you doin’ out here?”

“The storm woke me up.” I blinked, aware of how tense and upset he looked. “I heard her banging around out here and just came to check on her, then I played, and I guess I fell asleep. I’m so sorry.”

He swiped a hand over his chin. “You shouldn’t be wanderin’around in the middle of the night.” He took a shuddering breath. “I’d never forgive myself if something bad…” He cussed, not meeting my gaze. “Next time, if you hear something, come get me. That way, I can make sure you’re safe.”

“Okay.”

He stayed there beside me for a couple moments then asked, “Did she like it?”

“What? My playing?”

He nodded.

“Yeah. She calmed down.” I swallowed, lost in his stormy gray eyes. “I played her all the songs I played for you.”

“What songs?”

“That night.” I lifted my eyes toward the ceiling fan, indicating the loft. “The songs I played you.”

His jaw ticked. “I remember all of them.”

“Me too. I told her they were the songs you liked.”

That made him breathe a soft laugh. “American Pie.”

I frowned. “That’s a really weird song to play on guitar.”

“It’s a weird song in general.”

I blurted the question before I could stop myself. “Did you name your horses after me?”

He tipped his head, the rim of his hat helping him hide his face.

“Tell me.” I bumped him with my knee.

When he looked back, what I saw in his eyes stole the oxygen from my lungs—tenderness, longing, honesty.

“Yes. I did.”

“American Pie?”

He nodded.

The next question caught in my throat. “And—and Sprinkles?”

His hand softened on my knee, his thumb gently swiping the top of it. He whispered, “Especially Sprinkles.”

The emotions his confession drummed up made my voice shake. I whispered too. “That’s sosospecial. Thank you.”

He only smiled. “How did playin’ feel?”

Excited to tell him all about it, I pushed out of my slouchy position,bracing Glory on my lap. Instinctively, Tag took her from me and propped her against the wall. Only when his eyes traveled down the front of my body did I realize how naked I felt. Yes, I was wearing pajamas, but they were silk and kind of thin, and I wasn’t wearing a bra. I never did at night. I hadn’t planned to be discovered half-naked on a search and rescue.

His gaze snagged for a beat, then another, drinking me in. Then, like it was heavy, he slowly dragged his gaze back to my face—his expression tortured, his jaw clenching.

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