Page 22 of Stranded with a Bossy Rancher

She shakes her head. “No, I think I’d like to stay here, if that’s okay.”

I nod and help her into bed, pulling the cover up to her shoulders. “I’ll be right back.”

I walk out of the room and jog down to my office. After opening the safe on the wall and extracting the paper I’m looking for,I walk back upstairs, hoping this doesn’t freak her out. I can’t blame her if it does.

When I walk back into the room, she’s lying with her hands folded on top of the covers. I stop next to the bed and hold the paper out to her. “Here you go. I’ll go downstairs and let you rest so—”

She sits up and grabs my hand. “No! Please… I’m sorry, Elliott… can you stay?”

I nod because I know I can’t deny her anything.

I move over to the chair and sit down in it. All I want to do is climb into bed next to her and hold her, but I don’t have that right. Not after she tried to leave me. I’ll never forget that feeling when I got back to the empty house and found the letter she left me. All it said wasI’m sorry. Thanks for everything but I have to leave.

I drove like a crazy man to find her and stop her, but everything changed when I saw her car sitting there in front of where the bridge once stood. I’ll never get that image out of my head.

Even now, knowing she wants to leave me, I’ll do anything to get her to stay.

I sit in the chair with my elbows on my knees, and she holds the piece of paper up. “Can I read this now?”

I nod. Fuck, here we go. If she runs out of here screaming, I can’t say I blame her.

She lifts the paper up and starts to read. I watch her for any change of her impression, but it’s not the one I was expecting. She seems shocked.

“Bear?”

“Yeah?”

She holds up the paper. “When did you do this?”

I jut my chin at her. “I started it when I met you that first day at the Feed Haven. Even then, I knew there was something special about you, and well, I’ve added to it since then.”

She points at the paper. “And this last line… when did you add this?”

I don’t have to ask her what it says because I remember exactly what it says. “This morning.”

She stares down at the paper in her hands and then back at me. “Is this for real?”

I’m still not sure what she’s thinking, so I force myself to stay put. “Yeah, it’s for real.”

Her eyes widen, and then she looks back down at the paper and starts to read it again, but out loud this time.

List for Camille

I want all her smiles and I’ll do any and everything to get them.

Touch her and not just when she hands me my bag or my change.

Hold her hand through town and show the world she’s mine.

I want her to look at me the way she looks at a piece of chocolate cake.

Show her my ranch and hope she likes it.

Sit on the porch with her in my arms.

Kiss her perfect lips.

Take a shower with her.

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