Page 40 of The Bull Rider & the Wedding Planner

He lowered his head and kissed the moisture on her cheek. She sucked in a breath and clung to him. He longed to kiss her lips, but he wanted her to be ready, wanted to heal her and prove he would be here for her. Not just steal a kiss when she wasn’t ready.

Easton Coleville had officially left not taking anything serious,pretending to be a playboy while being broken inside, and teenage lingo behind. He was a hundred percent Cassie’s devoted man now, and that was the only title he cared about. Until he could be her husband and Presley’s dad.

“Do you hate me?” she asked.

“Hate you?” Easton shook his head, befuddled she could even think of that question. “Cass. There isn’t a world where I could hate you. Even when I was broken, angry, and longing for you, I only loved you.”

She smiled. It looked watery. Was she going to cry again? He didn’t mind. He’d hold her and let her cry all night if she wanted.

“I just can’t believe all that pain could’ve been avoided if I would’ve just done some research, slowed down and talked things through with you. I can’t wrap my mind around it.”

“I understand.” He felt the same regrets. “I wish we could change it all, but I don’t blame you, Cass.”

“You’re amazing,” she proclaimed.

“Now that I know.” He grinned.

She laughed.

“My sweet but sassy Cass.” His gaze trailed over her beautiful face, focusing on her teal-blue eyes. “Please don’t blame yourself. It was a misunderstanding that escalated. It was nobody’s fault. I shouldn’t have come in so hot at that wedding and knocked Baxter down.” He shrugged. “Actually, I really liked that part. But I should’ve slowed down and figured out how to talk it all through with you, not made a scene and stormed off.”

“My tough but beautiful Easton,” she said, smiling at him. “Please don’t blame yourself.”

He chuckled.

“Maybe we both had to go through all these hard times so we would appreciate each other even more,” she said softly, as if testing the words. “When I left Coleville ten years ago it broke me to leave you, but I didn’t want to come back and I despaired that you’d never want to leave. I didn’t know how we’d ever end up together and it gouged at me.”

Easton nodded. He’d had the same worries, not sure how to reconcile leaving his family and his town and his life but never wanting to be permanently without Cassie.

“Now I love being here. I have succeeded at my wedding planning, but that’s not my top dream anymore. You are. You and Presley and your family.” She bit her lip and looked more enticing than ever.

“Cassie Johnston, are you proposing to me?” All of his dreams were coming together. God had blessed that broken road that led him to be here for Cassie, to grow and be the man she and Presley needed.

“No.” She smiled impishly. “My cowboy love is too manly not to woo me with the most beautiful proposal ever. When the time is right.”

Easton grinned. He thought the time was right now, but he’d do the thing right, find the most beautiful engagement ring, and knock her off her feet with his proposal. Could he use the song “Take my hand”?

“I’ll wait a few days on that one.” He winked. “But I think the time is right for …” He dipped his head toward hers, grateful for the healing they’d found tonight and the hope in the future and anxious to kiss her for a very long time.

“Hold that thought,” she whispered, moving slightly out of his reach.

“What?”

He blinked in confusion as she jumped to her feet, tossed a flirtatious wink at him, and then ran up the stairs.

Easton was dizzy. He leaned against the couch, wanting her in his arms, wishing she’d hurry back.

Everything was healed between them. He hoped.

He was so in love with her. He prayed in gratitude and hope for their future.

Chapter

Fourteen

Cassie rushedup the stairs and into the bathroom. Though it hurt to realize how much pain could’ve been avoided the past six years, she knew Easton was right; they had to let it go. They’d both learned and would appreciate each other even more. She had Presley and she’d never change that for the world, no matter what she’d missed out on with Easton or the nightmare of being married to Baxter.

She blew her nose, brushed her teeth, and sprayed on some Spring Poppies body splash. She looked at herself in the mirror and grinned. Presley made her happy every day, but she hadn’t felt this rush of excitement and heady desire combined with love for the most enticing cowboy on the planet in years. Not since the last time she felt it with Easton.

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