Page 258 of Mountain Boss

Just like he insisted on tying my boot laces.

And making me breakfast.

And holding me in his arms all night.

I don’t need him to baby me like he is, but I think he needs it.

Even when I told him I’d taken some of my things to the Laundry Cabin, he just kissed me and told me he understood.

Then he told me he’d be moving everything back into his house today.

I really am obsessed with this man.

I squeeze his fingers.

He squeezes my fingers back, and we walk in silence.

Past the lake.

Up a hill.

Through more woods.

Until we end up in a clearing.

It’s beautiful.

The big blue sky.

The gentle slope of land…

“I don’t have a ring yet.” Sterling’s words have my feet stopping.

I look up at him, heart pounding. “What?”

He turns to face me, taking both my hands in his. “I don’t have a ring yet, Courtney Kern. But I’ll get one. Because I want you to stay with me. Now. Forever. Into the mystery that happens after this life.” He rubs his thumbs across the sensitive skin of my wrists. “I should have talked to you about all of this sooner. When I knew…” I watch his throat work. “When I knew I loved you, I should have told you.”

Brightness erupts behind my ribs. “You…”

The side of his mouth pulls up. “I love you.”

A part of me knew it. So much of me felt it.

But to hear him say it.

“I love you too.” It comes out quietly, too choked with emotion to be loud.

“Good.” He lifts one of my hands and presses it to his chest.

I flatten my palm over his heart as he lets go to brush his thumb over my cheek.

Then, carefully, to avoid my bandages, he moves his hand to the back of my neck.

“I want to build a home here with you.” His eyes move to the side, looking at the land around us. “I’ve thought about it over the years. Figured I might someday. But I want that day to be now. And I want it to be with you.” He looks back down, gaze on mine. “You can work at my side. You can find something else to do. You can change your mind a thousand times. Whatever it is, we can find your passion together.”

A sob bursts out of me.

Because I believe him.

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