Page 111 of Forever To Me

She grins. "And we’re bringing disguises that don’t make us look like raccoons committing tax fraud."

I shake my head, still chuckling. "Noted. I’ll handle the getaway car. You handle not face-planting."

She groans. "One bush! I tripped over one bush!"

"It looked like an aggressive bush," I deadpan. "Jumped out of nowhere."

She throws her hands in the air. "Exactly!"

I smirk, arms crossed, and I chuckle as I walk her to her car. She slides into the driver's seat, Rip jumping in beside her.

My chest feels tight. My head’s a mess.

She rolls down the window, and I rest my forearms against the door. “Night, Red,” I murmur.

Her gaze meets mine. Soft. Searching. “Night, Walker.”

She pulls away, taillights glowing red in the dark. And I stand there long after she’s gone, the night air cool against my skin.

Because I just told Violet Wilson she’s stuck with me.

And for the first time in years… I hope like hell she believes it and sticks around.

She heads home, and I finish things up at the bar, getting it ready for tomorrow.When I pull in a little later, I notice a light on in the barn. I catch Violet in there, talking to Maximus like he’s her therapist, looking so at home in my world that it messes with my head.

So, of course, I do the dumbest thing possible. I saddle up the horses and tell her, "Come on. Let's go on a middle of the night ride."

And now? Now, she’s riding next to me, hair spilling loose from whatever mess of a bun she had it in, my hoodie drowning her frame, and I have no clue how to handle any of this.

We stop at the ridge overlooking the house, the glow of the stars twinkling in the sky.

Violet exhales, taking it all in. “Wow.”

I’m not looking at the view, I’m looking at her. At the way the big, beautiful moon lights up her face, the tension in her shoulders easing like this is the first time she’s breathed all day. The silvery light touching her face, highlighting her soft skin, makes her look like she came straight out of a fairy tale.

She catches me staring. “What?” she asks, voice quieter than before.

I shake my head. “Nothing.”

She smirks, tilting her head. “You’re a terrible liar, you know.”

I huff out a quiet laugh. And now, somehow, she’s looking at me the way I’ve been trying not to look at her.

Like something is about to happen.

Like she’s waiting.

Like maybe I don’t have to hold back anymore.

I should move. I should say something to break this ridiculous tension. Instead, I just sit there, watching her, my eyes flickering down to her lips before I can stop myself. She shifts as she feels it, too.

“Walker…”

I lean in. Just barely. Her breath catches. And right when I think she’s gonna meet me halfway, Maximus snorts loud enough to shake the damn earth.

I jerk back, cursing under my breath.

Violet lets out a laugh, pressing a hand to her chest. “Wow. Thought that was about to be a moment.”

---