Page 85 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

Cole tenderly cupped her chin, tipping her face upward so she’d look at him. “I love you, Jackie.”

“Wha-what?” She swallowed hard, blinking. Her voice was hoarse, as if she’d been hiking through the desert for days without water.

“I love you.” He was smiling, amusement dancing in his eyes.

Yes, she thought she’d heard that part correctly.

“You do?”

“I do. Will you move in with me?”

“That’s really… That’s fast. Sudden. I mean, we broke up. This whole fake thing… we really need to end that because I’m getting very confused.” She broke from his loose grip, her brain refusing to catch up with what Cole might be saying, meaning.

“I stopped pretending a long time ago, Jackie. I’m not sure when exactly, but I think it might have been the day we fixed your bumper.”

“Valentine’s Day? You fell in love with me on Valentine’s Day?”

“Don’t look so frantic.” He chuckled, but she could see he was freaking out inside at the way she was having issues getting a grip on herself.

“You’re sure?”

“Jackie.” Cole snagged her hand and drew her close, his proximity settling her. “I love you. I want to help you and make you happy. I want to solve your problems and cause you new ones.”

“What? Why?”

“Just making sure you’re listening.”

She smacked his chest, feeling her concerns and worries ebb like the sea at low tide.

“Jackie, will you be my not-fake girlfriend?”

She felt the weight of the world lift from her shoulders, realizing that in this moment she might actually have it all. Everything she wanted. And more.

It was even sweeter than she’d dreamed it would be.

“I’d like to keep you for longer than the end of May. Would that be okay with you?”

Jackie inhaled, allowing all her hope and happiness to unfold and put her back together again. And love. Lots of love.

“Cole, it would be my pleasure to help keep you happily committed to one woman for a very long time. Like, so long it’ll scare the both of us.”

“How about forever?” he asked, scooping her up in a hug that lifted her feet off the ground.

She laughed, her heart feeling free. “That sounds like a good start. When shall I move in?”

“Tomorrow. Tonight.”

“So soon?”

“Jackie,” Cole said, suddenly serious. He set her down on her feet again. “I don’t want to spend another minute without you.”

“Oh.”

He dropped to one knee. “I don’t have a ring yet, but will you marry me?”

She laughed, covering her mouth, knowing she was gaping.

Cole.

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