Page 94 of Lead Me Knot

“Oh God.” I squeeze the glass in my hand, bracing myself. “What now?”

“I was going to tell you tonight.”

Setting the glass down, I throw out my arms in defeat. “Now’s as good a time as ever.”

“I was going to surprise you, but I think it’s best if I don’t.” I wait eagerly but try to act casual like I’m unshakable at this point. “There’s a piece of property, the one we stopped at that time when Deputy McCall pulled up behind us.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I ask, “Have you already purchased it?”

“No. I wanted your thoughts on it first since it would be yours as well.”

I want to hate him, but I can’t. “What do you mean as well?”

“You’re my wife,” he says, his voice low and quieter as if I’m sentencing him to a hard judgment. Life sentence might work better. Till death do us part. We didn’t say those vows, but it was in my heart. I’m not giving up on him either. “I want to know where you’d be happiest. Any house you want, I’ll build on the land. If you don’t like that property?—”

“I love that property. It’s beautiful. Peaceful. It’s closer to the ranch and not far from the shop.”

“Less than five miles from Peaches.” He looks shy under the confession. “I checked it the last time I was in town.”

How? Why?“You did that before we were married?”

“Before you came to New York.”

My heart isn’t a traitor when it starts racing for him. It knows where it belongs. “You were planning our future together before we even knew we had one.” I’ve been so blind to the lengths he’s been taking for us, placing the pieces carefully down before each step we take. And here I was just enjoying the incredible sex.

“I knew, Shortcake. I knew all along. I was just waiting for you to catch up.”

My throat thickens when I tear up. I laugh, wiping at the corner of my eye, almost embarrassed. “I’m surprised I have any tears left.”

“Are they sad?” The worry in his tone has me coming around the counter.

“No.” I need to be close to him. If not in his arms, in his personal space. Reaching forward, his hand meets mine in the middle. “They’re happy.” Why am I wasting time when I know how I want this to end?Screw it.I throw my arms around his middle and embrace him with all that I am. Resting my cheek on his chest, hearing his heart beating just for me, I’m grateful to have this chance. I’m not going to lose it.

His arms are strong, holding me like he was never going to have the opportunity again. Placing a kiss on my head, he whispers, “I’m sorry. I’ll never hurt you again.”

The pain that was raw, the wounds that I had, start healing from those simple words. Tilting up to look into his eyes, I say, “I forgive you on three conditions.”

“Three? Give ’em to me.”

“No more secrets. No more surprises.” I rest my hand on his chest, and add, “What’s mine is yours?—”

“And everything I have is yours to own, including my heart, baby. I’ll never let you down again.”

Looking into those blue eyes I adore, I believe him.

“Wait,” I say, “I have one more condition.”

“Anything.”

“No more hiding we’re together.”

His right cheek pops into a smirk, and he rubs his thumb over his bottom lip and then mine. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for this.”

I laugh again, the feeling inspiring easier breathing and my body to relax. “And by whole life, you mean last Friday?”

“No, I mean since my mom showed me the photo of you as Miss Peach Festival. You were the most beautiful womanI’d ever seen. And I’d been to college, so that’s saying something.” His eyes light up as if he has too much to tell me and not enough time.

I can’t restrain my own grin from growing. “That sure is saying something. I guess we can say that your mom knew all along.”

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