Page 99 of Fall for You
Saying it aloud felt like opening a window on a hot summer day. He felt like he could finally breathe fresh air. A little laugh escaped as Ronnie gaped at him.
“But…what about your job?”
His job?
If she only knew.
He turned to look at her, blinking with a mere microsecond of thought before the words came tumbling out. Now it was his turn, he supposed. It was only fair after the way she’d opened up to him. So he found himself telling her in detail about how frustrated he’d been these past few years. The challenge was gone, and now all he had left at work were expectations. “It’s not that I hate what I do, it’s just…it’s not me anymore. It’s not who I am—it’s who my dad wants me to be.”
Ronnie watched him with clear sympathy as he struggled to find the words.
“With my ex and the job, it was like…like I was cast as a role in a movie, you know? I knew the part I was supposed to play. But it wasn’t the role of my choosing.”
She nodded slowly. “Yeah. I know that feeling. Do you think your dad would be okay with you leaving?”
He’d thought about this often, and he answered without hesitation. “I don’t think he’d like it. But he’d accept it.”
They sat in silence, each lost in thought.
“So, are you serious, then?” she finally asked. “Would you really come with me?”
It was the hope in her voice that cinched it. “Absolutely.”
She grinned and he pulled her to him, kissing her so thoroughly that they were both gasping for air when they broke apart.
Ronnie suddenly fell back against her seat with a laugh that was contagious.
“What’s so funny?”
“You. Me. This.” She laughed again, and he joined her. “How did we get here?”
He knew exactly what she meant. If anyone had told him mere weeks ago that he’d be falling hard and fast for Bailey’s summertime bestie, Ronnie Colbert, he’d never have believed it. Let alone that he’d be quitting his job and rearranging his life just to make it work.
But…here they were. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Ronnie’s eyes were still dancing with laughter as she shook her head. “I never saw you coming, Cowboy.”
He grinned. He’d never liked that nickname until right this moment. Coming from her, it sounded awfully sweet. He reached over, tugging her closer so he could give her another long kiss.
He only pulled back when he heard a car coming down the road. He looked over just in time to catch sight of Willow in the passenger seat.
Glancing at the clock on the dashboard, he raised his eyebrows. Wow, she was later than he’d expected.
And who was driving her?
He’d never seen that Jeep before.
He frowned as he squinted after the vehicle.
Then his breath caught, a vise clamping around his chest.
“Dallas?” Ronnie touched his cheek. “What is it?”
“That Jeep had a Blue Sky Lodge logo on the back,” he said slowly, his gut roiling with anger. “Who was driving my little sister home just now? Did you see him?”
“No.” Ronnie shook her head, eyeing him warily. “Who does Willow know from Blue Sky Lodge?”
With a soft growl, Dallas spat out, “It better not be Eric Spencer.”
