Page 45 of The First Day of Breeding Season
“It’s too much,” I whisper.
“What do you mean?”
“Everything is happening too quickly, it makes my head spin.”
He gently tips my head back, his thumb tracing my jaw as he looks at my face in concern. “You sure that’s not a head injury?”
I laugh.
And then he smiles, those little lines crinkling, and my heart goes whoosh.
“Don’t make a joke,” I mutter.
“But you like it when I smile,” he says softly. “And laughing feels like a good way to hit pause. We don’t have to go fast.”
I know. He already said that, at the waterfall. When he kissed my ankle—but then everything escalated anyway.
My heart is bouncing around like my chest is a pinball machine. And I was never any good at games like that.
“I should have told you as soon as I saw the letter.” He kisses my forehead. “I should have brought it to you and said,I think there’s something personal and private in this. I’m sorry I didn’t do that.”
“I would have been mortified.”
“And then we would have pushed past that. Instead, I’ve ruined what was an absolutely magical day.”
I shake my head. “It’s not ruined.”
He exhales so loudly, it’s almost like the word relief dances around him. “Yeah?”
I nod hesitantly and burrow deeper into his chest. His arms are the only solid thing in my world right now. His hands run up and down my back, slow and steady.
“I hate secrets,” he says after a bit. “Hate them. Always have. My father was the king of secrets, and he didn’t care who it hurt, as long as he didn’t need to face the consequences of his actions. I’ll never be that kind of man, Brynn. I will always stand tall for you, I promise.”
I pull back enough to see his face. His jaw is tight, but his gaze is soft and unwavering. I nod. “I believe you.”
“And I will always chase after you.” He touches my cheek with a reverence that makes me feel light as air again. “I don’t want you to think for one more second that I don’t want you here, that I don’tneedyou. That I won’t do anything and everything to make things right.”
My chest aches.
“Don’t let go,” I whisper.
His arms tighten around me again. “Never.”
Instead of climbing back up to the campsite, Drew takes my hand in his and suggests we go check on Thor, who’s not that far below us.
My clever cowboy can hear his bull making his way through the wooded meadow, apparently.
I trust him.
I trust him with my whole heart, I realize with startling clarity as he rubs my knuckles with his thumb. The fear that blazed through me when he revealed that he knew I wanted a baby sooner than later has simmered down to a bright, hot excitement.
“I want to tell you about something else,” I say.
His hand tightens around mine. “Is this about yourFive Year Planbinder?”
“How do you know about that, too?” But this time I’m just exasperated, not upset. I shake my head as we stop walking.
He chuckles and tucks me into his arms, kissing me softly on the mouth. “I’m observant. And your backpack was open.”
