Page 56 of Cowgirls Love French Kisses
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CHAPTER22
Epilogue
MATHIEU
A waveof heat envelops me like nothing I've experienced before. The plane’s engines are still slowing down as I'm struck by the intensity of the Texas sun in June. The air feels thicker here, charged with energy and exhaustion from the eleven-hour Paris to Houston flight. But that might just be me.
I pause, adjusting my slightly crumpled linen shirt that seemed like a good idea on the flight but now clings to my skin. I can already feel a bead of sweat trickling down my back, and I'm suddenly conscious of my decision to wear a light scarf.
“Maybe not the wisest choice, Mathieu,” I mutter to myself as I stuff it in my pocket.
My pocket.
I quickly unzip and rummage around the pocket of my hiking pants, and there it is.
Phew.
Now to find the exit. The airport is a bustling hub of activity, and with people as varied as the rainbow is colorful. An airport staff member, a tall man with a Stetson hat that looks foreign when worn with a uniform, but all things are different in Texas. That’s what Annie said, and she was right.
"Excuse me, sir, could you kindly direct me to the... uh, howdy area?" They probably don’t call it that.
The man raises an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on his lips. "You mean the arrivals area?" he asks, his accent a melodious drawl as he points. “Right over there, son.”
"Merci," my cheeks feel extra warm. "Thank you."
The second I turn, I see her. My Annie. She's leaning against a pillar, dressed in a summer dress that flutters slightly in the breeze from the air conditioning. Her hair is tied back in a loose ponytail, and she's wearing those cowboy boots she loves so much.
It doesn’t matter that two months have gone by. At this moment, I can’t tell if it feels more like two years or two minutes. All I know is that I need her in my arms.Now.
She catches my eye and a wide, radiant smile spreads across her face. My feet can’t carry me fast enough, though I try to control myself. I quicken my pace, my heart pounding and palms sweating because all I’ve been thinking of is holding her again.
"Hey there, cowboy," she teases as I approach, her eyes dancing with amusement, probably at my sticky shirt.
She steps closer, and I'm immediately captivated by her familiar scent—a mix of wildflowers and something uniquely Annie. Her arms wrap around my neck, and I'm overwhelmed by the feeling of finally being here, with her, in her world. Her lips on mine is a reunion of souls, a mingling of Parisian charm and Texan warmth. She’s soft and inviting, and I pour every ounce of my longing and love into the kiss.
It's a kiss that is full of everything I hope for this trip. The beginning of the rest of our lives.
But I can’t tell her that. Not yet.
As we pull apart, Annie's cheeks are flushed, and there's a sparkle in her eyes that tells me she's just as moved by our reunion as I am.
"Welcome to Texas, Mathieu," she says, her voice filled with affection.
“Merci, ma belle.”
“So,” she smiles sideways, swinging my hand as we head toward the exit. “Thehowdyarea?”
