Page 2 of A Triple C Ranch Christmas Wedding
“Good,” Jack said.
He didn’t realize his knee had been bouncing up and down, until Hank looked pointedly at it and said, “The sooner you ask her, the sooner you’ll get over that case of nerves.”
Jack forced his knee to be still and raised his eyebrows. “What nerves? I’m cool.”
“Right,” Hank said with a knowing smile.
* * *
Lucy wished her boyfriend, Jack “Gunny”Barr, wasn’t leaving again so soon. She never called him “Gunny” unless they were with the men of the Brotherhood Protectors, because she much preferred calling him Jack. And he didn’t care which name she used.
Tall, with dark hair and brown eyes, which made her feel all warm and gooey inside when he looked at her a certain way, Jack was her dream man in every way.
Who would have guessed when I came to Montana with my boss, to hide from that crazy stalker, that I would meet the love of my life?
She looked up into those eyes and smiled clear down to her bones.
It was always a good evening when Jack was near.
“Let’s go for a walk,” Jack said. “Gaze at those stars you like so much.”
She giggled.
Every time he took her outside at night to gaze at the stars, he ended up kissing her before they were done. “I’d love to,” she said.
One of her favorite things in the world was going stargazing with him. But even better was the kissing. She smiled, keeping her thoughts to herself.
Here in Montana, the night sky was clear when the clouds moved past, and you could see all the stars—unlike outside her apartment back in L.A., where smog and light pollution got in the way. That place had been the worst she’d ever lived when it came to seeing the stars.
Since leaving L.A., she’d enjoyed an extended stay in a hotel in Bozeman while working on getting her jewelry business off the ground there. She’d moved to be near Jack, who lived in a small apartment in Bozeman, and she loved Montana, especially the night sky there.
The stars would be especially pretty tonight.
He grabbed both their coats from the chair, helped her into her coat then put his own on, before leading her from his apartment, outside into the cooler September night air.
They walked toward the park and crossed the street. After they entered the park, they headed towards the gazebo, where they went inside the gazebo and sat down.
“It’s a great night for stargazing,” he said.
“It is,” she agreed, looking up at the stars glittering in the dark night sky. “I love our walks in the park.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying your time here,” he said. “Do you think you’d like to stay in Bozeman longer, after your jewelry business is set up with the local stores?”
He’d slipped the question in quietly, and she was surprised by the new direction their conversation was taking.
Why is he asking? Does he want me to move in with him? Or is he expecting I’ll move on soon?
Her stomach started to do butterfly flutters as her nerves kicked in.
They had never discussed any kind of future. It was always about what was happening right now and how much they were enjoying themselves.
We have a good time together, but is that all this is to him? I’d like more, but I don’t know what to say. I don’t want this to end between us. What if I say the wrong thing and he doesn’t want the same thing I do, and then it’s all over?
“Well, I really like it here, and I like being near you,” she said. “Especially on nights like tonight.” She smiled up at him. “I haven’t missed L.A., at all.”
Though this had come as a surprise to her, it was true.
“And your dream of being a costume designer in Hollywood?” he asked.
