Page 73 of A Montana Secret Admirer
Serenity chewed on her lower lip. “My family makes me happy, of course. But there’s more to it than that.”
He leaned in a little closer. She was holding back. Was she worried that he didn’t feel the same? He could tell her. Right here, right now, he could tell her that she was his happiness.
But something held him back.
Reese didn’t know what it was, but something tugged at him in the back of his mind. This wasn’t the time or place to confess his feelings. They were on the brink of something great, and she needed to be the one to tell him how she felt before he slammed into her with his own confession.
She finally looked up at him. “I think a big part of finding that happiness is doing things for ourselves—figuring out who we are deep down, you know? Like that training program you were looking into.”
His whole body seized up. Had Jane told her about that program, about the plan for him to leave for a year? Was that why she seemed so on edge? He wished he’d made it clear to Jane and Noah that they weren’t to discuss this possibility in passing with Serenity—at least not until he had made his decision.
Then again, Bo had made it sound like he didn’t have much of a choice with all the strings they’d pulled for him. He was going. Right now, all Reese could do was tell Serenity how he felt and ask her if she’d be up for a long-distance sort of situation.
He blew out a breath, forcing himself to keep up his smile as he nodded. “Yes, dreams are important.”
She smiled as if that was the response she wanted to hear. “I think after losing Finn, I got to be in a rut. I wasn’t living anymore. I needed to find a reason to live besides my sons.”
Reese straightened in his chair. This was it. Now she’d tell him that he was part of that reason.
Serenity blew out a shaky breath. “I needed to find something just for me—something to make me feel happy and alive again.”
This time, his smile seemed to cling to his face with only the smallest amount of resolve. Something just for her? What did that mean?
“You found something to make you happy, and I’m going to do the same.”
He squeezed her hand, another confession in his head screaming, demanding to be let out.You make me happy, Serenity.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured, pulling her lower lip back between her teeth. “I’m probably not making any sense.”
“It makes perfect sense,” Reese murmured, squeezing her hand in reassurance. His confession clung to his tongue like a bitter, sticky mess. He wasn’t sure she wanted to hear it. Reese closed his eyes tight then blew out a breath. He would tell her tonight. But now was not the right time.
They finished up their meal, then picked up dessert for themselves and the boys from the bakery. It was late by the time they made it home. The sun had set, the boys were likely in bed. The house was quiet, and the lights were off.
Serenity faced him when they reached the door, and she grinned at him. “This was nice—going on a date with you for real.”
He reached up and allowed himself to trace the lines of her face with his fingertips. This was what he wanted. The two of them together, out in the open where everyone would know. One step at a time, right?
Wrong.
She had to know. Time was running out.
Reese glanced to where he’d parked his truck, then gave her upper arm a gentle squeeze. “Wait here for just a sec.” He jogged down the steps to his truck and pulled open the back door. On the floor, wrapped in a damp cloth and hidden beneath the seat, he’d stashed what he hoped would be the first of many flowers heplanned on giving to her in person. It was a confession all on its own, and he prayed that she’d see it for what it was.
He hurried back to the porch, the flower behind his back. She stared at him with a crooked sort of smile, confusion and curiosity in her eyes. When he pulled the flower out with a flourish, time slowed down. Her eyes dipped to the flower, and her lips parted with surprise. A myriad of emotions played across her features as the realization dawned in her eyes. He had a feeling that she suspected him, but she’d never asked outright.
Well, here was the proof that he was exactly who she likely thought him to be.
“You make me happy,” Reese whispered, handing the flower to her.
Serenity’s eyes darted up to meet his, and she let out a breath. “Reese…”
He didn’t have to tell her he loved her. He was showing her just how much he cared for her simply by showing all of himself. It was the most vulnerable he’d ever been, and he wasn’t sure he’d be able to handle it if she chose to push him away for keeping this from her.
It was true he’d never lied to her, but he felt like he’d kept a secret that might have helped their little relationship along.
Serenity took the flower with trembling fingers and whispered his name again. Then she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. The intensity of this kiss was something he’d never experienced before. She was giving herself over to him, not holding back. They could make this work. No matter how hard they thought things could be, he knew without a shadow of a doubt that Serenity could love him enough.
The door to the house swung open so quickly that it was almost soundless, but the gasp of shock was what yanked the two of them out of their passionate embrace. Serenity spun to face the door where Tegan stood.
