Page 115 of Forever After All

“I love you too,” Jess whispered.

Linc watched her mouth as she formed the words, but he knew exactly what it felt like when Jess didn’t understand things. He was having a hard time comprehending what she’d just said.

“Say it again,” he said, finally coming out of the fog.

“I love you.”

Her words were sure this time, and the meaning hit him like a ton of bricks to the chest.

Sliding his hand into her hair, he gently pulled her down to him and kissed her again.

He had one thing figured out. He’d do whatever it took to make sure she was happy with him for the rest of their lives.

Chapter36

Jess

Jess blinked through the fog in her head as light shone brightly through the cabin.

The cabin. She was on a work trip.

With Linc.

She pushed up onto her elbows and stretched her aching neck. She’d fallen asleep as soon as the storms passed, but her body was heavy with the need for more rest.

Her head spun, and she propped a hand against it, closing her eyes to block out the light. She was supposed to be up early. Her shoulder was feeling well enough that she could help Linc get things finished up here and they could ride out by mid-day.

A groan slipped out, releasing only a small bit of the heaviness in her shoulders. Had she been hit by a truck last night?

No. She’d spent the evening lying on the floor by the wood-burning stove and talked with Linc until the storms faded into the distance. Then, they’d talked about their plans for getting everything done at the cabin and went to bed.

Everything about the evening was perfect. She’d finally been honest with Linc about how she felt, and the tension that had tangled up in her gut for weeks was finally gone.

Except there were new aches and pains now that had nothing to do with harboring secret love for Linc.

Love. Even the thought of the word filled her stomach with flutters.

Linc loved her, and she loved him. It was something straight out of one of those sappy romantic comedies or made-for-TV Christmas movies.

Jess was one of those love-struck women with hearts in her eyes, and as much as she wanted to scoff at her own goofiness, she decided to wallow in the happiness of her new relationship instead.

If only the pounding in her head would stop bugging her.

Linc’s twin-sized bed beside her was perfectly made, and the cabin was quiet.

How long had he been up? Why hadn’t he woken her? She never slept in.

Water. She needed to hydrate. She’d experienced altitude sickness a few times, and she wasn’t looking forward to dealing with the irritating symptoms again.

Slipping out of the bed, she stumbled to the small kitchen area and opened the cooler. They’d been boiling water and storing it in a cooler until Blake and Ridge came to test the well. She didnotwant to be the guinea pig for strange mountain well water.

After gulping down half a glass, she slowed down, remembering drinking too quickly would probably have her throwing it right back up in a few minutes.

The haze didn’t dissipate as she inhaled deep breaths. Great. The sickness was here to stay.

Deciding to do the best she could despite feeling like a wet saddle, she reached for the coffee Linc had brewed.

The carafe was half full, but the coffee she poured into the cup was cold.

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