Page 33 of Forever After All

“Jess.”

She turned, and the dim porch light shone on her downcast expression. He’d give anything to wipe the sadness from her eyes.

“Promise me something.”

“I’m gonna need to hear the request before I promise anything.”

Linc took a step toward her, and she let her hand fall from the doorknob. She looked up at him, and he could’ve sworn there was a small spark in her eyes. “Don’t ever change. Not for a man or anyone. You’re perfect just the way you are.”

A small smile turned up her lips. “I’ll promise. Only if you promise to stay the same too.”

Linc pulled a hand out of his pocket and offered it to her. “Deal.”

When she took his hand, there was a slight tug on her end.

Linc didn’t stop to think about what she might be doing. He pulled her in and wrapped his other arm around her. Something in his chest kicked, hard enough to hurt, as her head rested below his jaw.

He released the hug just as quickly as he’d started it. With a step away from her, he let her hand slip from his. “Good night, Jess.”

“Good night, Linc.”

Pushing his hands back into his pockets, he glanced at Ms. Landry’s house and waved at the skewed blinds.

In the quiet of his truck, he pushed his hands through his hair and rested his forehead against the steering wheel. How was he going to get over Jess? It didn’t seem possible.

His phone buzzed in the console, and he picked it up. A text from an unlabeled number jumped his heart rate from resting to running.

I’m out. Where are you?

Chapter9

Jess

Jess measured out feed for Star and Burgundy. The perfect amount for each.

Numbers she could handle. Feelings? Not so much.

Thea closed the lid on one bin and opened another. “I know you probably don’t have anything to say, but how did things go with Linc last night?”

Most people at the ranch hadn’t thought twice about Jess showing up at the wedding with Linc last night. They were usually stuck together anyway.

Jess’s sister-in-law, Thea, knew about the small “not a date” aspect of the evening, which meant there were unwelcome follow-up questions.

“Things went well. Same as always.”

Linc had held her hand a few times, and she could still feel the echo of that tingle in her palms.

Then, he’d danced with her. She wasn’t much of a dancer, but being that close to Linc hadn’t locked up her muscles the way she’d expected. No, she’d been hyperaware of every inch of her skin that touched his.

Memories kept her up half the night, and this morning, she still wanted to bring back that bubbly feeling that had covered her from head to toe when they’d danced.

And his hug? Yeah, she’d remember that until her dying day. She was definitely rethinking her aversion to touching.

Yet, Linc was the only person who’d ever conquered her avoidance of physical contact.

Her rational brain said it was ridiculous, but her heart wanted more.

So much more.

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