Page 60 of Ian

“What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you.”

“You’re looking for me?” he asked, confused.

“I’ve been looking for you my whole life,” she replied.

“What?” He furrowed his brow and tilted his head in confusion.

She walked toward him until she stood in front of him.

“I said, I’ve been looking for you my whole life.”

“Eden—”

“I love you, Ian Brennan. With all my heart.”

“It won’t work.”

“What won’t?”

“Us. This,” he gestured between them. “I won’t do a long-distance relationship.”

“It doesn’t have to be long distance.”

“I can’t move to Chicago. It may be a nice place, but it’s not for me.”

“I would never ask you to move to Chicago.” She stepped closer, placed her hands on his waist, inside his coat, and looked into his eyes. “But maybe you could ask me to stay.”

He frowned, but then realization dawned in his eyes, although he shook his head.

“I can’t.”

“Why not?” Eden stepped back, looking confused.

“I don’t want you to leave your job and move here. You’d end up regretting it and resenting me.”

“Oh, Ian, I could never resent you. And I’ve come to love this area as well.”

“But what about your job?”

“I have a job in Clifton. When I turned downthe partnership and resigned, I told my boss why. He made a call to a friend of his, Dirk Wallace. My boss recommended me, and I spoke with Mr. Wallace two days ago.” She smiled widely. “He hired me. As a probate lawyer, I can practice in any state. I start after the first of the year.”

“You’re staying here?”

“Well, I should since I have a job here, don’t you think?”

“Wait. You said you told your boss you were leaving and why. What did you tell him?”

“I told him I fell in love with a cowboy.”

He hissed in a breath and cupped her face in his hands.

“Please be sure about this, Eden.”

“I’m more than sure, Ian. I love you and I want to be where you are. In Clifton and Spring City. I’m here in a friggin’ snowstorm, Ian. You tell me I’m not sure.”

“I’ve never been so miserable in my life when you left.”

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