Page 100 of Take My Kiss
Once we order and eat some of our bread, we talk more about her childhood and growing up with her brother. I tell her about growing up on the ranch with my siblings, and we spend most of dinner laughing and cracking jokes. It’s the most freeing and comfortable I’ve ever felt on a first date. Even though we’ve spent every day together since I’ve been here, it’s still the first time we’ve been out alone.
“Do you wanna dance?”
She takes my waiting hand, then I lead her around the table to the open space.
“This song reminds me of the first time we danced together,” I say, pulling her in closer.
“Who knew that one night would lead us here all these months later?”
“I hoped to see you again, but I took you bailin’ on me the next mornin’ as a sign you didn’t want that.”
She sighs with a knowing grin. “It wasn’t that I didn’twantto see you again, it’s that it made no logical sense to even try when I had so much else goin’ on, and we lived two hours apart.”
“What if we didn’t?”
“Didn’t what?”
“Live two hours apart. If I were a local, would that have changed anythin’ for you?”
“I dunno, maybe.” She tightens her arms around my neck. “Doesn’t change that I’m a single mom of two, work full-time, and take online classes. Datin’ wasn’t a priority for me at the time.”
“Since you don’t want to uproot the kids or be dependent on a man, I could move closer to you. I wouldn’t mind movin’ to Sugarland Creek. Or even Stonehaven Falls. That’s only an hour away.”
“What would you do for work?”
“Maddox’s family owns a bed and breakfast on their ranch. I’m sure they’d gimme a job if I asked or even Wilder would at his family’s ranch. I could still do some remote work for the resort and hire out for the other stuff I’m not available to do.”
“And how would that work long-term? You’d be okay movin’ away from your family?”
“Amelia, it’s only a couple hours. Drivin’ back and forth isn’t a deal breaker for me. Remy loves ridin’ in the truck too.”
“Sorry for questionin’ you. It’s just hard for me to accept that someone would go through so much trouble just to be with me. Packin’ up and movin’ away from the only home you’ve ever known and changin’ jobs—that puts a lot of pressure on me to make sure it works so you don’t end up resentin’ me if it doesn’t.”
I lift her chin, forcing her eyes to meet mine. “It would be a pleasure to do those things for you, baby. For us. Iwantto find a way to make this work if you’d let me. I’d never resent you for givin’ us a chance ’cause I’d rather we try and see what happens instead of givin’ up entirely and wonderin’ what-if the rest of my life.”
“I’m not sayin’ I don’t want to be together and explore this more, but it’s hard for me to say without knowin’ what’s gonna happen. If I have to uproot the kids, it’d be for their safety, not for a relationship.”
“Okay, but let’s take that concern out of the equation. I’m askin’ if everything’s resolved and there’s no threat. What would you want?”
She bites her lower lip, and I worry I’m being too pushy or needy, but she smiles genuinely. “I’d want you.”
chapter twenty-three
Amelia
Our eveningof eating and dancing ends far too soon. It’s the most fun I’ve had in a long time, probably since the night we met, but it’s far from over.
After I check on the kids fast asleep in bed and we thank the twins again for watching them, I fill the kettle and prepare two mugs with honey and a tea bag while the water boils.
“What’re you doin’?” Colton asks from behind, burying his face in my neck.
“I thought this was our evenin’ routine,” I taunt, turning to face him. “Unless you have other plans for us.”
“I’m not even close to being done with you.” He grabs my hips and yanks me into him. “So until then, the tea’s gonna have to wait.”
“Whaddya have in mind,sir?”
His pupils dilate before he reaches behind him, then reveals his black cowboy hat before placing it on his head.
