Page 123 of Last Chance Cowboy
He opened up the door again and guided them both out of the house and to his truck.
It was surreal; she felt like she was floating on air.
It was getting dark outside, and there were gray storm clouds gathering above – they did attract a thunderstorm –, but she was going to prom. Apparently. So really nothing else mattered.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
They traversed the familiar drive back to the ranch, and he passed by the road they could take to his place and the road to the bakery.
And instead, took them to one of the venue barns.
She could see light gleaming through the splits in the boards, and she was desperate to know what was inside.
He parked, took her hand, and led her to the front door.
Her breath rushed out of her body.
It was beautiful. Perfect. There was no one else there, but he had decorated this whole place in gold.
“Did you…”
“I confess that ranch staff helped with this.”
“Really?”
“Oh, I paid for it. But it gave Walker a business idea, so I think it’s all good.”
“I just can’t…”
He had done more for her in the last month than she could ever recall anyone doing. Hell, the last few months. Even putting up those shelves.
He had taught her survival, he had rescued her from the rubble, he had gotten her to ride a horse, had taken her virginity, and now he was giving her a prom.
It felt like too much.
Like something she would never be able to repay, and for a moment, she felt like she was going to suffocate underneath the weight of that reality.
There was a heaviness that invaded her lungs, and she kind of hated herself for that. For letting that intrude here, but it followed her.
Whether she wanted it to or not.
“Now I have to figure out how this is all set up…” He looked like he was following remembered instructions as he took his phone out and began to tap on the screen.
Then, music filled the room.
She smiled, looking up and around, completely unable to believe this was real. That it was happening.
Zane held his hand out toward her. “Dance with me,” he said.
She had never been asked to dance before, not once in her life, and she was going to enjoy this. For all it was worth. She was going to let the heaviness fade into the background.
She took his hand and let him draw her close, resting her head on his shoulder as the slow, melodic beat pounded through them.
This was their bubble. This was her prom.
She looked up, her eyes meeting his. What would it have been like if they could’ve met each other under different circumstances?
