Page 102 of Whiskey Proposal

“You sound honest.” I was taken in by a crew of generous, loving people long before her. What if I had gone all through my twenties with no one? What if Cruz had picked a woman over me when it had just been him and me against the world? I’d have hang-ups too.

She wraps her arms around my waist and hangs on. We stand like that for several moments.

“Brooks signs on the house after the wedding.” Her words are muffled, and her breath is hot against my chest.

“I know. That doesn’t mean it’s the end for us.”

She leans back. “What does it mean?”

“That we keep going without this trust forcing us together. I’m here, Emerson. I’m not leaving.” I stroke her hair and follow it all the way down to the end of a ponytail. “Don’t leave me.”

“Lane.” Her eyes shine with so much fear.

I love this woman so damn much. I saw her and I knew. Our time together has only proved me right. Do I tell her how I feel? That I’m crazy about her? Or will that only send her running?

I don’t know, but this doesn’t feel like the right time. Professing my love would make this moment about me, and it’s not even about us. It’s about a woman who’s afraid of putting herself out there again only to get rejected.

“One day at a time. Brooks’s house sale. Your house sale. All that is next week. We just take it one day at a time until then and enjoy everything those days bring.”

“Like what?” she asks softly.

“Like dancing. Cocktails. Kisses.”

“Whose kisses?” she asks playfully.

“One of the horses at the Hawthorne ranch likes to nibble a little.”

She giggles, and damn, it’s good to see her smile. “Horse kisses sound nice. Any others?”

“Hmm.” I pretend to think. “I might give you a kiss or two.”

“Is that all?”

“We’ll probably dance.”

She grins. “I have it on good authority that you’re a great dancer.”

“I don’t do it often.”

“Just like you don’t have women over?”

“I have one woman over, and her chickens.”

“I saw you this morning,” she whispers. “You had Phillip cuddled in your arms.”

“Well, I don’t get up to see Phillip as often as I used to.”

She laughs and lays her head back on my chest. I rest my chin on the top of her head and hold her. “Thank you,” she says quietly.

“Anytime.”

She pulls back again and flattens her hands on my chest. “You’re not the only one who’s had thoughts.”

The heat in her eyes pours gasoline on my own. My gut tightens and I slip my hands down her back to her ass. “I want you to show me exactly what’s been on your mind.”

“You, in those coveralls. And this truck.”

“Emerson, I’m going to strip you down and spread you out on the hood of that truck.”