Page 59 of Falling for Forever

She slipped her arms into the sleeves. “In a minute.”

He sat back down beside her. She took the buckle from his hand and tucked it into her pocket, then rested against him until the breeze died down.

When they stood up, Chet brushed a few blades of grass from her sleeve. Lydia plucked one from his collar and held it up.

“Evidence,” she said.

“Of what?”

“That you’ve been lying around when there’s work to do.”

“I’ll tell Jason you kept me here.”

She laughed and caught his hand before he could tuck it into his pocket. “Come on.”

They followed the path back at an easy pace. When it narrowed, he stepped behind her, keeping hold of her hand until they could walk side by side again.

“You can bring the other pictures, too,” she said.

He glanced at her. “I thought you wanted the one with my hat.”

“That one first. But I’d like to see the rest.”

“Some of those shirts should never have left the store.”

She eyed the collar beneath his jacket. “How bad?”

“You can laugh. Just don’t tell your brothers.”

“I might need that in writing.”

He chuckled and swung their joined hands between them. She leaned against his arm as they walked, already picturing the two of them bent over a stack of photographs. This time, she’d have someone to ask about the cowboy in them.

The porch was still lit across the steps. Lydia glanced at the window, then drew Chet toward his truck. His fingers tightened around hers.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” he said.

“With coffee?”

“Definitely.”

She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. When she drew back, he was smiling at her with the same pleased surprise he’d worn in the meadow. She lingered beside him, her fingers hooked through his, until he laughed, low.

“You’re making it hard to leave.”

“I know.” She gave his hand one last squeeze before letting go. “Good night, Chet.”

She waited while he got into his truck. Before he closed the door, he looked at her again, and she lifted her hand. His answering wave stayed with her as she climbed the porch steps.

At the door, Lydia slipped her hand into her pocket and found the edge of the buckle. She turned back once more. Chet waited until she opened the door before he started his engine. She smiled at him across the yard, then stepped inside, already thinking about what to pack for their ride.

EPILOGUE

EIGHT MONTHS LATER

“You’re kidding me.” Chet gaped at Jason. He couldn’t recall Jason ever smiling this wide.

“I’m not. I thought for sure you would’ve figured it out.”