AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, and I’m sure she’ll explode as soon as you walk into the kitchen.”
He smiled. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I love fireworks, Belle.”
She returned his smile. “I guess it is. And call me Belly.”
“Well, don’t just stand there grinning, you two,” Sunny said. “You got some stubborn hearts to win.” She flapped her hands. “Move!”
Belle had never been a fast driver, but she drove like an Indy car racer on the way into town. When she arrived at the trailer, she was relieved to see Corbin’s truck parked out front. She didn’t knock on the door. Instead, she just walked right in. Corbin sat on the couch eating Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and looking like he’d been put through hell. He jumped to his feet when he saw her and her name came out in a croaked voice that broke her heart.
“Bella.”
She wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around him and tell him she loved him. But she remembered what Sunny had said and kept those words inside.
At least for now.
She took the bag of Cheetos from him before she sat down on the couch. “So what are we watching?”
“Hope Floats.” His voice sounded strained . . . and endearing.
“Good choice.” She popped a Cheeto into her mouth and stared at the television, praying he wouldn’t ask her to leave. A nerve-wrecking moment later, he joined her on the couch. They continued to pretend to watch the movie until she went to set the bag of Cheetos down on the coffee table and noticed the drawing. A drawing of the ranch with Gilley and Tay and Mama and Daddy and Mimi . . . and her and Corbin.
A drawing that had Cory’s Dream written across the bottom.
Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them back. “Nice drawing.”
“It is, isn’t it?” He hesitated. “My sister knows me better than I know myself.”
She finally turned to him. “Then why did you give the house back?”
“Because that wasn’t the most important part of my dream. I didn’t realize what the most important part was until I lost it.” His eyes held vulnerability . . . but also hope. Hope was a good thing. Hope meant he believed.
She reached out and cradled his face, her thumb tenderly caressing the bruise beneath his eye. “What makes you think you lost it?”
He covered her hand with his and closed his eyes as if her touch healed him. “Did I?”
“How can you ask that question when I’m here, Corbin Whitlock? It’s going to take more than a few careless words to get rid of me.”
He opened his eyes. “I didn’t mean what I said, Bella. It wasn’t just sex to me. It was so much more.” He hesitated. “I need you.”
Because she knew how much he’d been through—how hard he’d worked to prove he didn’t need anyone—those words meant more to her than I love you.
“I need you too. I figured that out when I thought you had left and there was this big empty hole in my chest.”
He took her hand from his face and placed it over his heart. “This didn’t start beating again until you walked through that door. I was going to show up at the Remington Ranch with Jesse . . . but I was scared. Scared you could live without me when I can’t live without you.”
Tears filled her eyes. Instead of blinking them back, she let them fall.
He pulled her close. “Bella baby, don’t cry. Please don’t cry. It breaks my heart when you’re sad.”
“I’m not sad. I’m happy because you feel the same way I do.” She hesitated before she took a leap she hoped wouldn’t come back to bite her in the butt. “And since we both can’t live without each other, I think we should get married.”
His entire body tensed and she rushed on before she lost her nerve.
“I know you’re feeling a little blindsided. But you’re the one who taught me that when I find something I love, I’ll know it. And I love you, Corbin Whitlock. I think I started loving you on our very first date. But I didn’t know how much until I got to really know you. And just like lemon drop martinis and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and ornery dogs, now that I’ve found you, I have no intentions of letting you go. Ever. Because once I love something, I love it for life.”
He drew back, his eyes filled with wonder. “You love me?”
“With my whole heart. I know the words don’t mean much to you. So I intend to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much. Which is why I think we should get married as soon as possible. I’m thinking the Fourth of July would be nice.” She grinned. “Maybe a double wedding with your brother and my ornery sister?”
