Page 262 of Josephine and Clay

I blink. "There's more?"

His grin returns. "I got offered a job."

My stomach drops.

Because the word offered combined with Clay's history usually means rodeos, highways, and distant states.

His smile softens immediately. "Not that kind."

Relief floods through me. "Then what kind?"

"The rodeo grounds."

I stare at him. "What?"

His grin grows wider.

"Earl's looking to step back from some of the event management stuff. They're expanding programming. More youth events. More clinics. More competitions.” The excitement in his voice is impossible to miss. "I can help run events there."

I blink again. “And still work the ranch?”

He nods. "I don't have to choose anymore."

Understanding clicks into place.

For so long, Clay believed his life had to be one thing or another. For years he'd treated every choice as an either-or proposition.

Now he's finally allowing himself both.

His eyes meet mine. "I get to keep the parts I love."

Emotion swells inside my chest. He isn't giving anything up. It's him building something new. “I'm proud of you."

His hand slides around my waist.

Mine settles against his chest.

The air between us shifts.

"Josie."

The way he says my name sends a pleasant shiver through me.

"Yeah?"

His gaze drops briefly to my mouth.

Then back to my eyes.

"I love you."

My heart melts completely. "I love you too.”

He laughs, deep and surprised, and lifts me by the waist until my heels clear the floor and my belly fits perfectly between us.

His mouth finds mine with the enthusiasm of a man who's been waiting all day to get me alone. He kisses me until the ache in my body is almost indistinguishable from want, then kisses me more.

He pulls back, enough for his lips to slide against the corner of my mouth, then my jaw, my throat, all the while walking me backwards into the closest room.