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But I don’t pause. Before I know it, I’m standing in front of him, slipping my hands inside his hoodie pocket, threading our fingers together.

The brims of our hats bump for the briefest second.

“Brad—” My mouth is dry, nerves suddenly hitting me hard. The realization that I want to get this right and to say everything perfectly.

“I don’t want you to leave.” He beats me to it. “Please don’t tell me this is the big ‘Goodbye, see ya round, I’m leaving in the morning’ moment I’ve been dreading. Please don’t make me fall in love with you and then you walk outta here saying you’ll call sometime. I want you to stay. I don’t want to do long distance. Quit working on the road; there’s always more work than hours in the day here. I can give you the cabin. I’ll move up to the big house with my dad if it’s too much, too soon for you … If it’s too intense, I get it. I’m a lot. I’m pretty sure I have no sense of personal space where you’re concerned.”

I shake my head, try to open my mouth to say something, to alleviate that anxious look cartwheeling in my beautiful guy’s stare.

Brad tightens his hold on me. Blurting out his next words before I can find my own. “Please don’t go anywhere. Be with me? Even though I’m clingy and too much and want to adopt every animal we’ll ever come across … and oh my god, I haven’t even told you about my stupid obsession with cheesy car-racing movies yet. Crap, I really hope that isn’t a deal-breaker. I’ll change my ways. I’ll never watch a dumb action flick again if you hate them.”

My lips curve, the smile there growing wider the longer his impassioned plea goes on.

“Breathe, baby.” I grudgingly slide one hand out from his pocket to take my hat off, nudging the brim of his up so that I can rest my lips against his forehead.

“You’re my sunshine boy. You’re the bright glow I forever want to tilt my head to and follow wherever you might lead. When I’m with you, it’s like being in the saddle and letting your horse fly. This is ‘wind in your hair, cheeks hurting from laughing so hard, warm sun-kissed skin’ kind of love, baby. I’m so deeply in love with you, Brad.”

He exhales shakily. “Do you think you might want to start a life here … with me?”

“Do you think you could stop me? I’m all in. Boots and all. I want this, more than anything.”

“Thank fuck,” Brad curses under his breath with relief. “I loved you from the moment you first tucked me into bed, you know.”

“I’ve been head over heels for you since the night of the ball.”

That brings a glint of mischief back to his gaze. “Truth be told … I’m pretty sure you loved me from the moment you first laid eyes on me in that hideous Christmas sweater.” His eyes sparkle. “Or was it my killer blow job?”

I choke out a laugh, grinning wider. “Well, I’m pretty sure you fell for me the minute I first wore your hoodie.”

“Guilty. One hundred percent. You’re lucky you didn’t find me down on one knee as soon as you’d pulled it over your head.”

My heart feels like it’s got wings. We’re really doing this.

“Lucky for me, you’re clingy and needy.” I drop my mouth to his, sinking into a deep, promise-filled kiss.

We pull back, slightly breathless, definitely giddy or whatever punch-drunk feeling this is taking hold of us. Brad chuckles. “Fortunately for me, you’re stubborn and don’t do halfway.”

“Damn right I don’t. All in,” I murmur against his lips.

Brad’s smile against my mouth feels like pure joy filtering through my veins. “All in. Always.”

“My sunshine boy. I love you.” My fingers tighten, threaded with his.

“I’m hopelessly besotted with you.” Brad chuckles. “I love you, cowboy.”

EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER

I slam the tailgate of our truck closed, just as the sound of hooves on snowy gravel approaches. My dad leads one of our quarter horses toward me, saddled up and just returned from a ride through the fresh powder covering the pasture.

“Finished packing?” he grunts, giving the horse a pat on her long neck as she reaches forward, her whiskery muzzle sniffing my pockets.

Horse logic. Always gotta check the pockets.

“Yeah, we’re almost ready to hit the road. Flinn’s calling the owner of one of the fillies we’re boarding. They wanted to check how that new feed supplement was working out before they left on vacation.”

I fiddle with the brim of my cap. It’s been a whirlwind year, but Flinn has taken to this place like a duck to fucking water. If anything, I think Lucas Rhodes prefers my boyfriend to me. Not that I’m complaining in the slightest—I truly love that they get on so well.