“Come on, lawyer girl.” He smiles, his eyes soft. “You’re the smartest woman I know. I know you know what I mean, but I’ll say it again. I need to hear you say it again. Tell me,” he says gently.
At this point, the damage is done. I might as well tell him. “I’m in love with you.” I watch as his face transforms into a smile I’ve never seen.
“Fucking yes, you do.” His lips find mine in a bruising kiss.
I don’t know what’s happening, but I kiss him back with just as much passion and need. When he tears his lips from mine, he’s breathing heavy, and his eyes are hooded. Both of his hands cradle my face, and he stares into my eyes.
“I love the hell out of you, McKenna Dawson. Fuck, baby. I’ve wanted to say those words to you, but I was afraid you would run. I love you.” He leans in and kisses me again. This time it’s just a short peck, but it still makes my heart race.
“I didn’t want to tell you. It’s too soon.”
“No. It’s not. We’ve known each other our entire lives. This is real, and you can’t take it back, babe. You already said it.”
“I don’t want to take it back,” I confess.
“I thought that day you agreed to be mine was the best day of my life, then again when I made love to you, both times.” He winks. “But this, this moment, it tops them both.”
I don’t know what to say, so I just hug him.
Everything I’ve ever dreamed about is happening, and it’s a little surreal. How am I lucky enough to have all of my dreams come true?
Chapter 25
Rip
My hair is drenched with sweat, even with the cool wind that’s blowing in a summer storm. It’s Saturday, and I’m repairing the fence. I told McKenna I would be done early afternoon, but there were more spots that needed attention than I thought. So, not only am I hot, sweaty, and tired, I’m missing time with her.
Finally, the last bit of barbed wire is secure, and I’m done for the day. The sun is setting over the horizon as I tear off my T-shirt and wipe my face. That’s when I hear it—the sound of a motor. I’m expecting it to be my dad to check on things. McKenna isn’t the only one I told I would be done early afternoon. I did, however, text both of them and told them it was taking longer than anticipated, much to my dismay.
When the four-wheeler comes into view, it’s not my dad. It’s my girl, her long dark hair whipping in the wind as she makes her way to where I’m working. She turns off the engine, and I take the two small steps it takes to press my lips to hers.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Hi.” She smiles. “I brought you a sandwich and some cold water. I know you packed lunch, but it’s getting late.”
“You spoil me,” I say, pressing my lips to hers again.
“Can’t a girl just be nice to her boyfriend?”
“Yes. You can.” I step back, offering her my hand and helping her step off the machine.
“How much more do you have to go? Can I help?” She hands me a small brown bag and two bottles of water.
I look down at her blue jeans, cropped tank top, and flannel she has over top of her tank. The sleeves are rolled up to her elbows. This is one of the things I love most about her. She’s just her. Just McKenna. She’s a “jeans and tank top, with flannel and cowboy boots” kind of girl. Being at college in the city didn’t change her.
“I just finished up, actually.”
“I guess I’m a little late.” She pouts.
“No. You’re not too late. In fact, I think you’re right on time.” I point to the sunset, and she smiles.
“It’s beautiful.”
“It is.” I’m not looking at the sky. I can’t take my eyes off her. Setting the food and water on the four-wheeler, I place my hands on her hips and turn us so that we’re facing the sunset. With my arms wrapped around her from behind, we watch as the sky changes in vibrant colors of oranges, pinks, and purples as the sun sets.
“Looks like a postcard,” she murmurs and then pulls out of my arms. “You need to eat.”
“I will. First, I need something from you?”
“Oh, yeah?” she asks, backing up.
“Yes.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s impossible to watch that—” I nod toward the sunset “—with you and not kiss you.”
“You want to kiss me, cowboy?” she asks, stepping closer. She lifts her hand, and I capture her wrist with one hand, sliding the other around her waist.
“I want to more than kiss you, Kenna.” I lean in close, our mouths a breath apart.
“Show me.”
That’s exactly what I do.
I kiss her, taking my time tasting her lips, enjoying the hell out of the fact that this incredible woman is mine, and I can kiss her anytime I want. She breaks the connection and smiles up at me. I’m glad I’m holding onto her because that single look makes my knees weak. I want to drop to one knee right here, right this very moment, and ask her to marry me. I want all the sunsets and sunrises with her. I want everything.
There are two small things that are stopping me. One, the way she freaked out on me last weekend when I heard her tell my sister that she was head over heels in love with me. That, and I don’t have a ring. Not yet. That’s something I’m going to remedy soon. I don’t want that to be the reason I miss the next perfect opportunity to give me her forever.
“I should pack up before the storm rolls in.”
“What can I do to help?”
I kiss her forehead. “You being here is enough. Thank you for bringing me food.”
“You didn’t even get to eat it.”
“I’ll eat it on the way back to the barn. Let me get this packed up, and I’ll follow you back to the house.”
“I know the way.”
“Yeah, but it looks as if it could pour at any minute, and I’d feel better knowing that I’m with you, just in case.”
“Fine. Let me help you pack up.”
Together we have the tools packed up in no time, and we’re headed back to the house. I eat the sandwich she brought on the way. When I get to the house, I need a shower and my girl. Maybe I’ll even convince her for both at the same time.
It doesn’t take long for the clouds to build and darken. The sunset we just wanted is long since gone and replaced with dark clouds and the threat of storms.
“Go on inside,” I tell McKenna when we get back to the barn. The rain is already sprinkling from the sky. It’s only a matter of time before it unleashes.
“You sure you don’t want help?”
“Nah. I’m going to close up, and I’ll be right behind you.”
“See you inside,” she says, jogging off for the house. I watch her until she makes it to the porch just as the sky unleashes with what seems like buckets of rainfall from the sky.
Putting away all of the tools so I can easily find them the next time I need them, I throw away my empty water bottles from the cooler, and it’s still pouring down rain. I refuse to waste more time out here in the barn when my girl is in the house. Locking up the barn, I make a run for it. By the time I make it to the porch, I’m soaked. I look like I took a dip in the pond. Not wanting to create a pool in the house, I strip down to my boxer briefs.