He shook his head. “There’s no point in finishing a degree I don’t plan to use.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “What?”
Running a hand through his dark hair, he blew out a breath. “You know, for the longest time, I dreaded my future. But I learned to accept it as my fate. Then you brought me down here, and I realized I had a choice. I choose to be free.”
It began to sink in what he was telling me. “You’re staying here? As in, Rust Canyon?”
“Yeah.” A corner of his lips hitched up. “And it’s all because of you.”
“Me?” I squeaked, pointing a finger at my chest.
“Yes, you.” His smile grew wider, stretching across his face as he stepped closer. “Your passion for your dreams inspired me to chase my own—ones I didn’t even realize I had until you made me dig deep and put them into words.
“I talked to Chief Jones down at the fire station, and he said that he would be happy to offer me a job after I obtain my associate’s in Fire Science, complete EMT training, and pass a physical. Tucker said—”
Mention of that man’s name brought my racing mind to a screeching halt. “You spoke to Tucker?!”
Mac cringed, knowing he’d stepped in it. “Yeah,” he admitted, pulling on the back of his neck. “It’s a long story, and I know your loyalty to your best friend comes first, but Ireallythink you need to hear his side of the story. Maybe then you could convince Bex—”
I held up my hand to cut him off. “Dissecting the demise of Bex and Tucker’s past relationship isn’t at the top of my priority list right now.”
“Right.” He nodded his agreement before diving back into our earlier discussion. “If I hit a roadblock on the path to becoming a firefighter, your dad said I could earn my keep on the ranch.”
“M-my dad?” I pressed a palm to the side of my swimming head. “Do you even know how to ride?”
A single shoulder lifted in a shrug. “No, but I figure, how hard can it be?”
I’d have burst out laughing if I weren’t so shell-shocked. “Let me get this straight. You’re not coming back to LA?”
He shook his head.
“So, if you’re going to be a firefighter or a ranch hand”—which I still thought was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever heard—“I still don’t understand what we’re doing in this space or why you have a key.”
The key in question dangled from his fingertips. “It’s yours.”
“Mine?” I let out a confused huff. “What am I supposed to do with it?”
Closing the gap, he pressed the jagged metal into my palm. “It’s your headquarters, Freckles.”
“My headquarters,” I said slowly, my mind still playing catch-up.
Mac cocked his head. “We talked about this, remember? About how it would aid in your Main Street sales pitch to bring clients here and show them the concept in practice. This office can be your home base.”
“But I don’t have any investors yet,” I protested. “I can’t afford to start a business without them.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Freckles.” He closed my fist around the key before sliding his hand up my arm to rest along the side of my neck. “I was hoping I could be your first.”
Manic laughter bubbled up from my chest. “Too late for that.”
His brows furrowed. “I’m serious, Aspen. This lease is paid for an entire year. You’re gonna go back to LA, get your degree, and then come back here to hit the ground running. Make your dream a reality.”
My throat closed up, and I couldn’t breathe. Breaking out of his hold, I put space between us, pacing the length of the room, trying to make sense of it all.
When I couldn’t, I stopped dead in my tracks. “Why would you do this?”
Both hands tangled in his hair, and he pulled on the strands in frustration before he yelled, “Because I’m in love with you!”
“What?” I could barely hear my own voice with the buzzing in my ears. I had to be imagining this. He didn’t just say he was in love with me, did he?
