"You came," I say when I'm close enough that we don't have to shout over the fireworks.
“Of course I did, I traveled all the way out here for a fireworks show. I wasn’t going to miss it.” She lifts her chin slightly. I catch a glimpse of the fire that made me fall for her in the first place.
I look her up and down, taking in the simple clothes, the lack of dramatic makeup, the way she's standing like she's trying to take up less space. "You're not sparkling tonight. I almost missed you."
"Nope." She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "Turns out I prefer being seen to being stared at. Though apparently I'm not very good at the first part."
"What do you mean?"
"You walked right past me twice." Her smile is rueful. "I've been here for an hour, helping people with chairs and chasing kids away from the fireworks setup. But you didn't even notice me because I wasn't dressed like a walking Instagram post."
The truth of that hits me like a punch to the gut. I was so busy looking for the Zara I expected that I completely missed the woman she actually is.
"Zara, I?—"
"It's okay." She holds up a hand. "I get it. You saw what you expected to see, just like everyone else. But I'm not performing anymore, Holden. This is just me, less fancy, but still me."
"This is you?"
"This is me." She gestures at her simple outfit, her makeup-free face, the way she's standing with her feet planted firmly on the ground instead of posing for invisible cameras. "No filters, no agenda, no audience to please. Just a woman who fell too fast with a cowboy who decided to be a jackass. I thought it was real.”
The words hit me like lightning. "I am a jackass.”
"I fell for you," she repeats, her voice steady despite the vulnerability in her eyes. "Somewhere between you carrying me through that storm and teaching me that some things are worth more than content, I fell completely, stupidly into your arms and your bed. I didn’t want to get out."
"Zara—"
"I'm not done." She takes a step closer, and I can see the determination in her face. "You think I'll get bored here. But you're wrong. Or maybe you’re right and I want to be bored! There’s so much performing in my life. But I don’t have to do that here and I fucking love it.”
I stare at her, this woman who looks like Zara but sounds like someone I'm just meeting for the first time. Someone who's somehow exactly who I hoped she might be underneath all the glitter.
"I was wrong," I say finally. "This morning, everything I said was wrong, and I’m sorry. I was ready to jump on a damn plane tonight to find you. But you’re here and I’m not afraid to tell you I was scared.” The admission costs me, but she deserves the truth.
“Of me?” She raises an eyebrow.
"Scared of how fast I was falling for you. That you'd realize I'm just a simple rancher who doesn't know the first thing about your world, and I’d be just one of the millions who love you from afar. So I pushed you away before you could leave on your own." I reach out and touch her face, marveling at how soft she is without all the makeup, how real she feels under my hands. "Now I'm terrified that I already lost you."
"You didn't lose me." She leans into my touch. "But you're going to have to stop trying to protect yourself from me. The craziest part of all this is I don’t want to leave, Holden. I want to be where you are.”
My heart thuds in my chest. “Listen, sweetheart. This is stupid and way too fast, but I’ve never felt anything like this before, and I’m ready to risk sounding crazy, acting crazy, and go all in with you."
I kiss her like I mean it. Right here in front of half the town our sparks explode. She kisses me back like she means every word she just said. When we break apart, there are tears in her eyes, but she's smiling.
"So," she says, "think you can handle dating a reformed influencer who's trying to figure out how to be a real person?"
"I think I can manage that." I pull her closer, and she fits against me like she was made for this spot. "Think you can handle dating a stubborn cowboy who's too scared of his own feelings to think straight?"
CHAPTER 8
ZARA
One WeekLater
Kingridge Ranch is buzzing with controlled chaos as the entire town gathers for a do-over of the Fourth of July celebration. Last week’s wind and lightning storm tried to ruin everything. But nothing stops this crew from lighting up the barbecue and sending fireworks into the Texas sky.
These are the kind of vibes I can get on board with.
I'm curled up on the porch swing, Holden’s arm drapes around my shoulders. We watch the rest of the Kingridge brothers argue over the proper way to light the grill.
