“Hayden loves me.” I sob with ragged breaths. “I just don’t understand why he didn’t tell me.”
Ellie laughs with a weird gusty chuckle. “Men! Who knows how their brains work?” She shunts past a crowd of tourists and practically launches her body on top of her purple suitcase. Her case crashes to the ground, and she uses her foot to shove it. “Things would’ve got pretty awkward if we showed up at his place, and he was screwing someone else.” She fluffs her hair and plonks down on the edge of my case. “Just saying.”
My heart pulsates with a crazy, wild giddy up, and my fingers fan my chest. “He doesn’t know we’re here. You can bond with Sawyer while I drive out to Hayden’s place and surprise him.”
“You’re leaving me with your crabby old relative?” She groans.
“He’s a pussycat… and he loves that luxury face cream you packed three of. Give him one, and he’ll maybe make you a coffee without spitting in it,” I joke.
The seventy-dollar cab was worth every penny just to see the old man’s cocked shot gun and lazy smile when I open the passenger door and spring out. “Put the gun down, Sawyer. I’m home. And I brought a friend.” I rush up to him, wrapping his sturdy form in a big ole loving hug. Kissing his cheek, I don't notice his usual urge to push me away. Instead, arms circle me, and he hugs me right back.
“You came home,” he croaks into my hair. If I didn’t know him better, I’d say he was close to shedding a tiny tear.
“I did.”
“You’ll have to borrow my truck then. I guess you’ll be needing yours back. You know where it is. Go get them.” A wily smile twitches his whiskers, and he steps back, jangling the keys to his truck.
I snatch the keys, grinning so wide my cheeks hurt. Ellie slams her suitcase onto the decking, after struggling to wheel it over the dry dirt. “Anyone… Can I get a hand here, or are your arms ornaments?” she puffs.
“Well, well, well. We’ve got ourselves another one.” Sawyer winks at me. “You need to take that case over there.” He pitches a finger in the direction of the red barn. “I’ll be right here.” He walks to the swinging bench and sinks down.
“You’re not going to help?” Ellie blusters. Her hands rest on her hips, and she scowls.
My feet fly as I jog to Sawyer’s truck, leaving them behind to thrash it out. I giggle inwardly when I hear Ellie and Sawyer bickering in the distance. They’ll be best friends in no time.
The old engine growls to life. I crank down the glass, letting the outdoors in, and flick on the radio. Hanging my arm out of the window, I tap the exterior with my palm alerting them to my departure. Ellie raises a fist like she wants to hit me, and Sawyer shakes his head.
The wind ruffles through my hair with that amazing dance of freedom. I inhale the smell of country air, of Heartville, of my new home. I shouldn’t speed, but I hit the gas with determination, urgency taking over. When the wrought iron sign for Wild Hearts Ranch comes into view, my heart leaps to my throat, and I lean closer to the wheel like that movement will help the truck go even faster.
The tires whirl up a muddy brown cloud as I speed toward the house, narrowly missing Hank’s truck when I slam on the breaks, and the old thing doesn't respond straight away. My glossy green truck sits pride of place beside Hayden’s. I swallow down the big lump stuck in my throat.
By the time my boots hit the dirt, Hayden is on the deck with Star in his arms. Confident long strides bring him to me quicker than I can say hello.
“I came back for my dog.” My heart bucks when he offers me the most charming smile. “And my truck.” I bite my lip when he sets the dog down and watches her excited wiggles and wags. Ducking down, I rub her little body all over and squish her snout to my nose.
Hands slot under my armpits, and he effortlessly yanks me to a stand. I instantly jump into him and wrap my legs around his hips. “I also came back for you, Hayden Taylor. If you’ll have me.”
“This is all I ever wanted, honey. You, me and the dog. I just wanted you to decide that for yourself, so in the years to come when we’re married, you don’t blame me for making you choose between here and Belfast.” Before I can curse him, his lips tease mine with such an urgent tenderness that my insides quiver and shake. “I love you,” Hayden growls into my mouth. “I love you, even though we’ve only been together for a few weeks. I know you're the one, honey. You’re my everything.”
Hank hollers from the house, “You want me to cancel that flight, son?”
“Flight?” I quiz, melting into him, breathing in the smell of him, absorbing the strength of him.
His sexy smirk falters. “I booked a flight to Dublin. I was coming for you, honey. To apologize for being a coward and to give you one last kiss.” The green of his eyes remind me of the fresh spring mornings back home with new shoots, new life and the promise of a world filled with growth. “I heard you talking to your friend.” His eyes drop to our hands, and I sense sadness. Although the skin on his fingers is rough, the gentleness to his touch is soft and delicate. He sweeps loose, windswept locks over my shoulder. “It sounded like you didn’t feel the same way, like you were happy to leave me behind.”
“Hayden…” I interrupt, shaking my head only to feel his thumb drag over my lips.
“These past few days have been the hardest. I’ve thought about every single second we spent together. There’s no denying our connection, honey. I cursed myself for letting you leave without that kiss. I’m just a stubborn old fool who was trying to deny the hold you have on me.” Featherlight kisses rain down my neck, and I groan softly. “So, if you’re staying, this will be the first kiss of trillions.”
When our lips unite, a warmth wraps around my heart, and the taste of Hayden Taylor excites and fulfills me. I need to tell him how I feel, the reason I came back to him. “Hayden…” I mumble into his mouth, then press into his chest, pushing back. “I didn’t fully realize what was happening between us. Love is a scary word and an even scarier feeling. So when Ellie asked me about you, I played it down because I thought I had to go back home without you.” His hands move to my neck, gently holding me with his thumbs resting on either side of my chin. I look up into his eyes, those dreamy eyes I’ve missed so much. “When I arrived in Belfast, it hit me. That place isn’t where my true heart lies. My heart is here, with you. My home is where my heart is. I love you, Hayden Taylor. I’ve traveled for miles just to have your arms around me and to feel these lips again.” I lift up, lightly touching his lips with my own.
He breathes into me, a breath of love, life and forever. The slow seductive dance of his tongue ignites the flame in my heart, burning inside me, blazing just for him. My core clenches, and I let his languid licks devour me. “I missed you so fucking much, honey.” Large hands fall to my waist. “I lay awake at night wondering if you were thinking about me.”
“I was… I thought about the time we spent in your truck, how you touched me,” I say breathlessly.
Those hands of his hoist me skyward, like I’ve never been so high – so high on him. My legs wrap his hips. “You want me to show you what I remembered?” He smirks, tipping his brow to mine.
Devilish thoughts pass between us under the Texas sky. “Your dad is inside the house.”
