“Yes. I want to know everything.”
“Umm, okay. We met on app, actually, but our first time meeting in person was at a nightclub.”
“A nightclub? Do you go often?”
“Not really. Mostly if someone invites me, which Carter did at the time. What about you? How did you meet your…wife?” Oh god, did he hear me hesitate over the word?
Gray chuckled. “That was so damn long ago. We met at a rodeo show. She had the hots for cowboys, and it turns out I was one.”
“How did you get to this place in your relationship?”
“We wanted two different things. I wanted the ranch, more kids. She was done with having kids and wanted to live in the city. We tried to make it work long distance but realized we were holding on to something we should have both let go of a long time ago. But we had no interest in remarrying. She’s a free spirit who likes her independence, and I’ve been too busy with the ranch to invest in another serious relationship, so we stayed together on paper.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him if he still loved her or if he would ever divorce her, but I swallowed the questions, too timid to learn the answer. He told me about his early days as a cowboy, not working the ranch but traveling to wherever he could perform in rodeo shows. Stories full of wild adventures. He painted a vivid picture of a life so different from my upbringing, yet his tales filled me with a yearning to have been there beside him, to have experienced the thrill of watching him ride, the pride of seeing him win.
“That’s why I’m trying to be patient with Carter,” he said with a sigh. “I didn’t realize the value of the land right away either, and I hope someday he does.”
“Me too. It’s beautiful here, Gray.”
“You grew up in the city. Could you…ever see this as your home?”
I let my gaze drift across the land, the rolling hills with grass and wildflowers, the occasional stand of trees. But what was Gray asking me? Did he expect me to stay while he remained married to his wife?
“Umm, I’ve enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.” That was an acceptable answer, wasn’t it?
He switched the conversation to my work back in DC, for which I was grateful. About half an hour later, I pressed my forehead to the window, staring in awe at the lake shimmering under the sun.
“Gray…” His name was a sigh on my lips. “You know where all the romantic spots are, don’t you? This is breathtaking.”
“If I’m going to convince you to stay, I have to pull out the big guns.” His voice held a teasing note, but the silence that followed was heavy, layered with unspoken thoughts and emotions. Now would be the chance to address the elephant in the car. But again, I found myself silenced by fear of his answer.
The question lingered as we continued our drive along the winding path leading to the lake. Now and then, he stole glances at me. Our bond was still in its infancy stage, but every moment we spent together, laughing and talking about our pasts, strengthened it. But was it strong enough?
He parked the truck near the lake’s edge, where the water gleamed like a sheet of glass under the afternoon sun. Gray hopped out and opened the door for me. I stepped down from the truck right into his arms. Away from everyone, the judgmental comments, and the expectations. Being with him felt so natural.
He cupped my cheek and placed his lips on mine. Sighing, I opened up to him and leaned into him. I tangled my fingers in his hair, holding him to me. Maybe. Just maybe I didn’t need the wedding. Maybe I didn’t need a gold band on my third finger, no wedding cake, no first dance, and no honeymoon. Maybe all I needed was Gray, the warmth of his loving gaze, the fierceness of his protective nature. Maybe it was enough to just have him, to have this.
If it came down to Carter and the wedding and Gray but no wedding, I would have to choose Gray.
Relax, Ozzie. There’s no rush. It’s a beautiful day, and you have a man who treats you right for a change. Go with the flow.
“Feeling better?” Gray asked against my lips.
“Yeah.”
“So we agree. Whatever backlash we face will be worth it?”
I gave a tiny nod. “I trust you.”
“And I won’t ever abuse that.”
“Gray…” I struggled for words. What could I say to that? I nodded instead, a silent agreement with his promise. He broke our embrace and walked to the truck. “Have you ever gone fishing?”
“No,” I admitted with a laugh. Gray’s face broke into a wide grin as he retrieved two fishing rods from the truck bed. His eyes sparked with excitement.
“Then let me show you how, but first, let’s get some sunscreen on you.”
Gray insisted on being the one to add sunblock to my skin. With gentle movements, his fingers danced over my arms and shoulders, his touch igniting a fire in my veins.
