Page 126 of Major Love

Was it just last night that we finally crossed that line? That he lay me down in front of his fireplace and we got together for the first time?

And after a lifetime of loving him from afar, there’s no way that we can go back to that now.

Now that he’s shown me every part of himself, I want to keep him forever.

And I want him to keep me, too – here with him, in the mountains.

“The reason why I left Nashville was so that the story in theObserverwould die down,” I remind Riley, a little more softly this time. “I’m just worried that you being here could reignite that article all over again.”

“The article’s gone – you don’t need to worry about that anymore,” Riley reassures me, and I twist my lips to the side because that’s actually kind of sweet.

“So how come you’re here?” I ask him, laughing slightly because it’s surreal. I’ve onlyeverseen Riley in Nashville, so him being in the mountains is crazy to me.

Because out here in the real wilderness, a guy like him wouldn’t last a day.

Riley gives me his trademark smile and says, “I’m here to bring you home.”

Now I really do laugh. “You realise that I wasn’t born in Nashville, right?”

“I know that,” he says, chuckling quietly. “But it’s been long enough now, and I know about the offer from the other bar…”

He lets his sentence hang in the air, reminding me about the job offer back in Nashville, but I’ve honestly barely thought about it for a pretty long while now.

The money may be amazing but the best things in life are free.

“I’m on vacation,” I say slowly, choosing my words carefully. “And it was real kind of you to make the journey but I’m… working on something else, while I’m here.”

“Like what?” he asks, alarmed.

My relationship with the man who I’ve loved forever.

I twiddle with the fluffy pouf of my ponytail and say, “Just some stuff for the bar.”

I decide not to specify the fact that I’m talking about Casey’s bar, and not the one back in Nashville.

But Riley sighs with relief, glancing back at the silver car and then back to me.

And then up at the house.

Yeah, buddy. You won’t be staying here.

He stubs the heel of his cowboy boot in a solid pile of snow and says, “I’m gonna go head to my hotel. The flight was… really long.”

“How long are you staying for?” I ask, my tone softening, because I wouldn’t mind us hanging out before he leaves as long as we’re someplace discreet.

Although anywhere in Phoenix Falls would be okay for that, because it’s quiet and private and the perfect place to hide away.

“I head back not tomorrow morning but the morning after that,” he admits. “Had some time off between press-runs and could use a little r-and-r, anyway.”

Phoenix Falls is an amazing place to do that so I nod in understanding, stepping out onto the welcome mat as he backs away toward the car.

“Maybe we can hit up a bar tomorrow night?” he asks, before adding teasingly, “Scope out a little competition.”

He winks and I laugh, because that’s not a half-bad idea, even if it’s not for the reason that he thinks it is.

If we head to a little bar just outside of town then maybe Icanget some small-town inspiration for when I put the finishing touches to Casey’s place – to get it perfect for his homecoming in around a month or so’s time.

So I tuck a loose curl behind my ear and nod as I say, “Okay. But just so you know… Jason will definitely be coming with us.”

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