Page 19 of Curvy Girl and the Grumpy Cowboy

His arms tighten around me, keeping me close against him.

"Seven years," he murmurs into my hair. "Never again, Sarah. I promise."

I rest my cheek against his chest, listening to his heartbeat gradually slow. Our bodies remain connected, neither of usready to separate yet. His fingers trace lazy patterns on my back, and I feel more content than I have in years.

"What are you thinking?" he asks after a while, his voice a low rumble beneath my ear.

I smile, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. "That this feels right. Being with you again."

"It does." His arms tighten around me. "Like everything finally clicked back into place."

I shift slightly to look at him, propping my chin on his chest. "But things are different now. We're different."

Jackson brushes a strand of hair from my face, his expression thoughtful. "I know. You've built something important here. The therapy center, your career."

"And you have the ranch," I add. "Your family."

"So where does that leave us?" he asks.

This is a side of Jackson Covington few people ever see—the uncertainty beneath the capable exterior.

I trace the line of his jaw with my fingertip. "It leaves us figuring it out together this time. No ultimatums. No all-or-nothing choices."

He captures my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. "What about the center? I don't want to distract you from getting it off the ground."

"You won't," I assure him. "If anything, having you in my corner makes me stronger." I smile. "Besides, the Covington name carries weight around here. It will help with whatever I might need."

He chuckles. "Happy to throw my name and money at anything that makes you smile like that."

"And the ranch?" I ask, more hesitantly. "I know how much it means to you."

Jackson is quiet for a moment, his hand still stroking my back. "The ranch is my heritage. My responsibility. But I've been thinking a lot lately about what that really means." He meets my eyes. "My brothers are finding their own paths. Maybe it's time I figured out how to balance duty with what I want for myself."

"And what do you want, Jackson?"

His expression softens. "You. Us. A future together that doesn't mean either of us giving up important parts of ourselves."

My heart swells at his words. "The Miller place is only fifteen minutes from your ranch," I point out. "Not exactly a long-distance relationship."

"True." A smile tugs at his lips. "And I hear the owner might be looking for volunteers with horse experience."

"Is that so?" I laugh softly. "I suppose I could find a use for a ruggedly handsome cowboy around the place."

His expression turns more serious. "What about Cole? He's pretty protective of you."

I sigh, thinking of my best friend who's stood by me through everything.

"He'll come around. Once he sees we're serious. That this isn't just..."

"A romp for old times' sake?" Jackson raises an eyebrow. "I think I've made it clear I'm in this for keeps, Sarah."

"So am I," I whisper, emotion tightening my throat. "But Cole might need convincing."

Jackson's thumb brushes my cheek gently. "Let me worry about my brother. He just wants you to be happy."

"And you make me happy," I say simply.

"Even when I'm stubborn? Set in my ways? Bad at talking about feelings?"

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