Page 9 of Curvy Girl and the Grumpy Cowboy

"You sure about this?" Cole asks as we get closer to town.

"About a fundraiser?" I deflect.

Cole gives me a look. "You know what I mean."

I stare out the window at the familiar landscape slipping by. "I've never been surer of anything," I finally say. "I'm not making the same mistake twice."

"What mistake?" Ethan asks.

"Your brother's in love with Sarah Matthews," Cole tells him bluntly. "Has been for seven years."

"Cole—" I start.

"Oh, that," Ethan says, "I knew that."

Both Cole and I stare at him.

"What?" Ethan shrugs. "It's obvious. You get all weird whenever someone mentions Seattle. And you have that picture of her in your nightstand drawer."

My face heats. "You went through my drawers?"

"Looking for batteries," he says defensively. "Besides, anyone with eyes can see you never got over her."

Cole's expression softens slightly as he turns back to the road. "Just be careful, both of you. There's a lot of water under that bridge."

The community hall is transformed when we arrive. Strings of lights hang across the ceiling, giving the utilitarian space a warm glow. Round tables with white cloths are scattered around a dance floor, and a small stage holds a local band setting up their equipment. It's not fancy by city standards, I'm sure, but for Cedar Falls, it's downright elegant.

The place is already half-full, townsfolk dressed in their Sunday best, mingling and eyeing the silent auction tables along one wall. I scan the room, searching for her.

"Tickets are at the door," Cole reminds me, nodding toward a table where Melissa Walker and her father are collecting money.

I nod absently, still looking. And then the crowd shifts, and there she is.

Sarah stands near the stage, talking with Mayor Henderson, her hands moving animatedly as she explains something. She's wearing a simple dark blue dress that falls just past her knees, her hair swept up to expose the graceful line of her neck. She looks confident. Radiant. Like a woman who knows exactly who she is and what she wants.

"Breathe, brother," Aaron murmurs as he passes, Elena on his arm. "You look like you're facing a firing squad."

I swallow hard, straightening my tie. "I'm fine."

"Sure you are." He claps me on the shoulder. "For what it's worth, I think you're doing the right thing."

That makes me look at him in surprise. Aaron's never been one to weigh in on personal matters.

He shrugs. "Life's too short for regrets. I learned that first in the military and then with Elena."

As Aaron moves away with Elena, Cole steps up beside me. His expression is serious as he places a hand on my shoulder.

"Listen, Jackson. Before you go over there—are you absolutely sure this is what you want? Because if you're just caught up in the moment of seeing her again..." He shakes his head. "Sarah deserves better than that."

I meet my brother's gaze steadily. "I've spent seven years regretting letting her walk away. Seven years wondering 'what if.' I'm not acting on impulse. I’ve told you. I've never been more certain of anything."

"Alright then." A small smile finally cracks his serious expression. "Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think you two were always meant to find your way back to each other."

That surprises me coming from him. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Just don't mess it up this time." He gives my shoulder a squeeze and steps back. "Now go get her."

I take a deep breath, smooth my jacket, and with one last adjustment to my tie, I start making my way across the room. People nod and greet me as I pass, but I barely register them. My focus is entirely on the woman in the blue dress.

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