Page 57 of A Cowboy Takes A Chance

“I didn’t get to ask her. She was having a party celebrating her new job, and it was in full swing. That’s where she belongs.”

Roark snorted. “Did you ask her if that’s where she belonged?”

“No, he didn’t. He tore out of there like a bat out of hell.”

Both men spun around to see Presley standing in the doorway. Jaxon clamped his jaw shut to keep it from going slack when he saw her. Roark slipped out to leave them alone. Jaxon frowned at her.

“Why are you here?”

She entered the stall. “You know, I seem to remember asking you the same question in Idaho Falls, and you never answered me.”

“So that’s why you’re here? To see what I wanted?”

She shrugged. “That’s a start.”

“It doesn’t matter now, does it?”

“Jaxon Callahan, you are the most hardheaded man I have ever met. Could you just tell me?”

“I saw what I needed to see when I was there.”

Presley walked to him, stood in front of him, and folded her arms.

“What did you see?”

“I saw you having a party to celebrate your new job.”

“You saw wrong. Now, why were you there?”

“What do you mean I saw wrong?”

“You jumped to conclusions about the banner. Why. Were. You. There?”

“Christ, you’re stubborn,” he said through clenched teeth.

She laughed. “I’mstubborn? Oh, baby, I have nothing on you.” She grabbed his T-shirt in her fists. “Why were you there, Jaxon?”

“To ask you to come back to me. Happy now?”

“As a matter of fact, I am.”

“What?” He frowned.

“I’m here to tell you I want to be with you. Here in Spring City. I’ve come to love this town almost as much as I love you.”

Jaxon grabbed her arms and pulled her against him. “You want to stay here?”

“I want to stay anywhere you are, Jaxon. Don’t you know that by now? I love you.”

Pulling her into his arms, he kissed the top of her head. “I love you too.”

She gazed up at him. “Are you sure? What about Bethany?”

“I had a talk with her. I was just so scared about loving someone again. I loved her but I love you too, maybe more and that was killing me.”

Presley’s arms wrapped around his waist. “I understand.”

“I will always love her, Presley. You have to know that. She will always have a place in my heart,” he murmured as he stared into her eyes.

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