Page 51 of Saddle and Bound

And if that someone should be me... well, I'd be the luckiest man in the world.

With this thought, I close my eyes, letting the sound of her breathing lull me to sleep. Tomorrow is another day, and I can't wait to live it with her. To show her more wonders of nature, to see her smile, to hear her laugh.

I feel more at home than ever.

And home, I realize with a smile, smells like Miss Dior huile de rose and sounds like Rosie's breathing in the night.

Chapter 27

Alex

I wake up slowly, the morning sun filtering through the trees. For a moment, I remain still, enjoying the sensation of peace that surrounds me. I've slept deeply, better than I have in years.

And then I remember the dream. Rosie. She was in a meadow, her bare feet caressing the green grass. Her red hair danced in the wind, brown eyes shining with an intense light. She wore a loose white dress that swayed gently, and wildflowers were woven into her hair. She was... ethereal. Beautiful.

In the dream, I approached her. She laughed, a pure and joyous sound that seemed to merge with the birdsong around us. She took my hand and we began to dance, light as air, happier than I'd ever been.

A smile forms on my lips at the memory. It was such a vivid dream, so real. I can almost still smell the flowers, feel the warmth of her hand in mine...

And then, suddenly, I stop. The smile vanishes from my face as realization hits me like a punch to the stomach.

Last night. My thoughts before falling asleep. I had thought... oh, damn.

I sit up abruptly, panic beginning to grow inside me. No, no, no. It can't be. I couldn't have had all those thoughts...

Damn... this seems like much more than a simple crush, or attraction, or any other damn sentimental thing that was already enough to send my brain into overdrive.

This seems dangerously more like something Chris might think.

And if Chris is in the equation... it all seems dangerously too sentimental, all too similar to love.

I can't have fallen in love. Not with Rosie. Not this quickly.

"Calm down, Alex," I mutter to myself, running a hand through my hair. "They were just passing thoughts. They don't mean anything."

But as much as I try to convince myself, I know I’m lying. The way my heart races every time I see her, the thrill I get from our playful banter, the constant pull to have her near me—none of this is normal. This is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.

"Shit," I whisper, suddenly realizing how screwed I am. I'm in deeper than I expected. It's not a passing crush, not just physical attraction. It's something deeper, more dangerous.

I stand up, trying to shake away these thoughts. I can't afford to think like this.

But then I hear movement and turn around. Rosie is still asleep, curled up in my jacket. The morning sun illuminates her face, making her hair shine like molten copper. She's so beautiful it takes my breath away.

And in that moment, looking at her, I know it's too late to protect myself. I've already fallen, and fallen hard.

"You're in trouble, cowboy," I mutter to myself, unable to look away from her. "You're in serious trouble."

With a sigh, I head toward the fire to relight it and prepare breakfast. While I work, I try not to think about how screwed I am, about how difficult it will be to say goodbye to Rosie when the time comes and she won't want me with her.

Why would she want me? What would she do with someone like me?

I focus on the present. I have to, otherwise I'll go even more crazy. I focus on how to give her the best possible experience at this campsite. On how to make her smile, how to make the experience carefree.

Because if these are the only moments I'll have with her, I want them to be perfect. Even if it means suffering afterward.

"Good morning, cowboy," Rosie's sleepy voice makes me jump. I turn to see her stretching, her hair tousled and her eyes still half-closed.

And despite all my doubts and fears, I can't help but smile. "Good morning, princess. Sleep well?"

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