Page 43 of Sweet Surprise

The evening had cooled, the Texas heat giving way to a quiet night. Stars were sparkling in the darkened sky, pinpricks of light against a blackened backdrop. Carson stood at the railing, his back to her, shoulders slightly hunched.

“Nights never looked anything like this in Dallas.” She came to stand at his side.

“Light pollution.”

Her head bobbed. So much was in her mind and heart, she had no idea where to begin. “You lied to Mason. My money’s on that arm hurts a lot more than ‘not too bad,’ doesn’t it?”

Carson’s mouth quirked into a half-smile. “Maybe a little.”

“Hm, maybe huh?”

He shrugged his good shoulder. “Worth it.”

The simple statement hung between them in the evening air. Worth it. Two small words that somehow contained everything.

“I don’t know what I would have done if anything had happened to Mason.”

Carson swallowed hard then nodded.

“Or you,” she said softly.

His gaze turned from the distant horizon to her. Their eyes met, and something shifted inside her. Could she tell him all that she’d been feeling since coming to the ranch? What she understood now better than ever before?

“Jess,” he set his coffee mug on the railing, turning to face her fully, “we need to talk.”

Her heart stuttered in her chest. No good ever came from a conversation that started with those three words. “Okay.”

“First, I want to thank you.”

Thank her? “You’re welcome, but for what?”

Tipping his head to one side, a slight smile teased at one corner of his mouth. “For being the same person I remember from so long ago, for coming all the way out here in person to tell me about Mason, for agreeing to this hare-brained idea of marrying to save the ranch, for letting me become a father to Mason.” He hesitated a second. “I could go on, but that’s a good start.”

“Well,” she tried not to let her nerves show, “if I’m anything at all like I was before Mason was born, that’s because of you.” She waved her arm toward the house. “And everyone here. You’ve all been wonderful. It’s the first home I’ve had in such a long time.”

That hint of a smile blossomed. “I’m sorry you’ve had it rough for so long. I… I wish I’d fought harder.”

Now she cocked her head to one side. “I don’t understand.”

Moving forward slightly, he reached for her hand with his good arm, then must have thought better of it, dropping his hand to his side. “The first time I saw you walking across the quadrangle, you had my attention. When you walked into the same class as me, I was hooked. Then, as time went by and we became friends, you had my heart.”

She knew she was staring at him wide eyed, but was he saying what she thought he was saying?

“I had no choice but to bite my tongue and keep my feelings to myself. You were dating Todd, you seemed happy.”

Her mouth opened slightly to speak, but Carson held his palm open at her.

“Please. Let me finish or I’ll never get it all out.”

Biting down on her lower lip, she nodded.

“When Todd walked out on you that night at the frat party, when you seemed so angry at him, so sure you were through with him forever, I’d never been happier in my life.”

Unable to speak, she just listened.

“Yes, we had a few drinks, and yes my wisdom filter was shot, but if you didn’t know it then, I’ll tell you, now. For me it wasn’t just a one night stand, I showed you everything I felt inside in the best way I knew how.”

That brought a smile to her face. Perhaps it wasn’t the appropriate response, but she’d finally recognized that night that her feelings for Carson had gone far past mere friendship.

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