Page 23 of The Cowboy Contract
And, if he’d accomplished what he intended over these past days, tonight would fix everything. Not just the current absence of Paige from his life, but all the years of holding back the truth that came before it. If he managed to play his cards right—which obviously wasn’t his strong suit when it came to her—the upcoming years would be very different from the ones in their past.
He pulled up in front of Paige’s house, parking in the driveway. After shutting off the engine of his truck, he squinted out through the rainy night at the dark windows. Paige only tookone day off a week, and this was supposed to be that day, but it looked like she wasn’t home.
Maybe she was just piled up on her sofa watchingPersuasionfor the millionth time, enjoying the darkened peace and quiet. She could also be asleep. Lord knew the woman didn’t get enough rest.
He wasn’t even out of the truck and already wanted to kick his own ass. He should’ve come over earlier. Should have rescheduled the meeting he had that afternoon so he could get here when it was still light out.
But he’d wanted to come when everything was already in place. Wanted to show Paige how serious he was. That his love for her knew no limits and was just as strong as the one she claimed to have for him.
Paige loved him.It still felt so surreal. Granted, she hadn’t seemed thrilled about it when she’d made the declaration in his kitchen over a week ago, but that was because she didn’t know he loved her back. In fact, Paige had seemed devastated over the possibility of losing him. She’d blurted out her confession then ran, not even giving him the opportunity to explain that he loved her too. And maybe that was better.
Words were hollow. Actions were what mattered, and he’d taken a hell of a lot of action since that morning.
Deciding he was still being at least a little bit of a coward by continuing to sit in his truck, Leland shoved open the door and stepped out into the rain. Pulling up the collar of his jacket, he ducked his head and aimed for the porch of her newly built house.
He was halfway across the perfectly manicured lawn when headlights cut across the browned grass. Slowing his steps, he squinted back to see who was pulling in behind him. Hopefully she’d ordered food, since the woman also didn’t eat the way she should. Without him around to make sure she was filling her stomach appropriately for the past two weeks, there was no telling what she’d been existing on.
Probably olives and bar mix.
But when his eyes landed on the car, the rain slicked lines didn’t belong to some random local delivery driver. No, they were familiar. As known to him as his own truck.
Paige stepped out onto the driveway, seemingly oblivious to the increasing precipitation falling onto her dark hair as she stared at him. Everything he planned to say to her dropped out of his brain at the sight of her standing there, cold and wet.
He stepped toward her, the thought of her suffering because he blocked her path to the garage grating on his skin. “What in the hell are you doing?” He shoved one finger at the house. “Get your ass inside.”
Paige didn’t even acknowledge his demand. She didn’t wipe at the water tracking over the pale skin of her cheeks. She didn’t pay attention to the strands of hair sticking to her face. She just stared at him, looking petrified.
And he couldn’t fucking take knowing he was the one who put that expression on her face. He’d fucked up again. Gone and done the wrong thing with her for the millionth time.
He should have chased her down that morning at his house. Should’ve told her everything then. But he’d never been goodabout knowing what to do when it came to his feelings for Paige, and obviously that wasn’t going to change anytime soon.
So—like the idiot he was—he blurted out the most confusing string of words possible. “I’m selling my house.”
Paige’s eyes widened, shining in the light from the fixture illuminating her driveway. “You’re leaving?” The question was a hoarse whisper.
“Fuck.” He ran a hand through his wet hair. “No. That’s not…” He stepped closer, drawn in by the need to be near her after so long apart. “I’ve never known how to tell you all the things I want to tell you, Paige.” His eyes slid over her face, hands fisting at his sides with the desire to touch her. “So I didn’t. I just dealt with it, thinking I could wait long enough it wouldn’t matter.”
Again, what he said didn’t come out right, and Paige’s lower lip trembled. “I understand. I get that I missed my chance?—”
“No,” he cut her off sharply, moving closer. “I still…”Fuck. Why was this so goddamned hard? “Your birthday was supposed to fix everything.” The rain was falling so hard now it was creeping inside the collar of his coat and running down his back, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but her. Paige knowing the truth. “You were supposed to marry me. Youpromised.”
He stepped in even more, bringing their bodies nearly together. “You mademepromise.” He barely shook his head. “But then the day came and went, and you still weren’t mine the way you said you’d be.” His frustration—his devastation—at the way that all unfolded crept into his voice. “And I assumed it meant you’d changed your mind.” He searched her eyes, trying to see if he was finally moving down the right path. “Or that you’d never really meant it at all.”
Paige blinked up at him, a single tear sliding into a path already cut by the rain. “I meant it. I just thought you didn’t?—”
Since he was shit at words and better at actions, Leland went with his strength and dropped to one knee. Reaching into the pocket of his coat, he pulled out the most important purchase he’d ever made. He flipped the velvet lid open and held it up for Paige’s judgment. “Marry me. For real this time.”
Paige made a weird sound—a cross between a gasp and a hiccup—as one hand flew to cover her mouth. Her fingers were shriveled and a little pruney from the cold and the wet, and her eyelashes clung together into little points as she stared at the ring.
In silence.
She’d said she loved him. But maybe love wasn’t enough. Maybe there was too much between them. Too many years of secrets and hidden emotions. Maybe it was too late.
She pulled in a shaky breath, the hand at her mouth moving to the box he gripped like a lifeline. Carefully—hesitantly—she plucked the ring free. Even in the darkness, it sparkled, picking up every bit of light there was to be had before reflecting it back.
He’d spent hours searching for the perfect stone. It was what she deserved. Perfection. In her ring. In her coffee. In her life.
Unfortunately, he was as far from perfect as it got. Especially when it came to spitting out the truth of how he felt for her. He and Paige talked every day. About everything. Except what was obviously most important.
