Page 25 of My Cowboy Kiss
We planned to meet at seven, but River is at my door fifteen minutes early wearing faded jeans and a black button-up shirt. In his hands, he’s holding wildflowers wrapped in brown bouquet paper.
All these years of knowing him, of seeing him as my best friend and now I see him as a man. One I suddenly feel giddy being around.
“I brought you flowers instead of a hard on.”
I laugh and take the flowers, and we stand there for a few minutes before we move at the same time. Leaning into each other, we kiss softly and if feels flowers are blooming in my heart.
“I’ll put these up,” I say when he lifts his head.
He traces his thumb under my lower lip where I’m guessing my lipstick smeared because it’s on his lips too. I reach up and wipe his lips. Lips that can deliver such pleasure…
“I have somewhere I want to take you,” he says.
That breaks me out of my trance, and I wave him in. “I’ll be ready as soon as I take care of these.” In the kitchen, I find a jar and put the flowers in, then set them in the middle of the table. “They’re so pretty.”
“Not as pretty as you,” he says from behind me.
For a second, I think he’s going to wrap his arms around me, but he doesn’t. He takes my hand and leads me out to the truck.
He drives to a dirt road that snakes along the back of Lucky River, and I know exactly where we’re heading. There’s a secluded spot on the back of the river that takes some effort to get through because the land isn’t cleared.
But it’s pretty and private with an abundance of wildflowers. River and I used to hang out there on weekends. We’d read or do homework or listen to music. My heart starts beating funny as the truth blossoms and I see it clearly now.
Those long summer days and nights and those chilly fall and winter days I wasn’t just hanging out with my best friend. I was slowly falling in love minute by minute. I’ve loved this man for years.
This information both elates and scares me.I love him, he wants me, but then what?
We reach the end of the road and River takes out a lantern and carries it while we hike through the trees and brush to get to our spot. He goes ahead of me, pushing things out of the way so I can get through easier.
When we arrive, he sets the lantern down near a circle of rocks we’d gathered years ago and used to sit on.
The only noise comes from the river gushing down below us. We lay back on the grass, hands behind our heads looking up at the stars.
“I got my name from this river,” he says. “After Gavin and Frances brought us home, they told us we could do anything we wanted to do. Be anything we wanted to be. None of us were used to having the freedom to think for ourselves.”
My mouth goes dry. River doesn’t usually mention the past. That he’s doing so now means something is going on. Iautomatically assume it’s bad news because that’s what I do when I get worried.
“I didn’t know you changed your name.”
“I was glad to shed every bit of ties to a past I hate. I thought changing my name meant I could be someone new.” He breathes deeply. “But I was still me with all the hurt and anger and grief. Just with a different name.”
I put my hand on his and he laces our fingers together.
“I’m telling you this because I need you to know that I’m not perfect. I don’t lose my temper easily. Except if someone is trying to hurt you and then I get mad. I’ve traveled a lot trying to deal with what happened to me and find out where I belong. Then I got the call about the ranch and returned home.”
“Is something going on for you to tell me this?”
He turns his head to look at me. “I’m telling you this because I’ve realized while I was trying to outrun the past that being a cowboy is all I want to do. I’ll always have to work long, hard hours. I don’t reckon I’ll ever be a rich man.”
“Okay…”
“I’m telling you this now because what I’m about to say might impact your life.”
Now I’m more worried. “Just tell me.”
“It might seem abrupt or too soon to you but it’s not new to me at all. I love you. I’ve loved you for years and I don’t want to stand on the sidelines any longer.”
He sits up and digs in his pocket, taking out a gold wedding band. He holds it out. “Marry me, Courtney. I swear your heart will forever be safe with me.”
