Watching Kennedy emerge from the bathroom with her sister, there's a determined look on her face. I know she has questions and is going to want to answers, and I welcome the chance to talk to her about all of this. She walks straight to me, her gaze steady, but there's a slight tremor in her voice as she speaks.
"Will you join me for a walk outside where we can hear better?" she asks.
She doesn't have to ask me twice. I take her hand in mine and lead her out of the barn into the cool evening air.
The noise from the dance fades away the farther we walk from the barn. For a moment, we both enjoy the evening air as we walk towards a bench off to the side.
"I thought you said you weren't coming," she says again, just like she did on the dance floor.
"I wasn't, but the thought of someone else dancing with you..." I trail off, shaking my head and hoping she gets my meaning. When I look over, she's looking at me with an expectant expression.
"I'm really glad you came. I was hoping that you would," she says.
At her words, my heart races. It’s that little bit of encouragement that I needed.
"Yeah?" It sounds so lame to my ears, but I want her to keep talking.
"You have to know that I've developed feelings for you over these last few days. I haven't tried to hide it," she whispers, looking down at her hands in her lap.
The words hit me in the gut and the feelings that I've been trying to deny come rushing forward. I play her words in my head over and over.
"I feel the same way. I think I fell for you the first time I saw you on the shore of the lake. And ever since, I've been falling for you over and over."
The pure relief on her face says everything. While my mind is still trying to take everything in, she reaches over and takes my hand, intertwining her fingers with mine. Needing more than just that small connection, I pull her onto my lap and hold her tight.
This causes her to giggle, but she relaxes into me and rests her head on my shoulder.
"What does this mean for us, though?" I ask, breaking the silence around us.
She doesn't answer right away. Though she doesn't try to move away from me either. If anything, I swear, she settles into me more.
"It means that I'm not going to New York City anymore. Not when Mustang Mountain holds much more appeal," she says with a smile on her face.
"But I don't want you giving up your dreams for me."
"What dream am I giving up? I was just trying to figure out where I belonged, and I thought a complete change of pace might be it. But all I needed was for you to figure out where I belong. Maybe my grandparents knew all along that this was where I would end up. Then I needed to realize it."
Holding her tighter, I kiss the top of her head. When I look up across the lawn, Ruby is there with a smile on her face. When our eyes lock, she gives me a wink.
"Well, looks like Ruby has won again," I joke. I don't know how that woman does it, but she seems to always get her way. Now I feel a little sorry for Nate and Dean, who I’m pretty sure are next on her list.
We sit in our own little bubble for a few more minutes before heading back to meet up with her sister.
"You thirsty?" I ask.
"Water please," she nods, smiling.
I leave her to chat with her sister, as I'm sure they have plenty to talk about. Going over to the bar, I grab them both a water and talk with Ace who is tending the bar.
"Have to say I didn't expect you to be here," Ace says.
"You and me both."
"Does it have anything to do with that pretty girl that was just on your arm?"
"It has everything to do with her," I tell him. Though I couldn't stop the smile that spreads across my face if I tried.
"Yeah, I know that smile. Dammit, Ruby is never going to stop now, is she?" Ace grunts.
"Well, after Nate and Dean, who else is there? The rest of the single MC guys? Maybe then she will."
"Feel sorry for those two." Ace hands me the water, and when I make my way back to the girls, I find some fake cowboy with brand new boots talking to Kennedy.
She looks uncomfortable and the need to claim her as mine kicks in. When I hand her the water, she looks up at me and smiles. What can I do but lean in then and kiss her? Hopefully, a clear sign to the whole damn town that this girl is mine.
Wrapping an arm around her waist, I pull her in close. When she starts to melt into me, I start to relax. That is, until a throat clears next to us.
Reluctantly, I pull back to find Ford and Luna beside us with big grins on their faces.
"I think we should go get your stuff from your cabin and move it back to mine." I lean in and whisper in her ear.
She looks back up at me with big eyes. "Why?"
"Because I'm not spending another night without you. Either you move in with me or I hope you two have room in Ruby's cabin.”
"Go! I have my eyes on something here," her sister says, looking at the other side of the room.
After a few hugs, Kennedy takes my hand and I lead her back out to my truck. She's right where she belongs. Back in my truck, holding my hand as we drive.
I'm going to make sure this is where she stays because I got a glimpse of what it's like when she isn't, and I don't want to ever be there again.