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“Well, then you can consider it a brief peck to express my approval at the choice of outfits for tonight’s date. But there won’t be any confusion when I kiss you for real, Margaret Lily.”

In fact, despite the fact he’d stolen a few kisses since she’d come home, he was nervous about an end-of-the-night kiss that might show off his ardent feelings for her.

He tucked the image of the rosy pink that blossomed on her cheeks into his memories so he could recall it later on. Man, she was beautiful. And smart and hardworking and—

“Can I show you something?”

“If it’s food, yes. I’m starving, Bennett Marshall.”

“It’s not food, but I promise you’ll like it.”

She nodded and he walked her down the path that led to the cottonwood tree where he’d first told her she was pretty. What a gross understatement by a kid who hadn’t known any better.

Maggie erupted in what could only be described as her signature excited laugh—a half-squeal, half-giggle. And it was wholly adorable.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, running a hand along the smooth wood of the swing. He’d replaced the old, decaying rope from their childhood with a nylon climbing rope. “And no more splinters.”

“That was the idea.”

“And no more stained jeans.”

“See? You get it. Jax was furious I took down the tire, but no one actually liked it. They liked what it gave them. And this,” he said, sitting on the smooth wood plank he’d sanded and stained to protect both the wood and bare skin both, “will give us the same thing. Sans the splinters and black back sides, of course.”

He patted the space beside him and she sat, leaning against his shoulder and the back support he’d added. Contentment washed over him. This was what he’d envisioned, building the new swing a few years ago. Maggie curled up beside him, a light breeze carrying her scent of vanilla and sunshine to him, the world on pause while love simmered and steeped.

“So, talk to me. What’s bugging you?”

“How could you tell?”

“Your sigh. People in the next county heard it.”

She nudged him with her shoulder.

“I dunno. It’ll sound silly, but I wish I had a sibling to fight with or a mom to meddle in my business.”

Bennett wrapped her tighter against him.

“Sorry, I must sound so ungrateful, huh? I mean, I have a good business, a few great friends and my dad left me the ranch I coveted my whole life.”

“But you’re lonely,” he whispered.

“So lonely. It’s why the city helped. You’re not lonely if you’re never alone. Or at least not as lonely.”

Did she miss it? His stomach hardened with fear. Would he lose her again?

“Well, I know I’m not family,” he whispered into her hair. Not yet, anyway. “But you can talk to me anytime you want. I already added you to the slim list of folks who can call after my notifications are silenced.”

“Wow. That speaks volumes for a man who used to love his sleep.”

“I still do. I just care about you more.”

“Thank you. I feel the same. Except the sleep part. After moving back, I cherish that more than most anything.”

She nudged him playfully, and they rocked in silence for what felt like an eternity, even though it was only a moment.

“You may not believe this, but you were my best friend back then. And even though you showed up shinier, I see that girl in there.”

The thing was, he could feel that girl underneath the persona she’d cultivated and more and more each day, she came closer to making an appearance.