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“Shinier?”

“You should’ve seen your hair that first day. It was pretty, but it could’ve helped land planes.” He stole a glance at her.

Maggie laughed. “The city did have a certain effect on me. But I loved it while I was there. The lights, the energy—I felt like it made me tough in a way I couldn’t get here.”

“Hey, ranching is tough.”

“Don’t I know it. Remind me to tell you about the fiasco yesterday with the irrigation system. But the city was cutthroat. Mean, sometimes. It helped me grow up and figure out how to advocate for myself, I guess.” She shrugged. “Does that make sense?”

Bennett clasped her hand. “It does. Maybe we can head to Austin one night for some live music and dinner we didn’t cook?”

She squeezed his hand. “I’d love that.”

Hope and sentiment swirled in his chest. There was so much behind them, pushing them apart, but what was in front of them was stronger; Bennett could feel it.

“So, um, we should head back. I’ve got some more groceries to unload.”

“You bet.”

They walked in comfortable silence and, when they got back to his place, they walked hand-in-hand to her truck.

“Head into the kitchen and grab the glass of wine I poured for you. I’ll grab ’em.”

He opened up the passenger side of her dad’s old Ford, the creak of worn metal hinges louder than it was a couple weeks ago. He’d work on them tomorrow, maybe see if she needed an oil change, too.

Loading the reusable bags in one arm, he caught a glance at a stack of papers behind the last bag. Crumpled bills she’d paid off, it looked like. But one stuck out in its crispness. Sublet papers for her apartment in San Antonio. It had just been printed, and his eye caught the date. It was signed today.

Not papers to cancel her lease. These were bet-hedging papers.

Knock it off. She’s making the move her own way. Give her space and time to figure it out.

Yeah. He could do that. But he’d be coming back to those papers at some point. He couldn’t commit to another woman whose heart wasn’t completely here. His heart wouldn’t take it, not with how much of it had always beat for Maggie.

“Your place is beautiful,” she called out from the kitchen. She rummaged through drawers and his heart pulled seeing her in his kitchen. In his home.

“Thanks. Hey, I saw a set of papers in your truck. You’re just subletting?”

She sighed and put down her glass of wine with enough force it almost broke the glass.

Great job waiting, buddy. And nice tone you set for tonight.

“May I ask why you were rifling through my paperwork?”

“I wasn’t. They were out in the open and I saw the date. Sorry if you feel like it’s snooping, but I kinda wanted to know.”

“I’m faxing them into the Realtor tomorrow, that’s why they were out in the open. But yes, I’m subletting. For now.”

“For now.” He hated those words something fierce.

“Bennett, I was clear with you. I’m staying as long as it makes sense to. I can’t make promises beyond that until I can be sure I can manage two companies.”

“Okay. Well, I can work with that. Because I’ve got enough resources to help you weather any storm.”

“I don’t need your charity, Bennett. I can do this myself, and if I can’t, I’ll face my consequences.”

“Maggie, it isn’t charity if I want to give it and you need it.”

“What would you call it, then?”