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My chest feels tight. She’s leaving. Or thinking about it. I knew this couldn’t last forever. I knew this moment was coming.

And yet I’m unprepared for how fucking awful it feels. My body is hollowed out except for this weird, tinny reverberation that’s like a kick to the chest.

Mollie is leaving.

“That’s the call I was on.” Mollie takes a sharp inhale through her nose. “Mom’s lawyers have been trying to figure out a way around that stipulation since the reading of the will. They got a judge to strike it down.”

“How?” It’s an idiot question, but I don’t know what to say.

Mollie shrugs. “I don’t know. But her legal team means business, so…”

I wish I could be angry. Anger is clean. Easy.

Sadness isn’t.

“So you gotta go back.” I manage a tight smile.

“To sign the paperwork, yes.”

“But for the long haul too.”

Her eyes continue to search mine. “I do want to go back to Dallas. My mom, my friends…things for Bellamy Brooks are finally happening.”

“And you’ve worked so hard for all of that.” I swallow. “You’ve built a life you should be proud of in Dallas.”

“I am proud of it.” She blinks, a tear rolling down her face. “But I’m also proud of the life I’m building here. I want to go, but I don’t want to leave. In fact, I really, really want to stay.”

My hands find her hips. I squeeze them and close my eyes. “Then stay, honey.”

“But how do we make that work? I hate the idea of never being fully present in either place. The ranch is such a magical spot, and it deserves someone’s full attention and devotion. It wouldn’t be fair to half-ass it. It wouldn’t be right.” She wipes away a tear. “But God, I’m in love with it, and I don’t want to just leave it all behind.”

She’s talking about the ranch.

She’s also talking about me. Us. The spark between us that unexpectedly burst into a bonfire.

I run my thumb along the buttons on her shirt. She dresses like a real cowgirl now. Jeans, Ariat shirt, working boots.

I clear my throat. My voice is still hoarse with emotionwhen I say, “I want to make it crystal clear that I’d like you to stay on the ranch. I’d like that very much. But I also understand why you have to leave.”

“I’m happy here.” She takes my face in her hands. “Happier than I’ve been in a long, long time. But I’m also happy when I’m with my mom and my friends. I’m obsessed with the boots I’m making.” Her lips feather over mine. “I’m more obsessed with you, though. You wouldn’t consider?—”

“Moving to Dallas?” I open my eyes. “You said it yourself. The people on this ranch are my everything. My family is here. My work is here. I’m not a city kinda guy.”

Mollie scoffs. “One of the many things I love about you.”

“Then don’t try to turn me into something I’m not.”

Her eyes flicker with hurt.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “That came out wrong. I know you wouldn’t ever try to change me.”

“I wouldn’t.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

She takes a deep breath. “I appreciate the apology. Thank you.”

“What I’m trying to say is, we both deserve to chase our dreams. Yours are in Dallas, and mine are here. In Hartsville. Rivers Ranchismy dream. Making it into the place it’s always meant to be. I want that more than anything. Or I used to want it more than anything.” I swallow. “Now I want you.”