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“Here’s what you need to know about me. I’m tough, Lace. I’m sure what you saw last night appeared far worse than it really was. Remember, I’m a trained professional. I quickly calculated the risk and knew I’d make it out, and I trusted the first responders of this town would take care of me on the other side. I realize that requires a huge leap of faith for Mama and anyone who gets close to me.”

She faced me with her soulful brown eyes and my breath caught in my throat. “I’ll work on my faith. You work on staying safe. That’s the deal for us to move forward. Okay?”

A rush of feelings swept through me. “Hell yes.” I swooped her up and carried her back to the Adirondack chair, positioning her across my lap.

We sat and sipped our coffees. Only she made a face. “Ugh. Black? Think they forgot the caramel.”

I sniffed my cup and grimaced. Even in my condition, the smell proved too sweet. “That one’s mine, actually. To be honest, I prefer plain without all the sweet stuff.” I passed hers over.

She frowned. “You drink it straight? But you ordered caramel that first day.”

Sheepishly, I admitted, “It was silly, but I wanted any excuse to keep talking to you, so I ordered the same and it worked.” I took a long pull of the strong bitter brew and sighed further back into the seat.

“Guess it did.” She grinned and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, then arched her eyebrow at me. “I also found out that it wasn’t Carson, butyouwho looked after my house while I was gone.”

I focused on the far shore of our pretty town lake. “He needed help, and seemed way in over his head starting the shop up. I’d do anything for my brothers, so I guess, at first, I didn’t want you thinking any less of him that he couldn’t handle the extra responsibility.”

She placed her hand on my arm. “You could’ve called me, Hudson. The mowing, the dusting—you didn’t have to do all of that.”

“But that’s what I do,” I said quietly. “Take care of the people I care about.”

“And you care about me?” Her voice cracked like fragile glass.

I met her eyes, trying to say everything my heart needed to say with just one look. “More than breathing, Lace. I know you’ve only been back here a few days, but I can’t look at you without yearning for more.”

On her armrest, her phone buzzed, and I glanced down, reading the name Archer on the text. She let it go.

“Archer?” I cocked a brow, praying it wasn’t some city slick boyfriend of hers I’d have to deal with.

“That’s my old boss. We’ve been texting about things. He’s offered me my job with salary increase and more,” she explained.

So… I’d lost her before we’d barely began. Might as well lay my cards on the table. This was something I gave great consideration to as I tossed and turned in the hospital. I took in a shaky breath and leaned my head back. “I’m falling for you fast, Lace. Told you as much last night. But if you need to go back to New York—I’ll move, too. I’ll get a job with a fire department there or something.”

“What? No. You have it all wrong. Archer has simply offered to draft the plans to rebuild my house, as a gift.” She suddenly straddled me in the chair, facing me head on. My heartstuttered, my hands landing on her thighs as her palms cupped my face.

“I don’t need New York. I need you. Hudson, I’m scared, but I’m not running. I’m going to rebuild. Put down roots. Make Poppy Valley my home.”

My lips twitched, searching her eyes for the truth. “Are you sure? Last night you hesitated.”

“Yesterday I was drowning, but you’ve been there every step of the way to save me. Today I see everything so clearly.” She kissed my lips, sweet and tempting. “I left Poppy Valley once to chase a dream. But it led me back here to you.”

“Are you sure I’m what you want?” I brushed my palms up and down her thighs.

“Yes, Hudson. Let’s see where this takes us.” She pressed her lips to mine again, slow and savoring. I could sit here all day with her and die a happy man. But my cock got too excited, especially when she shifted against it on my lap.

I groaned. “Anything else I can help you with right now?”

A wicked glint lit her eyes. “I could come up with a list.” She rocked her hips, not doing me any favors.

“You know I’m good with lists. Tell me what you need and I’ll take care of you,” I growled, hands sliding beneath the cardigan, beneath the t-shirt to her back—bare, warm, perfect. That’s when I noticed she was wearing one of my old country bar tees.Myshirt. Onher.The vibes messed with my head in every good way.

I deepened our kisses, taking what I needed, demanding that she meet me there.

She parted, breathlessly lost in the moment with me. “I want you, Hudson. Take me today.”

She didn’t need to ask me again. The heat in her eyes undid me. My jeans were already too tight. If I didn’t get her skin on mine soon, I was going to combust worse than a five-alarm fire.

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