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They descended the stairs, Nate tossed the condom in the trash and washed his hands at the sink, then they laced their fingers together and walked back out into the warm night air.

Swinging hands as they traipsed through the grass, Mieka and Nate were all smiles.

“Minx?” Nate said, squeezing her hand and stopping halfway between the barn and the tent.

“Hmm?” She turned to face him and looped her arms around his neck while his hands found her hips.

“You’ll tell me if you ever grow unhappy, right? You won’t just leave.”

The worry and fear in his voice gutted her, but she tossed on a smile, lifted up onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. “I’ll tell you, I promise. But I don’t see that happening. I love it here, truly. I know I was stubborn at first, convinced that I wanted a life that was go-go-go, hustle and bustle and full of skyscrapers, jet-setting and adventures, but deep down you knew what I needed. I needed you. I needed this and I am so at peace with my decision to stay.”

His fingers tightened on her hips. “Your happiness is everything to me, Minx. Just being with you makes me happy, so I might forget from time to time to check in that you’re happy. But smack me in the head if I forget to check in and things change with how you feel.”

“I will. But I don’t think I’ll have to. I have everything I could possibly want here. A man who adores me and who I adore, family, animals, a thriving dance school—thank you for that, I can’t believe how quickly we were able to break ground and get the whole studio up and running—and best of all, a sense of purpose. You gave me all of those things. You said you didn’t want to cage a bird that simply wanted to fly, but I don’t think you’ve caged me at all. You’ve simply given me the space and opportunity to spread my wings and fly while providing me with a nest to call home and return to each night.”

Dropping his head, he claimed her mouth, deepening the kiss by wrapping his hand around the back of her head and dipping her low until the tip of her braid brushed the tall grass. “I love you, Minx, with everything that I am,” he murmured, brushing his lips across her jaw.

“And I love you … Rancher, more than I ever thought possible.”

Then he scooped her up, and laughing like love-sick fools, he ran them back to the tent where they danced the night away with all their guests, celebrating love in all its forms, and appreciating second-chances, because if anything deserves a second-chance, it’s love … and a rancher.