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“It definitely makes you into who you are today,” she said.

“Yeah, and that person can change into anything she wants.” He took her hand again. “Anyone she wants, at any time.”

She squeezed his fingers. “You understand why I did what I did last year, though, right? It’s really important to me that you understand. I never, ever thought my feelings for you would get so deep, and I certainly never meant to hurt you.”

Misty faced him then, and pure agony lived on her face. “I am so, so sorry, and I need you to know that the very idea of being with you scares me. You’re so good, Link. Your family is so big and so amazing. I don’t like small towns, because I still feel a little trapped here.” She swallowed, and Link just wanted to take all the scary things in her life and root them right out.

Just strip them away until she didn’t have to think about them or worry over them any longer.

“I am an island,” he said. “The only one in my family. I have no one who shares my blood.” He lifted her hand to his lips. “You make me feel less alone. When I’m with you, I feel like maybe, just maybe, someone will see me the way they see Mitch or Smiles or my daddy. No one ever sees me, Misty, and you did. You do.”

She cradled his face in her hand. “I see you, Lincoln.”

“And I’m not like any other man you’ve ever known,” he said with as much force as he dared. He needed her to know there were good men in the world, and that he was one of them. No, he wasn’t perfect, but he wasn’t here to use her, abandon her, or hurt her.

A tiny smile touched her face. “I know, because you let me dictate everything in our previous relationship.”

“I’m weak is what you’re saying,” he said.

“No.” She shook her head.

“Desperate, then.”

“Link, you’re wonderful.”

He looked away, back to the town he loved so much. “Three Rivers has actually doubled in size in the past twenty years,” he said after several long moments of silence between them.

“Oh, you’re making that up.”

Link chuckled. “I am not. Those high rises weren’t there when I was a little boy.” Heck, only five houses or cabins had existed on the ranch when he’d come to live here as an eight-year-old. Now they had over a dozen, with a new cabin community too.

“I think they’re pretty.”

“I don’t hate them the way some of my uncles do,” Link said. “So.” He took a deep breath. “Are we really doing this?”

“I think so,” she said.

“No,” he said, hardly feeling like himself. “That doesn’t work for me. I need you to look me in the eye and tell me we’re dating again, and that it’s okay for us to be serious.”

Misty turned toward him, and he caught a flash of fear in her expression. He’d just asked her to break her rules, the ones she’d implemented to keep herself safe for all these years.

And as he pulled his hand away from hers, he had no idea what she’d say next.

Chapter Ten

Misty could scarcely believe she’d told Link all she had. Looking at him now, on the other side of the hard conversation, she only felt pride for being strong enough to face him, to tell him the truth.

Her hand echoed with coldness without his enclosing it, and she looked down at her fingers, his intense gaze way too heavy to hold. All she knew from men were flirtations. Some fun kissing, sure, but nothing more.

Pain, and lies, and hurt, and anger, and unkindness.

“Lincoln,” she said quietly. “If we do this your way, and to be clear, I want to, it’ll be the first serious relationship I’ve had.”

“Okay,” he said. “Me too.”

That got her to look up. “What? You told me you’d dated throughout high school and college.” He’d confessed he hadn’t had much luck with women once he’d graduated and returned to Three Rivers, to the ranch, but he’d definitely had other girlfriends in the past.

“Yeah, sure,” he said. “But they weren’t serious. Never made it that far.” He shifted on the bench and gazed down to the gorgeous town. As the darkness continued to gather, the lights came on, casting the buildings, houses, cars, and people in cheery, twinkling magic.