Page 88

“Mm, you too.” She touched her lips to his, and Link wondered if he could tell her he loved her standing outside an apartment he never wanted her to return to, in Dallas, which was seemingly so far from Three Rivers.

From home.

“You ready for this?” she whispered against his lips.

“Misty, I’m in love with you.” He kept his eyes closed, so he could breathe in the scent of her without any other distractions. He could feel her in his arms, the perfect shape of her that filled the empty places inside him with exactness. The earth swayed with them once again, and he kept his eyes closed as she traced her hand down the side of his face.

“I love you too, Link,” she whispered.

He dared to open his eyes then, because no better words had ever been spoken. He gazed at her, looking and looking and looking, learning how to breathe as a man who was loved, and reforming himself into the Lincoln Glover she needed by the moment.

Love really was such a powerful thing. The greatest impetus of change Link knew of.

She smiled and said, “Come meet Danny.”

And he let her open the door, take his hand, and lead him inside her apartment to meet her brother.

Chapter Thirty-One

Misty gripped Link’s hand as she led him into her apartment. She’d literally never thought he’d be in this place. She’d never intended to bring him to her apartment in Dallas. As she took a step closer to the kitchen, where Danny had started smearing cream cheese on his toasted bagel, she realized how foolish she’d been.

Of course Link would’ve come with her to help her move from Dallas to Three Rivers. He’d have seen the apartment then.

“This is a nice place,” Link said, his voice tinged with admiration.

“It’s usually cleaner,” Misty muttered. In a louder voice, she said, “Danny, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Lincoln Glover.”

Her brother lifted his bagel and took a bite as he turned, which was such a classic alpha-dog move. Misty wanted to roll her eyes, but she managed to refrain. He wouldn’t say hello first. He’d juggle his food before he could shake Link’s hand. He’d take the extra seconds to size up Link as if he might be found wanting.

“Hey, brother,” Link said easily, his voice carrying the smile on his face. “It’s great to meet you.” He didn’t move to shake his hand, and he looked between Misty and Danny. “I see the resemblance. You guys have the best eyes in the world.” He pressed a kiss to Misty’s temple, and she leaned into his touch, having missed it so much.

Her feelings streamed through her in bright colors, and Misty couldn’t make sense of all of them. She did decide right then and there that she didn’t care if Danny liked Link or not. She liked him—she liked him a whole lot—and Danny didn’t get to influence her decisions when it came to where she lived, where she worked, or who she was with.

“Thanks, Link,” she said. She met her brother’s eye, and he finally swallowed his first bite of breakfast, though she’d told him Link was bringing them food.

“It’s great to meet you,” Danny said. “Misty’s talked of hardly anything else this week.” He gave her a knowing look, but Misty stood up strong against it. She didn’t have anything to hide from Link or Danny.

“I brought you a bagel,” Link said, lifting the bag of food. “But that one looks better, so maybe I’ll eat it.” He released her hand and started pulling out containers. “For my beautiful girl,” he said, handing her a round tinfoil container with a cardboard cover over it.

He took out another one and looked at Danny. Link didn’t seem nervous at all, but Misty knew he had to be. She knew him well enough to see the jump in his jaw and the way he hesitated, albeit slightly. “I got you a quiche too, my friend. Misty said you liked bacon and Swiss.”

Danny stepped over and took it. “I do,” he said. “Thanks.”

“Here’s that bagel too.” Link tossed it to him, as it had been wrapped in white paper and basically resembled a baseball. “I’m not kidding when I said I’d eat it if you don’t want it.”

“I want it,” Danny said.

“He’s not used to having unlimited access to food,” Misty said, giving her brother a look he ignored. “And Link isn’t used to not having platters and platters of food.” She grinned at him, and Link ducked that adorable cowboy hat and chuckled.

“Nice hat,” Danny said, and Misty pulled in a breath.

But Link just said, “Thanks, brother. It’s one I really like.” He reached up and adjusted it on his head. “There’s this famous rodeo star that lives in Three Rivers now that he’s retired. My family is real close with his, and it’s one of his signature hats.”

“Wyatt Walker,” Misty said, because she knew this now.

“Wyatt Walker,” Link confirmed. “I think I’m gonna call it my traveling hat, and I’ll wear it when I travel.”

“Which means you’ll never wear it again,” she quipped.