Page 111 of The Lilac River

I laughed. “Anything else?”

She nodded thoughtfully. “Wear the blue shirt. The one with buttons. You look like areal manin that one.”

My throat tightened. There was something about the way she said it, the way she wanted me to be my best, that got me right in the gut.

“You think Miss. Gray will like it?” I asked softly.

Bertie nodded like it was a fact of nature. “She’s gonna think you’re thehandsomest cowboy ever.”

What did I do to deserve this kid?

“Thanks for the advice, partner,” I whispered, hugging her tight.

“You’re welcome. Now go, go, go!” She wiggled down and darted to her room, leaving the sound of tiny thudding feet and a trail of pure joy in her wake.

I headed to my room, tugging my phone from my pocket as it buzzed. The screen lit up with Dougie’s name.

I answered quickly. “Dougie. What’ve you got for me?”

Chapter 41

Fields of Gold - Sting

Lily

Driving up to the ranch, butterflies erupted in my stomach like someone had flung open the gates. There were nerves, yes but also a soft thread of excitement winding around my heart. This place had once felt like a second home. I’d spent so many nights on this road, curled against Nash in the cab of his old truck, watching the stars stretch across the sky like a promise. And now, coming back, it felt like the road was remembering me too.

The ranch spread out ahead in wide, familiar strokes, golden fields rolling into the distance, fencing weathered by time and snow, and the barn roof glinting in the low sun like an old friend waving me down. The scent of hay, sun-warmed wood, and a little dust crept in through the open window, curling around me like a hug from the past. The wheels crunched over the same gravel, past the same ancient oak tree where Nash had once carved our initials, now probably long grown over or deliberatelyscratched away. I couldn't blame him if he'd taken a knife to it after I left.

When I hit the curved driveway, up to the main house, my fingers trembled slightly on the steering wheel. I’d been here since I’d come back to town but tonight felt different. Tonight was a new beginning. Tonight, the winds of change would blow away the pain.

The house came into view, the late afternoon sun catching the windows, turning them to blazing gold. Almost blinding in their intensity. Just like the memories that slammed into me with each second I drew closer. Stolen kisses. Whispered plans. Nash’s hands marking me in ways that I still felt ten years later.

I parked and sat for a moment, grounding myself. Reminding myself that I had nothing to fear now our secrets had been replaced with promises. With a fortifying breath I stepped out of my car and made my way up to the porch, gravel crunching beneath my sandals.

I smoothed down the pale pink dress and reached for the bell, heart hammering.

I didn’t make it.

The door burst open and a tiny blur in Marvel pajamas launched herself at my legs.

“Miss. Gray, you’re here!” Bertie squealed, wrapping around me like a starfish. “I went to the zoo today with Elodie and her mommy and daddy and her baby! The baby’s still in Elodie’s mom’s tummy though. Her dad asked the lady at the ticket desk if they had to pay for the baby and she laughed!”

She threw her head back and let out a belly laugh so big and unselfconscious it filled the porch and me with it. I laughed, too, the kind that came from deep inside, the kind I hadn’t let out in far too long. I crouched, running my fingers gently through her hair.

“Sounds like you had an amazing day.”

She nodded enthusiastically. “The lions were lazy, but the flamencos were pink and stinky!”

That’s when I heard it.

“She’s a little excited,” came a voice so familiar it made every nerve in my body spark. I looked up, heart catching.

Nash.

The air seemed to vanish from my lungs, replaced by something electric and dangerous. My body recognized him before my mind could even process, a visceral awareness that made my skin prickle and my mouth go dry.

There he stood, framed in the doorway like something out of a dream I’d tried too long to forget. His hair was still damp, curling a little at the ends. A crisp blue button-down, sleeves rolled to the elbow, stretched across those sun-browned forearms, and his jeans...well, they did things that jeans had no business doing.