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“Well, no, but?—”

“This isn’t any different.” His gaze searches mine. His thumb finds my lips. “What’re we doing here, Sally?”

My heart somersaults at the pleading edge in his tone.

“I don’t know.” I’m so nervous I feel like I’m about to pass out. But I press on, because I’m sick of feeling so mixed up. Sick of feeling like I’ve lied by not telling the whole truth.Mywhole truth. “All I do know is that I’m so happy you’re here. I want you to stay. I want to be around you all the time. I want you to be my guy. Not just the guy I have a good time with. But the guy I call, and confide in, and come home to. You’re my favorite human, Wy.” I sniffle. “No one else even comes clo?—”

He cuts me off with a hot, hard, searing kiss, tossing his hat aside as his mouth moves over mine.

I close my eyes, tears leaking out of them left and right. I let him open my mouth with his tongue, his lips. His heat.

This means yes, right? This means that Wyatt wantsmoretoo?

Holy shit, I can’t believe Wyatt wants what I want.

I can’t believe he’s not running.

Actually, I do believe it. After everything he’s said to me, the things he’s confided, the things we’ve done, I do believe Wyatt is the kind of man who stays.

This is what a healthy relationship feels like. I’m allowed to be myself, and I’m getting what I wantbecauseI’m free to just…be.

I’m free, and I’m wild.

I fall into him, fisting my hands in the denim shirt that peeks through his vest. Relief pours through me, a steady, potent warmth that is such a shock to my system after thenerves and the confusion I’ve felt since leaving the ranch that I get dizzy.

I hold on to Wyatt for dear life until we’re both gasping for air, my lips throbbing, my body tight.

“I’ll be your guy.” He nudges my nose with his. “If you’ll be my girl. I want so much more than just sex, Sally. I was full of shit when I said that, and I’m sorry.”

An effervescent rush fills my rib cage, like champagne is being poured into my veins. In reply, I yank him toward my bed, and together we tumble awkwardly onto the mattress. Biting back a laugh, I freeze when the bed frame groans beneath our combined weight.

“Sally?” Dad’s voice sounds from downstairs. “That you? Everything all right?”

“I’m fine!” I shout back. “Sorry, just got in bed to read!”

“Okay. Dinner’ll be ready soon.”

“Okay!”

Wyatt rolls onto his side and bends his elbow, leaning his head against his hand. “We do this, we’re gonna do it right. No more sneaking around. I wanna tell your parents.”

I’m on my side now, facing him. My bed is so tiny that we barely fit. “Tell them we’re dating?”

“Yes.” His gaze is piercing in its clarity. “I respect the hell out of your mom and dad, and telling them we’re together is the right thing to do.”

“Okay. Yeah.” I finger the top button of his shirt. “I think that’s a good idea.”

I press the button through its hole, but Wyatt catches my wrist. His grip is like iron.

“Nuh-uh. You want me to fuck you in this cute little bed?” He pins my wrist to the mattress and rolls on top of me, running his nose up my throat. “Then I’ll fuck you in this cute little bed. But first, we come clean to your mama and daddy. Last thing I need is John B catching us and putting a rifle in my face ’cause he thinks I’m just messin’ around with you.”

I scoff. “Dad wouldn’t put a rifle in your face.”

“Let’s play it safe, yeah?”

“Fine.”

“I also wanna take you on a proper date before we…”