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I grin. “Go all the way?”

His eyes dance. “You make it sound like I’m taking your virginity.”

“If only you had.”

“I wasn’t ready for you then. I woulda fucked it up.”

“Really? I don’t know if I agree with that.”

His Adam’s apple bobs. “It’s what I gotta tell myself, Sal.”

My pulse skips. There’s a confession in there—something he’s trying to say—and while I’m ravenously curious to know what it is, I also feel the need to be gentle. Patient. There’s so much happening right now as it is.

So I make a mental note to circle back to his thought and run my finger along his jaw, determined to stick to what’s necessary in this conversation.

What’s necessary is a discussion about the future.

“And we’re not fucking it up now? I mean, do we talk about the fact that I’m leaving or…”

His jaw tics again against my fingertip. “I don’t know what the right call is, Sunshine. I think we just gotta be brave and keep talkin’ to each other. I think we live in the moment. Enjoy the time we got. And then we see what happens. Obviously, timin’ is not ideal, but is it ever? All I can promise is that I’ll do my best to make the most of every second I get with you, whether that’s a month, a year, whatever.”

A year.

Wyatt is talking about being together for ayear.

I dig my teeth into my bottom lip, just to make sure I’m actually here and this is actually happening.

Of course my mind leaps twenty steps ahead. Would Wyatt come to New York with me? Is it right to even ask himto? His entire family is in Hartsville. He has deep roots here. And he absolutely loves what he does.

As far as I know, there are no cattle ranches in upstate New York. Even if there were, no cowboys could ever match the Rivers boys for skill, dedication, and heart.

What about little Ella? Wyatt and his brothers are extremely close with her. And they’re just beginning to revamp the Rivers’ side of Lucky River Ranch. I know Cash and Wyatt have had those plans in the works for years, and now they can finally afford to make their dreams come true for their family’s property.

Is there any way I could stay in Texas then?

Just the thought makes my heart dip, but not in an altogether-unpleasant way. I could be happy here. Iamhappy here.

Would I be wasting my potential, though, giving up a position at one of the world’s top veterinary hospitals to stay in a small town? There’s plenty of work for me here in Hartsville. But could I do what Dad does for the rest of my life and be satisfied? What if I got bored?

Worse, what if I got resentful?

“Hey.” Wyatt leans his forehead against mine. “Where you at?”

Closing my eyes, I swallow. “I’m really happy, Wy. Truly. I’m thrilled you and I want the same thing. Only I’m not very good at trusting that shit will just…work out.”

“Trust is all we got now, Sunshine.”

“I know. I’ll try, Wyatt.”

He presses his lips to mine, a soft, quick kiss. “Let’s try together.”

CHAPTER 19

Wyatt

MAN-TO-MAN

I don’t sleepa fucking wink that night—or the next.