Page 40 of Bouquets and Buckles

“My kid is a lot of things, but I didn’t expect him to be so… uhh… enthusiastic about me coming over here.”

“Luke… I…”

My heart is doing backflips and somersaults, but I’m so uncertain what this actually means. We haven’t spoken since that final night we had together on New Year. No matter how many times I went to text him, I couldn’t bring myself to press send because I didn’t want to give hope a chance to bloom.

“Skylar, I had to come and see you. I’ve been battling with myself this past month because all I want is for you to be happy. You’ve got your life, your business, so much ahead of you, and it would eat away at me if I fucked any of that up by selfishly knocking on your door.

“But you gotta know, I was serious when I saidin another life… and maybe, just maybe, this is our life after all. If there’s any chance you might want to let me be part of yours, I gotta have you know my heart is here. It's with you, even if this isn’tsomething you want. I fell harder than I knew could be possible in just a few short days, and I miss you. So fucking much.”

I’m not sure I remember how to breathe. It’s like I can’t process what he’s saying because up until five minutes ago, all of this, everything he’s laid out that I’d so desperately longed for didn’t seem possible.

My silence causes his shoulders to drop a little.

“I sprung this on you… I’m sorry, it was Brad’s idea to do some big romantic gesture, but I can go.” His voice drops into a soft sigh. “At least let me put this inside for you.” Luke gestures at me with the lidded ceramic dish he’s still holding in his big hands.

“Just set it down there.” I point at the floor.

Luke’s jaw clenches, an inner war going on, but he does as I ask, even if I can see the reluctance written all over him.

If only he knew.

There is only one reason I haven’t been able to say anything in return…

The second his hands are free is when I make my move. I fling myself at him, leaping up to cling around his neck, and he catches me so fucking easily.

The heat of him, the security I feel in his arms, it all washes over me, leaving my blood singing.

“Is this how you invite all your guests inside?” Luke arches an eyebrow at me.

“Just the cowboy I’m in love with.” I exhale, bringing our lips together.

Luke walks us through the door, claiming me with a kiss that races straight down to my toes, leaving me a melted puddle in his arms.

I’m a koala, clung around him, and this moment is everything I’d been wishing for since I drove away from his ranch and Crimson Ridge a month ago.

“Don’t move.” Luke sets me down on the countertop of my tiny kitchenette, places his cowboy hat on my head—at which point I nearly straight up whimper—then disappears to shut my front door, returning with the dish he’d been carrying and another bag.

I’m an absolute slut for wearing this man’s hat.

“Brad wouldn’t let me come without bringing ice cream. That boy has got the world’s biggest sweet tooth.” He shrugs and puts the pints in the freezer while I unashamedly stare at his ass in those jeans.

As he stands there, a gruff noise comes out of him. Crouching down, he opens the fridge door, looking at the array of empty shelves.

“I should’ve been here sooner.” Luke turns around and gives me a long look. “You’re gonna let me take care of you.”Stepping closer.“You’re gonna let me love you the way you deserve.”Closer still.“And you’re gonna start learning to accept help, sweetheart.”

My cowboy comes over to stand between my knees, then tilts my chin up with a crooked finger.

I want all of that… but I can’t help feeling like I don’t deserve it.

“You’re serious, that Brad’s ok with all this?” Searching his eyes, I chew the inside of my cheek. I’m so lost to this man. So in love with him, but at the same time, feel like such a shitty friend for not being the one to tell him, and it’s even worse knowing that Luke has been talking to him about this for weeks.

Luke doesn’t answer my question, instead he sighs and digs out his phone. “By the way, that video… I don’t even want to admit how many times I’ve watched it over and over.” Hitting me with a look of pure sin, he taps something on the screen, and my body heats, thinking back to the hottest night of my life.

Except, I don’t have time to get lost in that memory because Luke holds the phone in front of his face, a video call dialing, as he watches me through dark eyes.

“Put her on, Dad. She’s being weird about it, isn’t she?

Oh god. Brad’s voice immediately connects at the other end of the line, and I want to dissolve into this kitchen counter.