Page 40 of Holden: Bucked By Love (Crawford Ridge Ranch #1)

I don't dare look at him as I pour out my fears about the endeavor. Does it really make sense to start a business while trying to save my marriage?

He yanks at my hand until I'm looking at him once more. "Lenora Crawford, enough holding back. If you have a fear or a worry, we'll work through it together. If you want to open a studio I'll stand at the edge of the highway waving one of those signs to drum up business."

My face and chest grow warm as I see the sincerity in his eyes, and before I really think through what I'm doing, I've closed the space between us and pressed my mouth to his.

He recovers from the surprise quickly, and slides his arm under my legs, lifting me into his lap without breaking the kiss.

He snuggles in, holding me almost too close, and I wrap my arms around his shoulders as his beard tickles my chin.

His hand splays across the middle of my back, warm and strong, his other hand wrapping around my thigh to hold me in place, and the kiss deepens when I run one hand through the hair at the back of his head.

We have so much history, but this kiss almost feels like our first as the connection I've been mourning seems to rush back into place, tethering us together once more .

Holden's scent rushes over me, the familiarity of it more enticing than ever.

I trace a finger along his jaw line, and he pulls back to tease my lips with affectionate words I can't quite hear.

I don't let the separation last long, my fingers curling around his shoulders once more, my mouth searching for his.

I'm not sure how long we kiss, but time is meaningless.

His lips are warm and firm, and the words my heart pounds out are ones I had hoped to feel again.

I love him. I love him. I love him.

I'm still floating in a love-blushed haze the next day when I make my way over to the homestead after dinner to help Rae prep some rooms. Holden and I had talked until the sun set, and then spent the ride back to his truck laughing as we tried to negotiate first the dirt road and then potholes in the dark on a tandem bike that wanted to buck us off.

I'd had a hard time sleeping after another kiss on the dark back deck, but the hours awake hadn't been wasted. I'd made a few firm decisions.

I want my husband to move back in. And I want to open the yoga studio.

Step one is talking to Rae. Step two is finding Holden and telling him to get his fine rear end back to our place.

I leave Mason and Josi home watching a movie, grateful that an organic opportunity to speak with Rae has presented itself.

I find her in the Blue Room when I arrive, cleaning bucket in one hand and fresh linens in the other.

She has her hair braided and is wearing a smile when I come through the door.

A knowing smile. The whole family obviously heard about our bike ride.

"How was last night?" she asks.

I set down the sheets and teasingly make a zipping motion across my lips.

She laughs. "Word is he built a bike and played a love song while you rode through town."

"Word spreads about as quickly as expected." I smirk as I start taking the soiled sheets off the bed. "When you get to town, make sure to let them all know it was against his will."

Rae wiggles her eyebrows. "The phone video I saw tells a different story. He's smiling."

"Someone took a video?" I squeak. "Oh, no. Holden won't like that."

Rae waves a hand and helps me start stretching the new sheets across the bed. "Don't worry, it's harmless and cute. I'm happy you were having fun together, and so is everyone else. This town loves you guys."

"The couple who made it against all odds," I say, tongue-in-cheek. "We're like a precious after-school special."

She glances up with a frown. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, we were married as teens, and had a baby right away, and statistically speaking that shouldn't have worked out." I spread out the flat sheet and grin at her. "But here we are."

"Here you are," she says thoughtfully, still frowning. "You know I was worried, but Abe never was. He said that Holden had a head on his shoulders and wouldn't be reckless with such a big decision."

I nod. "I knew how you felt. I had to prove to you that I hadn't drugged your son and dragged him to the altar, that we were taking it seriously. "

Rae suddenly laughs. "I've often wished I could be more of a romantic, but I'm too pragmatic for that.

I'm sorry it took me some time to stop fretting.

Plus, I was in the middle of some big hormone changes and I hated everyone for two weeks out of every month.

One night Abe snored so loud that I told him I was filing divorce papers, and I almost went through with it.

I could not live the rest of my life with a snorer.

" Her smile remains as she pauses to look me in the eye.

"I love you like my own, Lenora. I'm sorry I made it difficult at first."

"I love you too," I say genuinely as I pick up the heavy blue quilt and toss her a side. "And I hope that love is strong because I need to talk to you."

"Oh boy," Rae sighs, "that statement usually doesn't go my way."

"I think this one will be a win-win."

She motions for me to pass her the glass cleaner, and while I dust and oil the wooden furniture, and she cleans the glass, I tell her about my dreams, and apologize that they don't align with hers.

She listens, not offering commentary, and when I mention Birdie as a possible replacement, and tell her about the interactions with Walker, Rae turns to me with a sparkle in her eye.

"I want to meet this woman," she says.

"So, you're not angry?" I ask.

She waves the cleaning rag at me. "Only a little sad that you kept these thoughts to yourself for so long. You don't have to share my dreams, but I do want you to be honest with me."

I nod. "I'm sorry."

"The first wedding is in two weeks. Do you think you could help me wrap up preparations while I see if Birdie would be interested in the job? "

"Absolutely," I respond, genuinely happy to complete this final task with her.

"Now, tell me again what Birdie said to Walker?"

"If you think that was good, wait until I tell you about Paul."

"Who?"

Together we make our way next door to the Green Room, laughing at the image of big, bulky Walker being put in his place by a firecracker from Texas, and how Paul won't call anyone else little lady for a long time.