Page 81 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

"It's okay. I know that. So, is there anything that we still need to figure out?"

She shrugged.

"You're right. We should talk about it. When I said what I said – about sharing my family with you – I was only saying it as a joke at first, but when I heard the words, I realized that I meant it. And then I ran away like a damn coward because I was scared."

"That's what I figured," she said.

"Yeah, but I wasn’t scared that you’d like the idea – I was scared that I'd frighten you off by pushing for too much too soon."

A wave of relief rushed over her. "But you weren't pushing, were you?"

He shook his head slowly. "No, I wasn't. But..." She held her breath and watched his face as he continued. "I wasn't pushing, but I won't take it back."

She went to him and rested her hands on his shoulders, rolling up on her tiptoes to kiss him before saying, "I'm glad you don't want to take it back. I know it's soon... and there's no rush... but..."

His eyes seemed to shine as a big smile spread across his face. "Are you telling me that it's a possibility you might consider – at some point down the line?"

She nodded happily. "I am. And obviously, we'll have to see how things go from here, but as far as I'm concerned, that point doesn't have to be too far down the line."

She laughed as he lifted her off her feet again and spun her around the kitchen. When he set her down on the counter, she clung to his arms. "You could make a girl dizzy doing that, you know?"

The lines around his eyes crinkled as he said, "Well, then we'd be even, because you just made me dizzy by making me so happy."

~ ~ ~

Sitting out back on the deck after they'd eaten, Ford wrapped his arm around Amelia, and she rested her cheek against his shoulder.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I am. I'm great. In fact, if you told me this morning that I'd feel this relaxed and happy tonight, I wouldn't have believed you."

"Me neither. I thought things had gotten all messed up between us."

He turned to look down into her eyes and told her honestly, "I hope that never happens again."

She sat up and held her hand out to him. He took it, not understanding what she meant, until she said, "Then let's make a deal, shall we? Let's promise that we won't ever let things get all messed up."

He shook her hand. "Gladly. I'd like that, but..."

She smiled. "I know. We can't guarantee that they won't, but I'm a big believer in communication. And I think if we promise to be honest with each other, that'll get us 90% of the way there. Although there's no saying that one or the other of us might decide that we're not such a good match as it seems right now."

He nodded slowly, not wanting to admit that she was right but also unable to deny it. "Just promise me that if it works out that way, we'll still be friends," he asked. "Even if we can't make it work the way I want us to, you're someone I respect – someone I admire. So, if I can only have you as a friend, I'd rather have that than nothing."

“Aww!” She held her arms out to him, and he leaned in, happy to let her hug him and to hold her close.

"What does aww mean?" he asked with a chuckle.

"Just that you're an absolute sweetheart, and I think people do you an injustice with that whole dark and broody thing."

He leaned back to look into her eyes. "I'm glad you see me that way, but don't go fooling yourself, Lil’ Bit. I can be a cranky bastard, and I'm not easy. I need you to understand that. Take today, for example. I made everyone's life hell around here."

She raised her eyebrows. "Did you really?"

He nodded slowly. "Yeah, fraid I did. I didn't mean to, but... I was mad at myself for the way things went this morning."

She studied his face carefully before saying, "I'm glad that you're honest about it, and I suppose I'll just have to wait and see, won't I? But... Maybe I'm too optimistic, but my guess is that we'll be okay." She smiled. "And I'll also tell you that if you start being cranky with me, I'll call you out on it."

He chuckled. "Good. I want you to when it happens. I have to say, though – I think you bring out the best in me."