Page 52 of The Promise Of Rain

“You need a new coat,” I explained gruffly.“Will you at least try it on?”

When she pushed the bag down to the floorboards, I steeled my heart for disappointment.

Releasing her seatbelt, she launched herself across the cab and threw her arms around me.

I wrapped her up tight, my eyes squeezing shut at the feel of her trembling in my arms.

“Thank you for thinking of me,” she whispered.

My mouth twisted and I squeezed my eyes shut as I absorbed the blow that something so small could elicit this reaction.

She deserved so much more.

Pressing my face into her hair, I breathed her in.“There’s a matching hat and warm mittens underneath.If it doesn’t fit—”

She pulled back to her own side, and her chin dipped with purpose.“I’ll make it fit.”

I laughed.“If it doesn’t fit, I got the exact same thing in the next size up.”

Her soft eyes flitted up to mine before flitting away once more.“You weren’t leaving anything to chance.”

My smile slipped away.“I don’t intend to leave anything to chance this time.”

10

Wingman

Deacon

At the ski counter rentals, Jenny chewed her bottom lip.

“Has it been a while?”I asked.

She frowned, looking disgruntled but entirely harmless under the powder pink knit hat.She nodded, the giant pom-pom nodding with her.“Since the last time with you.”

“You want to take the inner tubes like we did the first time we came to Sage Ridge?”

She brightened.

I turned to the curvy brunette with the sassy blue streak in her hair behind the counter and held up two fingers.“Two tubes.”

“You got it,” she chirped, struggling to heave them over the counter that nearly reached her chest.

I reached over and took them from her hands.

She threw Jenny a wink.“You got a good one there.”

Jenny smiled softly and dipped her chin, running her hands over the front of her new coat before adjusting her thick-knit matching mittens.

I wanted this woman; I’d always wanted this woman.But now I wanted to take care of her, protect her, fight to make this world softer for her, as well as make her mine.

If buying her a coat made her smile like that?I’d buy ten.

“Ready?”I asked gruffly.

Jenny huffed out a soft laugh.“I hope you’re ready to get in your steps.”

I groaned as the memory caught up with me.“I forgot about that.”