Page 44

“It’s okay. I don’t mind sharing,” I say with a small smile.

“My parents owned a small farm across town. It wasn’t much, but it was ours.

We had a cow, chickens, and ducks that would follow me around.

I used to picture taking over the farm one day, making it into something as successful as Silver Saddle Ranch.

” I reach for a piece of bread and brie, using it as a pause to collect my thoughts.

“That dream crumbled when we lost the place to foreclosure. The hardest part was how indifferent my parents were about it. They didn’t care that we had to move into a mold-infested trailer with sagging floors and the smell of rat droppings or that the cupboards were always empty.

As long as they could fuel their addiction to cards and slot machines, nothing else mattered. ”

Their addiction didn’t happen overnight.

It was a slow trickle, and our lives didn’t drastically change until we lost the farm.

They had done their best to hide the financial issues, so by the time I found out, it was too late.

The one silver lining when we were forced to move was that the Halsteads took in my animals, so I still got to see them often.

Briar rests her hand on my arm. “I’m sorry, Jensen.”

“The Halsteads were like family, but it stung watching their happiness while my life was falling apart.” I shift my gaze to the stream, watching the water ripple over the rocks as I speak.

“My parents didn’t love each other, and I was an afterthought.

I learned early on that relying on people only gave them the power to let me down. ”

“I can understand why you kept your guard up.” She traces small circles along my arm. “Is that why you left? Was starting your own business always the plan?”

“Back in high school, I discovered my knack for computers. I knew if I wanted a future in tech, I had to leave Bluebell. So I worked summers at the ranch, saved every dollar, and after graduation, I moved to New York. It couldn’t have been more different from here, and that’s exactly what I wanted.

I enrolled in a programming course and immersed myself in the tech world, learning as I went. ”

There was a time when I wasn’t sure if I’d make it or be forced to return home, worse off than my parents.

But I refused to settle and each risk pushed me forward, guiding me to the next hurdle until I got my lucky break.

I fixed a critical bug for a small startup pro bono, and they hired me full-time, giving me the stability to eventually launch my own venture.

“I started my company from the ground up after talking to a friend in security who said the market was flooded with outdated systems.” I take a bite of bread and brie, chewing slowly.

“Those early days were exhilarating. I faced rejection at every turn, from investors to potential clients. Each ‘no’ only made me more determined to prove them all wrong and show them what I was capable of.”

“Which you did, and then some,” Briar says proudly.

“True, but success comes at a price.” I blow out a deep breath.

“Being CEO of a large corporation means nonstop board meetings, endless forecasts, and keeping shareholders happy. In the early days, it was about diving into code, solving problems, and chasing an idea until a solution worked. Somewhere along the way, I traded that for spreadsheets and approval chains.”

That doesn’t mean I’m ungrateful for my success, but it’s made things feel less fulfilling, more about obligation than passion.

“I spent so long chasing success that I never stopped to appreciate the milestones I hit along the way. But then the call about Caleb came, and in an instant, everything I’d spent a decade building didn’t matter much anymore.”

Even before I found out about Caleb, my job had started to feel hollow, and I often questioned what success meant beyond the financial compensation and my title.

I convinced myself that stability was essential because of my past, fearing I’d lose it all if I slowed down, but the truth is, I could’ve stepped back years ago and been financially set for life.

That’s only been further proven since coming to Bluebell. My company thrives despite significantly cutting back my hours and delegating many daily tasks to Carlton and my assistant.

I assumed returning to my hometown would be unbearable, a sacrifice I made for Caleb because I couldn’t handle it alone.

Now, I realize how much I’ve missed the peace and simplicity.

It was once tainted by my parents and painful memories, but now that I’ve had a chance to create new ones, it’s a place where I can finally leave the past behind and start fresh.

The one constant I’ve always had is the Halsteads.

When I was younger, I didn’t fully appreciate the connection I shared with them, but being back has opened my eyes to the love they’ve always shown me, even when I was away.

And Caleb is now included in that bond, which I’m deeply thankful for.

The one variable I didn’t account for was Briar—and how my heart races whenever she walks into a room, or how natural it is to watch her hugging Caleb like he belongs in her arms.

We’re both quiet as we eat, every so often bringing up our favorite moments with Caleb and Ziggy, along with stories about Briar’s job maintaining the cabins.

She has an endless supply of those. Between bites, I find myself touching her—brushing her cheek, wiping hot chocolate from her lips, and running my hand along her arm.

I can’t seem to keep my hands off her, but based on how she leans into me, it’s obvious she craves my touch like I do hers.

Once we’ve finished with our picnic, and the plate and thermos have been pushed aside, we cuddle on the blanket. Briar is nestled against me, her leg draped over mine as I run my fingers through her hair. The sun dips below the horizon, casting the sky in shades of peach and lavender.

Fireflies begin to flicker in the grass, their tiny lights sparkling like distant stars.

They only come out a few times a year, so we’re lucky to see them tonight.

We should be heading back to the ranch house soon, but neither of us wants to let the moment slip away, so we stay in the fading warmth of the disappearing daylight as long as possible.

Briar tips her chin to meet my gaze. “Tonight’s been perfect. ”

“It really has,” I agree, brushing a knuckle across her jaw. “You’re stunning, baby.”

My hand finds the back of her neck, fingers threading into her hair as I draw her closer.

I press my lips to hers, and she tastes like strawberries and whiskey—a blend of sweet, bold, and intoxicating.

My tongue dips into her warm mouth, tracing hers in a slow dance that speaks everything we haven’t said out loud.

“Is this the part where you make me come?” she whispers.

“I was hoping it would be.” I reach into my pocket and pull out a condom.

Briar places her hand over mine, shaking her head. “Jensen,” she whispers.

“What is it?”

Her gaze meets mine. “I don’t want anything between us tonight.”

I freeze, unsure if I heard her right. “Are you sure? I was tested before coming to Bluebell, but if you’re not ready, we can wait until we get back—” She places a finger to my lips, silencing me.

“Positive. I have an IUD.” Her hand slides along my cheek, her fingertips grazing the stubble. “I want to feel you inside me. All of you.”

My heart pounds in my chest as the weight of her words sink in.

What was supposed to be temporary has turned into something far more consequential.

We’re both in deeper than we ever planned, but at this moment, all I want is to give Briar what she asked for.

Because the truth is, I want it just as much as she does.

We move in tandem, peeling our clothes off between kisses and lingering glances.

Once we’re both naked, I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling us into a sitting position, my arm propped behind me to anchor us as I tug her into my lap to straddle me.

I grab my hat from the edge of the blanket and place it on Briar’s head.

“You’re going to wear my hat while you’re riding me . ”

She flashes me a sultry smile. “If you insist, cowboy .”

It’s not the first time she’s called me that, but tonight, it carries a weight it hasn’t before.

When I got to Bluebell, I was trying to outrun my past, leaving behind anything tied to it, including my small-town upbringing.

I hated admitting I came from a place full of ranches and cowboys, or that I used to be one of them.

Yet, with Briar’s help, I’ve learned to appreciate those roots more than I ever thought possible.

She puts her hands on my shoulders as she sinks onto my cock, her pussy clenching around me.

The moonlight dances across her face, illuminating her features.

Her hair spills over her shoulders, eyes dark with want, lips parted as she gasps my name.

Our mingled groans fade into the hum of crickets and the trickle of creek water.

Fuck, she feels so damn good without a barrier between us.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you,” I confess.

She dips her head, capturing my lips in a kiss. “Then let’s make sure tonight is unforgettable.”

I grip her ass, guiding her as she slides along my shaft, arching her back with every thrust. She drags her nails along my chest as we move faster.

“Damn, you ride me so good,” I say, bucking my hips in time with hers.

“Jensen. Touch me, please,” she moans.

I reach between us, circling my thumb over her clit until she’s left gasping for air. She moves above me, her hips moving in time with my fingers, every motion edging her toward release. Warm and wet, and when she clenches tight, I know she’s close to letting go.

“Come for me, sugar,” I command.

She throws her head back, careening over the edge as she pulses around me. A guttural sound tears from my throat as I watch her come apart. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. As we come down together, tangled and spent, it hits me.

I’ve fallen for Briar Halstead.

I didn’t anticipate or plan for this, yet the truth is impossible to deny. I’m hopelessly and completely hers. And now I’m left wondering how the hell I’m going to survive if we have to say goodbye.