Chapter 34
JULIAN
PP bounds to me as I step inside Ranger’s house, completely and utterly drained after meeting with a contractor to discuss the cost of having my house and barn rebuilt.
My heart is heavy, but when I lean down to let her lick my cheek, it feels like most of the stress of the day melts away. Dogs really are the best.
“Honey, I’m home,” I call out teasingly, patting PP’s head, then stroll into the house in search of Ranger.
I spent the thirty-minute drive back to his place trying to come up with a solution for my problem.
I can’t live here with him forever. Well…
actually, I happily could, but he hasn’t exactly asked.
Baby steps. I’m totally fine with baby steps.
I pull my eyebrows together, listening harder when I don’t hear a response, not even Benny’s nails on the wood floor.
“Ranger?” I call again, making my way back to the bedroom to see if he’s taking a nap. The room is empty, but there’s a box and a sheet of paper sitting in the center of the bed. A grin spreads slowly over my lips as I step inside and pick up the piece of paper.
Julian,
Put this on, then come out to the barn.
“Very mysterious,” I say to PP. “What do you suppose he’s up to?”
She doesn’t seem to have any ideas. Either that or he’s already sworn her to secrecy. I guess the only way to find out is to do as the note says. I open the box and find a single red rose laid carefully on top of a deep blue suit.
“Fancy. My man has good taste. Although we already knew that, didn’t we?” I waggle my eyebrows at PP, who’s now lying down at the foot of the bed, clearly uninterested in this fascinating situation.
I strip out of my clothes and get dressed in the suit, which came complete with a soft gray dress shirt and a pair of socks and shoes, but no underwear.
Whether it was an oversight or intentional, it looks like I’ll be going commando.
I bring the rose with me into the kitchen, then snip the steam short and stick the flower behind my ear.
My stomach dances with anticipation as I step outside.
The sun is just starting to set, casting a dusky light over the fields.
I gasp when I see a string of lights making a path toward the barn.
My heart beats a little faster, the smile on my face getting so big it makes my cheeks ache.
Whatever Ranger’s up to, he put a lot of time and effort into it.
I step inside the barn, where the animals have already settled in their stalls for the night.
I look around for Ranger but don’t see him anywhere.
Then another piece of paper catches my eye.
This one is taped to the ladder that leads to the hayloft.
I move closer until I can read the words “Come up” scrawled on it.
“You bought me a fancy suit, and you’re going to make me get it all dusty in the hayloft?” I complain, craning my neck, trying to see what he has going on up there.
His warm chuckle echoes down. “Just come up.”
I grumble playfully. I don’t care about getting the suit dirty.
That’s why dry cleaning was invented. Besides, life’s too short for pristine clothes.
When I reach the top of the ladder, I’m greeted by more lights, strung up all around the loft, casting a beautiful glow over the space.
Ranger has shoved the hay bales to the sides, leaving a large, open space in the center for a folding table and two chairs.
He must’ve gotten them up here, using the hay hoist. Ranger’s standing beside the table with a grin.
When we built the barn, I insisted we put in a latched window that opens up like a skylight.
I’ll admit, I was having fantasies of a thrilling, romantic roll in the hay at the time.
And I’m not disappointed by how breathtaking the view is from here.
The pink-and-orange-streaked sky looks like someone painted it just for us.
Ranger holds out a hand, beckoning me over. “In case you were wondering, this is our first official date.”
“It’s…” I dart my eyes from the meal laid out on the table to the tailored suit he’s looking all kinds of edible in. “Wow.”
“Exactly the reaction I was hoping for.” He kisses my cheek and pulls out a chair for me.
One look at the plate tells me he made my favorite: eggplant parmesan and a heaping amount of garlic bread. “This is incredible. I can’t believe you did all this.” I take a bite of the bread and groan happily. “It’s so good,” I mumble around a full mouth.
He laughs. “I wanted to do something special for you. I’m glad you like it.”
“I’m speechless.”
We both dig into our food, the conversation flowing effortlessly as we enjoy the delicious meal. The sunset outside fades to a dark sky, stars twinkling to life one at a time until there’s a blanket of them overhead and our plates are empty.
“How did it go with the contractor today?” he asks, and I sigh.
“As badly as I feared. It’s going to cost a lot more to rebuild than what my insurance is going to pay out.
I can build the barn myself, I guess, but even then, I’m going to have to majorly downsize.
It wouldn’t be a big deal if it weren’t for all the dogs.
I guess my best option is to go with a smaller house and take on only one or two dogs to train at a time from now on so I won’t be tripping over them. ”
He frowns, and I wonder what he’s thinking.
“My other choice would be to save up for a while until I have enough to rebuild properly, but that could take years,” I go on, sighing and then trying to push away this helpless feeling that has no place ruining this perfect date he organized. “Why don’t we dance?”
Ranger smirks. “I was hoping you’d ask.” He picks up his phone and presses a few buttons until soft, instrumental music starts to play. Then he shoves his chair back and gets to his feet, offering me his hand to help me up.
“Such a gentleman tonight.”
“Don’t get too used to it,” he jokes, leading me over near the skylight and pulling me into his arms.
I relax into him, following his lead as our bodies sway together slowly to the beat.
He’s put on quite a bit of muscle since we first met, and I definitely don’t hate the way his new bulk feels against my body.
We grin like fools, dancing and twirling under the starlight.
I dramatically ask him to dip me, and he obliges, nearly dropping me before recovering at the last minute, pulling me laughing against his chest.
My whole body feels lighter than air, with the steady beat of his heart matching my own, our chests pressed together, and our foreheads touching as we both savor this beautiful moment.
“I love you.” The words fall from my lips unintentionally, but they’re too honest to take back, even if I could. Maybe it’s too fast, maybe this is crazy, but I’m madly in love with this man.
To my relief, Ranger smiles. “I’m so in love with you.” My heart does its best to beat right out of my chest, and as does his, galloping against his ribs. His hold on me tightens. “Stay here.”
“What do you mean?” I pull back just enough so I can study his face. He can’t mean forever, right? Moving in together is a huge commitment.
“Sell your land and stay here with me. We’ve already started fixing this place up together, and we can do more. We can make it all our own, grow old here together with a dozen ornery goats and all the dogs you want.”
A nervous, giddy quiver rises in me. Is he serious? The expression on his face is earnest, but can this be real?
“You mean that? You don’t think it’s too fast?” I ask. “I don’t want you to feel pressured or like we have to do this just because I’m in a bad situation with my house. I can figure things out with a place to stay, and we can take this at a more comfortable pace. I mean—”
He cuts me off with a kiss. “I don’t feel rushed. Who cares if it’s fast? I want you with me.”
I search his face for any sign he’s not being honest, that he feels pressured to move things forward before he’s ready. All I see is calm certainty and the same overwhelming love filling me up inside.
“Okay, I’ll stay.”