Broken(76)

“I know you did, and I appreciate it, but I won’t allow you to make that sacrifice, especially when it would be so much easier for me to move back here.”

“What about your business? Isn’t your home and business in New York?”

“Like you said, my home is with you, Cade. As far as my business concerns, I don’t need to be in my office to create my designs. I can set up an office here. As far as my condo, I’ll probably hold on to it because I’ll need to travel to Manhattan quite a bit until I get my affairs settled.”

It almost seemed too good to be true and Cade felt like jumping for joy. “Do you really mean it? You’d be willing to give up the bright lights to come live back here?”

She giggled. “Cade, while I’ve grown accustomed to city living, it doesn’t compare to the fresh air, wide open spaces, and you. I liked living in Manhattan, but I’m a country girl at heart. I never realized how much I missed this place until I came back. Besides, being with you, I look forward to reconnecting with my father and getting to know my new stepmother better. I miss sitting at the kitchen table in the big house while chatting over a cup of coffee with Aunt Earlene. I miss riding the horses, Decker’s jokes, Ridge’s teasing and Stone’s advice. But most especially, you’re here. I knew I was fighting a losing battle when I came here because I knew once I set foot on the ranch again, I probably wouldn’t want to leave. Like you said, my home is wherever you are, but I’d prefer my home to be here.”

Cade’s heart contracted. He didn’t think it was possible to love Jocelyn anymore than he already did, but she’d just proven him wrong. Unable to control himself, he tightened his arms around her and gave her a hard hungry kiss, not breaking the tight seal of their lips until his lungs screamed for air.

“Whoo!” Jocelyn panted. “That kiss was something else.”

“You’re something else. Something special. Would you really be willing to come back to the ranch to live? I mean it’s not as glamorous as what you’re used to. We may have some parties every now and then, but they’ll be nothing like the glamorous shindigs you’re used to. No celebrities or—”

She placed a finger against his lips, silencing him. “Shut up, Cade. If I wanted those things, don’t you think I would have jumped for joy when you offered to go to New York with me? Honestly, all I’ve ever wanted was to create clothing behind the scenes, but when a few celebrities began wearing my designs, I became bigger than I thought I’d ever be. I admit it, seeing my work come to life on the runway is a dream come true, but the other stuff, not so much. I hate the parties and all the traveling. I haven’t earned the reputation as a recluse for nothing.”

“And you’re willing to walk away from everything you’ve worked so hard to build?”

“I won’t be walking away, Cade, just refocusing my attention on other projects. I have a handful of up and coming designers working for my company who are quite capable of taking care of the high end stuff that appears on the runways and in overpriced boutiques. I’d like to turn my energy into designing an affordable line of clothing for regular women of all shapes and sizes. I’m actually already in talks to partner with a major retail store. I can just as easily perform my negotiations here, as I can in Manhattan. But what I can’t do, is go back there feeling the way I do about you. Cade, I love you. There’s been too much time wasted already and a lot of catching up to do, starting now.” She captured his face between her hands and pressed her lips against his.

For so long, Cade had gone through life as though a part of him was cut off—his heart. But finally, it was whole once again.