Intent(33)

“In case you haven’t noticed, I can be a little possessive of what I consider mine.” He grins, knowing I fully remember that day in the field when I was on his property, petting his horse. “To be clear, I consider you to be mine now, and I’m yours. I’ve never been good at the whole learning to share thing, and that definitely applies to you.”

He waits for my response, but I’ve never been so tongue-tied. It seems to be a recurring problem when I’m around Ace. The man has no filter and no fear—a dangerous combination to my mind and my heart. But one I couldn’t resist even if I wanted to. Which I don’t. Even though I’ve never been good at sharing my innermost feelings, I actually want to tell Ace everything.

“It feels sudden, rash, and completely illogical.” I hesitate for a second. “But it feels right. Am I crazy for wanting this so much, Ace? Are we rushing into this relationship without thinking through all the ramifications? Will it just fade away at the end of summer and be nothing more than a fling?”

His hands cup my face and draw me close to his. His warm, minty breath wafts across my face and his woodsy, masculine scent surrounds me. “We are not a fling. What I feel for you grows stronger every single day. If you’re crazy for wanting me, then I’m completely insane for the way I want you, Layne. We don’t know where this will take us, but we’ll figure it out together. If this isn’t what you want, if you’d rather just remain friends and leave without looking back at the end of the summer, tell me now.”

What should I do? Throw all caution to the wind and jump in headfirst? Wade in a little at time and perhaps then plunge into the deep? Or walk away now, before it’s too late, before we both get caught in the rapid waters?

I’ll let my heart decide.

“I couldn’t go back to being just a friend now, knowing you like I do. Knowing how your lips feel on mine. How your hands feel on my skin. Thinking of another woman experiencing that with you would drive me to do something crazy. We’ll figure this out together, and we won’t let worrying about what happens in the future ruin today.”

“So you agree you’re all mine?”

“I’m definitely all yours,” I whisper against his lips and move into his arms as they drop around my waist.

“I want to take you on our first official date tonight,” Ace replies. “Show you off to the town.”

“I’d love to. Where are we going?”

“To the county fair. Everyone will be there tonight, riding rides, eating cotton candy and corn dogs, and socializing with all the town bigwigs. It’ll be the perfect time for me to show off my girl.”

“I love how that sounds.”

“Good, you’ll be hearing it a lot after the gossips see us together. I plan to give them plenty of fodder to last them a lifetime.” His tone holds an amused warning and an impatient anticipation. “But for now, we still need to get Frankie. Think you can charm him again?”

“I’ll definitely try.”

Frankie has been watching us from several yards away for the last few minutes. He slowly inched up from the river below but stopped short of actually reaching us. He wants to join us, to be accepted and a member of a family, but he’s afraid to trust people again. Ace remains still as I approach Frankie.

“Come here, boy,” I call softly to him. “Come on. It’s okay.”

Frankie lumbers toward me, taking his time and eyeing Ace as he approaches me. It feels easier each time—easier for him to trust me, easier for him to come to me, and easier for him to let me love him. He’s accepting my love and friendship, he’s healing, and he’s beginning to join the land of the living again.

I feel Ace step up behind me before he speaks. “Take hold of his halter under his chin and let’s walk him back up to the round pen.”

Doing as he says, I hold my arm out to keep Frankie in his space but walking with me. When we reach the round pen, Ace quickly walks ahead and opens the gate to allow Frankie and me to walk straight in. After I release him, I scratch behind his ear and tell him what a good boy he’s been for me. He’s relaxed, and it’s a beautiful sight to watch him at ease around others.

“Layne, you know Zoe Sullivan, right?” Justin calls out.

When I turn my head, I see the young cashier standing beside Justin. “Yes, of course. I’ve looked for you a couple of times in the grocery store, but you weren’t there. It’s good to see you again.”

She smiles weakly, and I realize why she’s here. Then it hits me why they needed Frankie in the pen today. It wasn’t just for me to work with him. It was also for him to work with Zoe. Now that I know the type of work Ace and Justin do here, I can’t help but feel a kindred spirit with the other wounded people who come here. Zoe, especially, because something in that girl has stuck with me since the day I met her. A loneliness. A need to belong.

“Hello,” she replies shyly.

“Zoe, why don’t you go on in and join Layne? She can introduce you to Frankie,” Justin suggests.

“Okay,” she mumbles. She’s clearly unconvinced about his request, but she’s at least willing to try. Justin opens the gate for her and she walks straight to me. Her hand-me-down shirt is oversized by a few sizes and hangs low on her legs. Her denim shorts are barely visible from under the hem. When she reaches me, her gaze finally meets mine. “I’m glad you’re here,” she whispers.