“Whatever you need, whenever you need it…”
“You’ll be there,” she finished for me, her voice soft but sure.
At least she knewthatmuch—that she meant everything to me.
“Good thing I think you’re pretty handsome too,” she added with a little smirk.
My eyes widened, and I let out a short laugh, shaking my head like some awkward schoolboy. My cheeks flushed, and the grin tugging at my lips refused to be hidden.
Ellie released my hand, and I instinctively brought it back to my chest, using the motion as cover to take another sip of champagne—to swallow the lump forming in my throat.
“And about the kiss earlier,” she said, eyes narrowing slightly like she was teasing but also… serious.
My gut clenched. “I’m sorry if that was too forward,” I blurted, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.
But her face, her expression, immediately told me otherwise.
“Don’t youdareapologize for that,” she said. “It was… pretty nice.”
“Huh,” I murmured, a grin creeping in again as a flicker of confidence sparked in my chest. I turned toward her, reaching out and placing my hand on her cheek. My thumb swept gently across her skin in slow, reverent strokes.
“Kind of nice?” I teased, my voice low.
Her gaze flicked between my eyes. “Hmm,” she hummed, not quite answering, inviting me to close the distance instead.
“Would it be okay if I did it again?”
“I think so,” she whispered.
I leaned in carefully until her lips met mine.
I cradled her face in my palm, holding her there as I kissed her gently at first, then deeper, drawn in by the warmth of her mouth and the delicate brush of her breath. Her taste was electric and divine, like sweet champagne.
We parted just for a second, a breath’s width between us, before our mouths found each other again.
This time, I slid my tongue against hers, and she met me there, opening up, welcoming me in. Our kiss deepened, unrushed and aching, as if we’d both been waiting years for this exact moment. Everything about her felt natural, familiar. Right.
When we finally broke apart, I lingered, our foreheads almost touching—just letting the moment settle between us.
“You can do that whenever you want,” she said, bringing the champagne flute to her lips, her voice soft but laced with meaning.
“Noted.”
31
LOGAN
My mom knew I was coming to see her, but she didn’t know I was bringing Ellie.
I doubted she’d mind, but I could already anticipate the look of surprise that would flash across her face. Typically, when I made the trip to see my parents, it was quick and solo. The “quick” part we could still manage, but solo? Not so much.
Ellie and I dressed nicer than usual. I wore a short-sleeved button-down, jeans, my good boots, and of course, my cowboy hat. Ellie matched the vibe without even trying—her fitted button-down hugged her curves, her jeans fit like they were made for her, and her boots and hat pulled it all together. We looked like a pair, and I loved every minute of it.
Walking through the rodeo grounds, there was no chance anyone would think we weren’t together—and honestly, I was fine with that. Maybe it’d keep some of the more curious stares off her.
Ellie cleaned up well, but it wasn’t flashy. She didn’t dress for attention. Her look was practical, suited for the rodeo, but that didn’t stop her from turning heads. She always did. She just had that quiet kind of beauty that made people look twice.
We had VIP passes, which meant we could head back to the warm-up area where my mom and dad were getting ready. Mom was third in the lineup tonight, and I was eager to see her run.