Jack hitched a deep breath, and then shook his head, a look of wonder on his handsome face. “I never felt that way about anyone before. Never.”
“Me, either,” she breathed.
Jack absorbed her words before he went on. “I thought I knew everything this morning—everything I had to know about Brown and the deed…Granny and the sawmill… Most importantly, I thought I knew what to do about you, and about me. About us. Then, I saw you with that stranger.” He looked down at the ground for a moment, then raised his head and met her gaze. A small smile crossed his lips. “I got angry. I suppose you can see that when I get angry, I get on my horse and ride hard. Does that bother you?”
Surprisingly, it didn’t.
“Not one bit.”
“Good. There are a lot of things I can change about myself, but that’s not one of them, I don’t think. Still, if it bothers you, I could try to mend my ways.”
“It doesn’t. Don’t change anything.”
His hand had reached her exposed skin. While they spoke, he traced a slow fingertip along the nape of her neck. Gooseflesh rose on Kristen’s arms. Every nerve ending was at attention, courtesy of his tender touch.
“I love you,” he said softly. “I’ve loved you almost from the first minute we met, right here in that coach. But, there still remains one very large problem. I have to go back to Kansas.”
He loved her! What else could possibly matter?
A wicked grin stole onto her face. “Are you afraid I’ll cause a ruckus in Kansas? Embarrass Granny?”
Understanding made Jack handsomer than ever. “You mean you’ll go back to Kansas with me?”
A nod was all she could manage. Tears of happiness pooled in her eyes.
Jack pulled her against his chest, holding her so tightly Kristen felt the air fly from her lungs. Finally, she was in the right set of arms, with the perfect heart beating against her cheek.
Jack held her away from him and stared intently into her eyes. He seemed to be considering something important, so she didn’t tease or interrupt.
“I know this isn’t the best place to ask, but Kristen, my love, will you marry me?”
She was glad she’d been wise enough to hold her tongue.
A single joyful tear dripped down her cheek when she nodded. “I will, Jack. And this place is just perfect—after all, it’s where our love began.”
A word about the author...
Sarita Leone loves walking on the beach, dancing beneath the stars, and writing romance.
She also loves hearing from readers, so contact her via her website:
www.saritaleone.com
her blog:
From the Heart, www.saritaleone.blogspot.com
or her Facebook page.
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Sterling's Way (Lawmen & Outlaws) Page 14
