by Elsa Nickle
Preston flinched. “Don’t you love me?”
Leanne’s face softened, and her smile turned sympathetic, placating. “You know I do. I’ve loved these last six months, too, but I’m not ready to get married and settle down. And what would we do anyway? You still live at home with your brothers. You haven’t gone to college. You have no plans for the future.”
Now that was just harsh. “What do you mean, I have no plans for the future? I’m already doing it. I don’t need college because I already have a career. I’m a rancher. My family has always been ranchers. Hopefully one day I’ll have kids, and I can teach them how to run the ranch, too. And as for the house, I’ve already spoken to my brothers about that. There’s a cottage on the property that we could have all to ourselves. All we have to do is move in.”
Preston raked both hands through his hair this time. His chest heaved as he fought to maintain control of himself. He was crushed, and he didn’t know what to do with all the feelings battering him at the moment.
Leanne watched him struggle, and her eyes glossed over with tears. “But I’m not a rancher,” she said softly. “I don’t want to be a rancher. I don’t want to live in the country. I don’t want to own a barn full of animals or settle down and pop out a bunch of babies. That’s not how I envision my life at all.”
Anger and frustration swept through Preston. He gritted his teeth and sucked in a sharp breath through his nose. “If that’s how you feel—how you’ve always felt—then what have you been doing with me? Why get into a relationship with me at all? It’s not like my lifestyle is a secret.”
Leanne swallowed and shrugged her shoulders. “You’re funny. You’re sweet. You’re gorgeous. You’re a great guy.”
Each compliment felt like a stab in the back. If he was so great, why wasn’t he enough for her?
“I guess I always hoped you’d want more, too. That if you saw me graduating from school and getting a real job, then you might want that for yourself, too.”
Preston ground his teeth. “A real job?”
“You know what I mean.”
“No. I really don’t.”
Leanne sighed. “You’re not ambitious, Preston. You’ve never tried to get more than you’ve been given.”
“Why would I try to get more than I have? I love what I have. I don’t need anything more.”
Leanne smiled sadly at him, and Preston finally realized that this was a sinking ship. Leanne didn’t understand him at all. And apparently, he didn’t know her as well as he thought, either.
Leanne looked down at her lap, took a slow breath, and then met Preston’s gaze with shining eyes. “I guess this is good-bye, then.”
Preston’s chest hurt and his eyes burned. He closed the ring box and steadied his voice before he spoke. “I guess so.”
With one last, sad smile, Leanne got up from the table. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, brushing a kiss on Preston’s cheek. And then she was gone, only the flowery scent of her perfume lingering.
Preston sat there, numb, staring at the ring box in his hands until a confused server dropped off two plates of food. The woman’s eyes widened when she noticed the ring and the look of devastation on Preston’s face. “Can I get you anything, sugar?” she asked gently.
Preston swallowed. “Just the check, please.”
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Acknowledgments
Ruth (Elsa Nickle) and Jamie (J.L. Hixon) would like to first and foremost thank each other. Is that weird? Well too bad, we’re weird. It took a lot of time and hard work to create this book. We’ve been writing/critique partners (and super good friends) for years, but in this cowriting experience we’ve both learned tons and helped each other a lot. So, we’re grateful for each other.
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Next, we need to thank the other authors in this series: Janette, Torsha, Melinda, and Kelly. Ladies, without your friendship, your critiques, your fantastic ideas, and your guidance—this book wouldn’t exist. Also, you ladies are a ton of fun. A big extra bucket of gratitude to Melinda for the use of her cabin for writing retreats. That place is amazing.
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We would also like to acknowledge the gals at Sweetly Us Press, who have been top notch. Kaylee, thank you for being a fantastic editor, and Raneé, thank you for your mad formatting skills. 10/10, would recommend.
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Big thanks to J. Smith Photography for letting us use your beautiful picture for our book cover, and to the lovely couple who didn’t mind us stealing your photo. You guys look good.
And to Josh Oram, who designed the covers—we get hearts in our eyes whenever we see all the books lined up. You did an amazing job.
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And what would we do without our ANWA critiquing groups? Thanks to the ladies who have given us feedback at NightScrawlers, QC Reborn, and to the guys and gals in our Drop-Dead Coed group. We appreciate the heck out of your feedback and support. Extra shoutout to Christine Jardine for beta-reading. You rock.
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Last but not least, thank you to our supportive family members. We raise a glass (of whatever Landon was drinking) to those who encouraged and helped us along this journey. Because, as our Laurel can tell you, a support system is necessary in any creative endeavor.
About the Authors
Elsa Nickle
Barely tethered to reality, Elsa spends her free time weaving words into stories. She began writing when she was ten, producing a five-page novel that was heavily inspired by The Hobbit. Now, after getting married to the man of her dreams and having three amazing kids, she is wading back into the beautiful torture that is writing. You can find her at elsanickle.com
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J.L. Hixon
J.L. Hixon writes sweet romance novels. She has always loved every form of storytelling: art, music, movies, theater, books—you name it, she digs it. She has a BFA in theater from UCSB and used to act and teach voice lessons, but nowadays she spends her time writing and hanging with her amazing husband and three creative kids. Find her at jlhixon.com
