“Save it. I’m not interested. Now go away.”
“Not yet.”
She let go of the door handle and crossed her arms. “Talk fast. I have to check out in a few minutes.”
He glanced over his shoulder. The couple in the next room who were loading up their white minivan kept shooting him strange looks. This wasn’t the right place for this conversation.
“Please let me inside.”
Her lips pursed in contemplation as her gaze strayed to the nosy couple. When she retreated into the dimly lit room, he followed. She stopped next to the bed where her suitcase was propped open. She kept her back to him as she folded a pile of colorful tops and placed them neatly in the already-full case.
“Lexi, stop packing and look at me.”
She sighed but turned. “Time’s ticking.”
Her cool tone added to the nervous tension plaguing him. “I need you to listen and believe me.”
“Believe you about what? Are you going to try and tell me that my eyes were playing tricks on me and that wasn’t your signature I saw on the sales agreement? Or that my father twisted your arm and made you sign it?”
“No. I’m not going to tell you any of that. You’re the reason I came to my senses about the sale. The honest-to-goodness truth is I signed those papers before your father pulled in. If you don’t believe me, ask him.”
A flash of surprise lit up her eyes.
He’d made his first chip at her steely resistance. He couldn’t let up now. Time to break out the first tool he planned to use to make cracks in the reinforced wall surrounding her heart. He moved to the bed and dumped the contents of the paper bag. Choconut Bars showered down all over the blanket.
“What in the world?”
“It’s a peace offering.”
When their gazes collided, her eyes dimmed and she pursed her lips. “Chocolate can’t fix this problem. We’re over. You’ve got the money to save the Brazen H, and it’s time for me to head back to New York.”
“Whistle Stop could be your home, if you wanted it to be. Or…or I could give New York a try.”
“What are you saying?” The rigid line of her shoulders eased.
He took a deep breath. “I don’t want you to leave…not without me. I’ve gotten used to having you around. And when you aren’t there, it’s lonely. I…I miss you when you’re not there.”
“You miss me?” Her eyes rounded as the thought settled in.
“It’s true. I can’t imagine my life going back to its solitary existence.” He stepped toward her. His fingers slid around her arms. His thumbs stroked her smooth skin. “Don’t you understand what I’m trying to tell you?”
She took a moment and then shook her head, but her gaze never broke with his.
“I love you, Lexi. I think I lost my heart to you the day we visited Haggerty. And then when you started having a reaction to the scorpion sting, you scared the life out of me.” Remembering the ring in his pocket, he yanked it out. Not giving her a chance to say anything, he dropped to one knee. He opened the box and held it out to her.
Her mouth gaped. “Cord…I…”
“Shh…just let me say this before I get too nervous and forget.” He swallowed and tried to gather his jumbled thoughts. “Lexi, I love you and I want you to share my life, my home, and my future. Will you consider being my best friend for life?”
Her eyes shimmered, and a tear splashed onto her cheek. Her gaze went from his face to the box and back to him.
Her trembling fingers grasped his hand. “You’re sure about this?”
“I’ve never been more sure in my life. If you think you could be happy with this cowboy, please wear my ring.”
She started shaking her head.
No? She was saying no?