Feels Like Home (Southern Bride 5)

“Yes,” I answered with a nod. “I always give the same answer. Yes, I know him, and Comfort is proud of him.”

“Good. Good. Then the next step is to figure out what you and Anson want to say.”

I buried my face in my hands and let out what could only be described as a half-groan and half-laugh.

“Bristol.”

His voice instantly put me at ease. I dropped my hands and saw Anson standing there. A feeling of happiness stole through me, and my stomach fluttered at the sight of him. Cowboy boots, jeans, a T-shirt, and that dirty old black cowboy hat that made his eyes stand out in the most deliciously blinding way.

The look of worry on his face made me smile in a sad attempt to erase his fears.

“Hey,” I said, trying to keep my voice light and carefree.

Anson looked at Lanny. “I got your message as well as Robert’s.”

He moved so quickly toward me that I didn’t even have time to react when he cupped my face in his hands and looked directly into my eyes.

“Baby, I am so sorry. I swear it’s going to be okay. This wasn’t how I wanted to tell everyone about us. I’m so damn sorry.”

I placed my hands on his arms. “It’s okay. Anson, it’s really okay.”

He closed his eyes and dropped his forehead to mine. “Please don’t leave me again,” he whispered.

My breath hitched in my throat, and I pulled back to look at him. The fear in his eyes nearly made my knees buckle out from underneath me.

Anson

HER BREATH CAUGHT in her throat, and I watched as her eyes filled with wetness.

“I will never leave you. Ever. I swear to you.”

I smiled, but her words didn’t ease the fear and utter rage that raced through my body.

Bristol reached up on her toes and kissed my lips gently then whispered, “You and me, right?”

My heart felt like it wanted to burst in my chest. That was what we had always said to one another. I hadn’t heard those words in so damn long. “Always, Bri.”

With a deep breath in and then out, I turned to face Lanny. “I need to make a statement.”

Lanny nodded. “Brad thinks Bristol should as well.”

Emmie cleared her throat and asked, “Should we warn Ida and Irwin? Your folks, Anson?”

I sighed. “I already told Mom and Dad what was going on. I just left the ranch.”

When I met Bristol’s eyes, they were filled with concern. “Everything’s okay, we talked some.”

She smiled and said, “I’m glad.”

Even now, when her world was about to turn upside down, she was worried about me.

God damn it, I don’t deserve her love. Or her forgiveness.

I faced Brad. “I know this is asking a lot of you, but I really think Bristol should have her own attorney, separate from mine, at least with this.”

“An attorney!” Bristol nearly shouted.

“It’s not what you think. It’s more for protection. He can help you with a statement, and anything else that comes out of this.”

“But I have an attorney, here in town.”

Brad grinned. “No offense toward him at all, Bristol, but I’m more familiar with this type of thing than they are, I’m sure.”

She wrapped her arms around her waist and nodded. “Okay.”

Mindy came walking out of the kitchen. She stopped when she saw me and Emmie.

“What did I miss when I was making tea and getting some pastries?”

She set a tray down with two cups of tea and a plate of pastries that instantly made my mouth water.

Both Brad and I went for the pastries, while Lanny took the tea.

“Milk for your tea?” Mindy asked Lanny, who promptly shook her head.

“I think the quicker you get a response out, the better,” Lanny stated.

Bristol sat down at the table. “Do you think we should respond directly about the photos or have Anson and I do a post together? Maybe a video of us. Like the first place we ever kissed or something like that? I could post it on my Instagram, and Anson could share it.”

Lanny and I looked at each other and smiled. Then Lanny lifted a brow and said, “How did you ever let this one go? She’s beautiful…and smart.”

“I’ve been asking myself that for the last six years.”

When I glanced over to Bristol, I winked. She flashed me a brilliant smile.

Lanny stood and started to walk around the tea room.

“Oh, Lord, she’s thinking,” Brad said.

“No, I actually like Bristol’s idea. That way it doesn’t seem like the photos drove you to respond, even though they did. How quickly can you do this?”

“We could go now,” Bristol said. “It’s down on Cypress Creek.”

“Against a tree, if I remember correctly.”

“And poorly executed if I remember Bristol’s side of it,” Mindy stated.

Everyone laughed.

“I don’t think we should have anyone else recording us,” Bristol said. “It should be more organic, just the two of us. Almost as if we’re walking down memory lane together and decided to share it.”