A Forever Love (Wanted 5)

“No,” I whispered.

He nodded his head. “Yes. I won’t let you give up on college and stay here just to be a housewife to some deadbeat cattle rancher.”

I pushed his hands away and stood up. “Why does everyone think they can tell me what I want and what I don’t want? Garrett, you’re not a deadbeat cattle rancher. You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met, and I want to build a future with you.”

He stood up and used his thumbs to wipe away my tears. Then, he pulled my lips to his, and he kissed me so tenderly. In an instant, I knew he was saying good-bye.

“Emma, you’ll go to college and get your degree, and I’ll wait.”

I tried to shake my head, but his hands were holding my face, keeping me from moving. “Garrett, no…”

Leaning down, he sucked my lower lip into his mouth and gently bit down on it. Instead of it turning me on, it caused me to cry harder.

“I’ll wait for you, Buttercup. I promise.”

I threw myself into his body, and he wrapped his arms around me and held me while I cried.

“I promise, I’ll wait for you, too, Garrett. I love you.”

His hands moved slowly up and down my back. “I love you, too. I’ll always love you.”

Garrett and I sat in the barn, and I smiled as I listened to him making plans to visit me in Austin as much as he could.

“I’m scared, Garrett. It’s such a big college, and I don’t even know yet what I want a degree in. Maybe something to help you with the ranch? Business or something?” I said.

He let out a weak laugh. “Lord knows I don’t have any business sense.”

When I heard Margie pulling up, I jumped. “I’m not ready to leave yet!” I called out.

Garrett slowly stood up and took my hand in his. As he led me out of the barn, I tried to pull him back, but he just smiled and winked at me.

“I don’t…I can’t leave you,” I whispered.

He leaned down and kissed me on the lips. He barely pulled away and whispered back, “You’ll never leave me because you’re forever in my heart.”

I let a small sob escape my lips before Garrett kissed me again. This time, he kissed me like he knew something I didn’t. It was so full of passion that I wanted to beg him to never stop. Then, he quickly stopped and took a few steps back as he raked his hand through his hair again. I smiled because he only did that when he was frustrated or nervous. I was secretly hoping he was frustrated with himself for not making me his own.

I glanced over and saw Billy and Raymond standing there. When I turned, I saw Margie and Peggy waiting for me in the car. I pointed to them to give me a second. I wanted to tell Garrett one more thing before I left. I turned back to face him, but he was gone. My heart began pounding, and I started to walk into the barn, but then I felt someone take my arm.

“Emma, you have to let him go,” Billy said.

He began to lead me back to the car, and I began crying.

“No, Billy, no. He needs me, and I can’t leave him. He needs me.”

I slowly sank down to the ground, and Billy held me in his arms.

“I can’t leave him. I just can’t,” I cried over and over again.

Margie and Peggy were next to me on the ground, saying something about how I needed to stand up.

I wasn’t even sure how I’d made it back to the car.

I cried the entire way home. Margie walked with me as I made my way into the house.

I ran into my mother’s arms. “I can’t leave him alone. Mother, please!” I cried out.

As my mother held me in her arms, she softly said, “Shh…baby girl. I promise you, it will be okay.”