V Card Sweetheart (Sweetheart, Colorado)

He takes the bag from my hands. “I bought a house in Sweetheart, and there’s plenty of room.”

I can’t hide the shock off my face if I tried. “You live here? But what about your business?”

He grabs up both of the bags I have packed and stares down at me. “I moved my business here too. Well, I’m working on it. Remember the vacant lot off the interstate at Steamsprings?”

“Yeah, but it’s not really vacant anymore, there’s a huge warehouse now.”

He smiles. “Yeah, that’s mine. I tried to find something in Sweetheart, but it just made more sense to have it in a bigger city. But my house is here.”

I hold my hands together in front of me and try to not to let my shock be heard in my voice. “I didn’t know you were moving to Sweetheart,” I say to him calmly, but on the inside, my heart is racing. I want to ask him why he’s moving to Sweetheart, but I’m afraid to. No, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t get your hopes up, Jane.

He moves one of the bags over to his other hand, holding both of them with one arm like they weigh nothing. With his free hand, he cups my face, his thumb moving slowly across my jaw. My body trembles at his touch. “There’s so much you don’t know about me, but we don’t have to rush it. Just know that I’ll never hurt you. I’m here for you, and I just want to keep you close and know you’re safe.”

“Because of Martin?” I ask with bated breath. I don’t know what I expect. I’m probably hoping that he’s going to confess his undying love to me or something, and even though I know it’s not going to happen, I ask anyway.

He nods his head. “Because of Martin, but also because I need you safe.”

I could ask more questions. But I don’t. Not yet. With a nod of my head, I tell him, “I’m ready.”

6

Dutton

It feels like a weight has been lifted when I park in my driveway and help Jane out of the truck. I unlock and open the door, motioning her inside. I bought this house because the first time I saw it, I could see Jane and me raising a family here. I hold my breath as she walks in, hoping she likes it.

I try to look at it from her perspective. The walls are bare, and there is minimal furniture, but I thought I had more time. Her going out with another man tonight definitely pushed things along quicker than I had prepared for. But I don’t care. I can make it work.

“I know it needs work,” I start.

She turns, her mouth wide open. “Are you kidding? This is beautiful.”

I can literally feel my heart beating against the walls of my chest. Her smiling at me the way she is, knowing she likes the house, is everything to me. “Well, it needs rugs, pictures, more furniture… well, everything really.”

I set her bags down in the living room and walk her around the four-bedroom rancher. It’s all one level with the living room, kitchen and dining room splitting the master bedroom from the other three bedrooms. When I get to the master bedroom, I can tell she’s shocked when I show her the small nursery that is connected to it.

“Uh, wow, this is amazing, Dutton. It’s like a dream house.”

I put my hands in my pockets to stop from reaching for her. “You really like it?”

She laughs then. “Who wouldn’t?”

She’s staring at the door of the nursery almost wistfully. “Maybe you can help me decorate it while you’re here.”

Her face falls at that, but before I can ask her about it, she starts walking out the bedroom door. “Do you mind if I shower?”

She’s already grabbing her bags, rushing to the other side of the house so I know she needs a minute. “Sure, take any bedroom you want.”

She disappears down the hall, and I fall back into the couch. I’m worn out. Driving straight through from Tennessee was a stupid thing to do, but there’s no way I could have stopped. It should be so easy for me to dose off right now, but I can’t. The fact that Jane is here, in my house, finally makes me believe that everything I want – a life with Jane – is within reach.

It isn’t long before she’s back in the living room. I look at her under hooded eyes. She’s in an oversized T-shirt and shorts, and her wet hair is hanging off her shoulders. She looks beautiful.

She walks gingerly to the couch and sits on the far end, tucking her feet underneath her. I don’t dare move because I don’t want to scare her.

“Dutton,” she whispers, no doubt wondering if I’m asleep.