Hours go by, and when it’s time for me to head home, I grab my purse, look at my phone one more time, tell Ranger I’m leaving, and walk out the front of the store. I get to the edge of the parking lot and freeze. Austin is standing next to his truck with his arms wrapped around a woman. Pain squeezes my heart. I swear I’d never believe it if I didn’t see it with my own two eyes. I turn quickly and run back into the store. I wipe at the tears that I didn’t even realize were falling. Ranger is busy putting things on a shelf, and I dash into my office. I drop my purse on top of my desk and pace back and forth. I’ll wait just a few minutes and leave. What’s he even doing here? All the thoughts are running through my head when the bells over the front door of the store ring. I completely stop breathing. I don’t even have to look to know who it is. It’s Austin... and that woman.
I walk out of the office and do my best to keep my expression guarded. But I must not be hiding my emotions very well, because Austin takes one look at me and frowns. As soon as he’s close enough, he pulls me into him. “Josie, this is my girlfriend, Millie. Honey, this is my sister, Josie.”
“Your sister?” I squeak out. He’s mentioned his sister, but she lives in Texas. He never mentioned that she was coming into town. My stomach unbinds with relief, and I can’t even try to hide it. “It’s so nice to meet you.” Even I can hear the relief in my voice.
Josie and I talk, and the whole time, Austin is looking closely at me.
We talk about going to dinner, and it’s then I realize this must be the change of plans.
“Josie, Ranger’s right over there. Why don’t you go say hi and then we’ll go to dinner.”
Josie turns to me. “You’re joining us for dinner, right?”
“Yes, she’s coming.”
Josie slaps her brother’s arm. “She doesn’t need you bossing her around, bub.”
I laugh, already liking his sister. “Yeah, I’m coming.”
As soon as Josie walks away, Austin grabs my hand and walks with me to my office. He closes the door and turns me so I’m leaned up against it.
Austin
“What was that?” I ask her. I knew the minute I saw her exactly what she was thinking. If I was anywhere else, I’d take her over my knee right now.
She lifts her chin. “What was what?”
I thread my hand through her hair and hold on to the nape of her neck. “What were you thinking when I walked in with my sister?”
She looks back at me stubbornly. “You don’t want to know what I was thinking.”
“Yes, I do.”
She tries to pull from my arms, but I’m stronger, and she doesn’t get far. I edge my leg between hers and cage her in between my arms. “No, let’s get this out in the open so we can put it behind us.”
“Fine. I saw you hugging your sister in the parking lot. I thought, well, you were together.”
Well, fuck. “Obviously, I’m doing something wrong here.”
She shakes her head. “No, this is not on you. This is all me. I’m the one with all the insecurities. I know what kind of man you are, and I should never had let my head go that way.”
Her voice is so sad, I know she regrets it. I swear if that Mike was still in town, I’d whoop his ass again.
I bring her over to the couch and sit down, pulling her into my lap. When she’s completely settled with my arms around her, I look into her eyes.
“Millie, I love you.”
It’s the first time I’ve said the words, but I mean them. I’ve probably loved her since the day she came to the ranch when I was hurt. “I only want you, sugar. I can’t even imagine looking at another woman. It’s you. You’re the one. I promise that I will always be faithful to you. Nothing will ever come between us.”
“You love me?”
I laugh. “Yes.”
“I love you too, Austin. So much.”
I lean in and seal my lips to hers. My sister will just have to wait.
Epilogue
Violet
Standing at the counter of my diner, I look around with pride. Besides how busy the restaurant is, I’ve actually made quite a difference in some of the patrons’ lives. I’ve never seen Millie so happy, and I’ve known her almost her whole life. She’s still young and deserves happiness more than anyone I know. She’s having dinner with Austin and his sister, and I could watch them all night. The protective way that Austin looks at her is stuff that dreams are made of. I don’t know if I’m the reason that Austin and Millie met and got together, but I like to think so. If I hadn’t told him she worked there would he have stopped and talked to her that day or bypassed her office, not even knowing she was there? I like to think I’ve done something to help make my friend happy.