“Why?” I say, my voice cracking with emotion. I lean my cheek into his arm, trying to stay rooted in the seat and not jump into his arms.
“Because I love you.”
It’s the simplest thing he could say, but the most powerful too. His handsome face gets cloudy as I bat back tears.
“I may have let Tabby go for years, knowing she’d come back to nothing but a divorce, if she ever did. But I could do that because it didn’t matter. Thinking about you leaving for even a day kills me, Slugger.”
“Oh, Walker . . .” I throw my arms around him, burying my face in his neck. He pulls me in tight, his body so hard, yet so welcoming, against me. It’s where I belong.
“Madam, I’m sorry, but are you going to get on this flight or not?” The flight attendant’s voice sounds behind me, crisp and clear.
“She’s not,” Walker answers for me. “She’s going home with me.”
“Very well.”
I pull back and look at him. “Are you divorced yet?”
“Blaire says she’ll get it through the system, but it’ll take up to three months. Seems it takes longer to break up a marriage legally than it does to create one.” He takes a deep breath. “I should’ve told you. I was wrong.”
“I know.” A slow smirk kisses my lips. “I’m going to expect a lot of favors to make up for this.”
“I’m going to expect to do a lot of favors, although nothing will make up for hurting you.” He kisses my cheek. “Will you go home with me?”
I look over my shoulder to see the doors to the jetway are closed. Twisting back in my seat, I take a deep breath. “What would you think if I told you I might be looking forward to those Illinois winters after all?”
“I’d say that’s a good thing,” he says, standing and pulling me to my feet. “Because I might be looking to spend a few decades with you cuddling.”
“Next to a fire?” I grin.
“Wherever you want, Slugger.”
I FOLLOWED HER LIKE white on rice all the way from Chicago, afraid she’d get cold feet and veer off and go back to the airport. She parked her car at her house, only because it’s the first opportunity I could get to get her in my truck.
I haven’t let go of her hand since she got in my truck. She’s tried to pull away a few times, but I just clamp down harder.
“Get used to it,” I say, bringing our interlaced fingers to my mouth and planting a kiss on our knuckles. Pulling into my driveway, I pilot the truck all the way to the end near the barn. She gives me a confused look when I turn off the key. “I want you to feel free to ask me anything. I’ll answer whatever questions you have.”
“Do you love her?” she asks.
“No.”
“Do you love me?”
“Yes.”
She nods, biting her bottom lip. “I do have questions I want to ask you later. Just so I understand what happened. I think it’s important.”
“Whatever you want.”
Her phone rings and I let her hand go so she can find it in her purse. She pulls it out and smiles wide. “Hey, Graham.” She laughs, nods, and then winces. “Yeah, I think I’ve decided to stay here. Can you get my checked baggage in Atlanta?” She nods again. “Yeah. Have Barrett send Troy. Just tell him not to go through it,” she laughs. “No. Absolutely not.” Her eyes close before she hands the phone to me.
“What?” I ask.
“My brother wants to talk to you.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“This should be fun,” I grumble, taking the phone. “Hello?”
“Hello. This is Graham Landry. Who is this?”
“Walker Gibson. How are ya?” I make a face at Sienna. She buries hers in her hands.
“I’m going to cut to the chase because we both don’t care about the weather or how the other person is, correct?”
I like him already. “Correct.”
“What we both care about is my sister. We haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet, but I would like you to know one thing: if you do anything stupid, I have people who are capable of just about anything you can imagine. Okay?”
“Let me put it to you this way,” I say, looking at the beautiful girl beside me. “I’ve been to jail one time in my life and that was for doing something similar to what you’ve insinuated to a guy who thought he could get away with a few things with my sister. If anyone ever touched Sienna, I’d never get out. So I hear you loud and clear.”
“Oh.” He pauses, letting that sink in. “Maybe we’re going to be all right.”
“Maybe so. Nice talking to you.” I hand the phone back to Sienna and then get out of the truck.
There’s a gentleness to the air as I fill my lungs with it, blowing it out into the freshly-mowed field. The pile of lumber Peck and I got last night sets at the edge of the woods. I wonder how long it will take me to finish the project and hope I can get it done before fall comes and it gets cool and muddy back here.