“What do you mean?”

  “We need to figure out if I’m going to sell and move here, or if you’re going to move to Montana with me so we can start our life there.”

  “Oh,” she says quietly, her eyes going from her trailer to her shop, then the trees surrounding us.

  Cupping her cheek, I wait for her gaze to come back to me. “If we decide on Montana, you don’t have to sell this place—you can keep it, and we can use it when we come to visit, or you can rent it out for a little extra cash or even sell it later on down the road.”

  “I love you.” She rests her forehead on my chin.

  Fuck, I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to or tired of her saying she loves me. Yeah, I’ve had Mav and Blake, along with his family, but until her, I’ve never had anyone of my own, and it feels good, better than good, to have someone to belong to. “I love you too.”

  “I know that it’ll take Jade, Maisie, and Bernard time to get used to me being away, but I . . .” She lets out a breath. “But I was happy with you in Montana. It felt like home when I was there, and even though I’m going to miss everyone, I’m ready for a change.”

  “You sure about that?”

  “Would you sell your house and move here if I told you that I didn’t want to leave?”

  “Yes.” I don’t even have to think about it. I never wanted to sell my portion of the business, but I would choose Cybil every single time.

  “I know you would, so I need you to have as much faith in me as I have in you.” She lets out a deep breath, then presses her forehead into the crook of my neck and wraps her arms around me, holding on tight. “I trust you.”

  “That means a lot, sunshine.” I hold her tight, knowing that no matter what happens, as long as she and I find our way through this together, everything else will be all right.

  Hearing the engine of Dave’s plane start up, I look down at Cybil and wonder if I’m making the right decision. Being away from her isn’t something I want, and I know she doesn’t want it either. But after lots of conversations and talking to Maisie, Bernard, and Jade, we decided that I would go back to Montana to work. She would join me in a month—enough time to get the rest of her place packed up and on the market.

  That doesn’t mean it will be easy being away from her, especially after spending the last few weeks together, day in and day out. As I look into her eyes, I realize the next month is going to test our relationship, specifically with me being away from my cell and not contacting her while I’m out with clients.

  “I love you.” Her chin trembles as she tips her head back to look up at me.

  “I love you, too, sunshine.” I brush my lips across hers, trying to force myself to release her when everything in me is screaming to hold on tighter and never let her go. “One month.”

  “One month,” she repeats, taking a step back with her fingers still curled around my tee at my sides.

  “Be good,” I order, and her lips curl up into a smile.

  “I will be.”

  I have no doubt, but it doesn’t make this any easier, and it also makes me realize how every taken man I was stationed with felt when they had to leave the lives they had behind in order to go out and fight for the country they loved.

  “I’ll see you in a month,” she says.

  “You will.” I kiss her once more, this time thrusting my tongue between her lips and dipping her back over my arm. When I come up for air, I look into her eyes, knowing without a doubt that this is going to work, that even if everything else turns to shit, we will be solid. We’ve found something within each other that neither of us was looking for, but it’s impossible to deny, and outside of that, nothing else matters. “See you in thirty days?”

  “You will.” She lets me go, then gives me a smile. “Remember, I love your house.”

  “I don’t care why you come back to me,” I tell her, and her face softens.

  “Call me when you land.” She takes another step back, and I let her. With her out of reach, I turn and head for the open door of the small plane that will take me home, then stop to look at her once more. Seeing her looking so small and unsure, it kills me to hop into the empty passenger seat and wave goodbye to her. I know she’s nervous about what’s to come, and so am I. But I also know this is the beginning of our future.

  Chapter 23

  CYBIL

  Standing in the doorway of my shop, I look around the empty space, feeling scared to death and full of hope for what’s to come. Tomorrow, Bernard, Maisie, Jade, and I are driving my clothes and other personal items to Montana, with all the stuff from my shop arriving a few days after we get there. Tanner wanted me to wait a few days so he could fly down and drive up with me, but I’m over being away from him, and after a month, even one more day feels like too much time.

  When I hear a car pull up behind me, I flip off the lights in the shop and close the door before turning to see who’s here. I expect to see Earl, since he said he was going to stop by to say goodbye, but I’m surprised to find Galvin getting out of his car.

  “Hey.” He tucks his hands in the pockets of his jeans as he walks toward me. “Do you have a minute to talk?”

  Part of me wants to say no, but I know I need to get this over with, because tomorrow when I leave, I want to know that my past is in the past, where it should be. “Sure.” I walk to the deck and take a seat on the edge of it, and he comes to sit down next to me.

  “So you’re really leaving tomorrow?”

  “I am.” My fingers fidget with a thread on the bottom of my jean shorts. “What about you? Are you sticking around town?”

  “I have to finish up a few things here; then Chris and I will be heading to Seattle next month.”

  “You always did love Seattle,” I say quietly, and he startles me by grabbing my hand.

  “I’m sorry, Cybil, so fucking sorry. I know I said it before, but I want you to know I didn’t want to hurt you. I never meant to hurt you.”

  “I know,” I reply as my nose starts to sting.

  “My one regret in everything that happened is that I didn’t trust you enough to tell you the truth, especially when you’re the one person I should have trusted.” His fingers squeeze mine. “It was selfish of me to drag you into that. I just . . . I wasn’t in a good place, and I was just scared, because I knew choosing Chris would mean losing everyone else I loved.”

  “I wish you would have trusted me,” I whisper as tears I can’t control fill my eyes. “You could have trusted me.”

  “I know.” His voice cracks, and I turn to look at him. When his eyes meet mine, I hate the pain I see in his gaze. “Do you think you might be able to forgive me someday?”

  “I already forgave you.” I let out a deep breath, then rest my head on his shoulder. “Have you talked to your parents?”

  “No,” he says quietly, and I squeeze my eyes closed. “I’m learning to accept that they might never come around.”

  “I hate that for you.”

  “It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.” I feel his lips at the top of my head; then his hand lets go of mine so he can wrap his arm around my shoulders. “Are you happy?”

  “Happier than I have ever been. Not that I didn’t love you, but—”

  “I get it. You don’t have to explain being soul-deep in love with someone to me.”

  “I guess I don’t.” I lift my head from his shoulder and turn toward him. “Life is funny. Who would have thought that, after years together, we’d be sitting outside my house talking about starting lives with other people?”

  “Yeah,” he says with a laugh, and I can’t help but smile.

  I stand up and shake my head as he looks up at me. It’s strange to think that his decision to end things between us, a decision that devastated me at the time, was the best thing he could have done—not just for him, but also for me. If he hadn’t, I might not have had the chance to fall in love, really fall in love, with a man who loves me so completely. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” He stands, and I tip my head back to look up at him.

  “For being brave enough to follow your heart. I know that wasn’t easy for you.” I lean toward him, and like a million times before, he opens his arms to me, and I rest my ear against his chest. “I want nothing but happiness for you.”

  “I know.” His chin rests against the top of my head. “And you should tell that guy of yours that if he hurts you, I’ll be first in line to kick his ass.”

  “I’ll let him know, as long as you tell Chris the same thing,” I say, and his arms around me tighten before he lets me go and takes a step back.

  “Promise you’ll message me from time to time to let me know how you’re doing?”

  “I will.” I clear my throat in an attempt to fight back the tears I feel creeping up my throat once again.

  “I still love you. I know I shouldn’t say that to you, but I still do.” His eyes drop to his feet for a moment before he lifts his head to look at me once more. “I hope you get everything you ever wanted.”

  Not trusting myself to not start sobbing, I nod, and he nods back before pulling his keys out of his pocket and heading to his car.

  When he gets in behind the wheel, I lift my hand to wave, and he waves back before doing a three-point turn and taking off down the lane. As his taillights disappear out of sight, I look around, then head into my trailer to finish packing, feeling lighter than I have in weeks. Even a tad bit optimistic, because maybe, just maybe, he and I will be able to be friends again someday.

  “It’s not too late to change your mind about moving,” Jade says quietly as her dad pulls in to park in front of her house, where I stayed last night, and I turn her way, feeling my stomach drop when I see sadness in her gaze as her eyes search mine. “But you’re not going to, are you?”

  “No.” I shake my head. “I’m not going to.” I reach my hand out to her, and she wraps her pinkie around mine. Over this last month, one of the hardest things I’ve had to come to terms with is actually leaving the place I’ve always called home and the people who are my family. But even as difficult as it’s been, I know I’m making the right decision for myself, and my life. I know it’s going to take time to settle into living with Tanner, and I’m sure that we’re both going to have to do a lot of adjusting, but I feel whole when I’m with him, and there’s no way I’m going to deny myself that.

  “I figured as much.” She lets out a deep breath. “I want to be selfish and to tell you that you’re making a mistake, but I can’t because I can see how much Tanner loves you and know that he’ll do everything he can to make you happy. I’m happy for you.”

  “I love you.” My nose stings and my eyes burn.

  “I love you too.” She looks over at me and sighs. “This isn’t even goodbye—I still get to spend the next few days with you.”

  “I know.” I take a deep breath. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  “You’re such a girl.” She wraps her arm around my shoulders and pulls me into her side. “No crying, or mom will think I’m being mean to you.”

  “Right.” I laugh, remembering when we were younger and how the two of us fighting would normally end up with her in trouble with Maisie or Bernard; then again, she was the one who typically started the fights between us.

  “Are you two ready?” Bernard asks, opening the driver’s-side door. “I wanna get a coffee before we head out of town.”

  “We’re ready.” Jade lets me go, and we both wheel my suitcases to the back of Bernard’s truck, then load up the few boxes I packed and get in. After stopping for coffee and some snacks, we hit the road.

  Oh God, I’m going to puke. I hold my hand to my forehead as I pray for the nausea to pass.

  “Are you feeling sick again?” Jade asks quietly after a few hours, and I slowly turn my head her way, afraid that any sudden movement will cause me to throw up. Since we’ve been on the road, I’ve gotten nauseated more than once, but thankfully we’ve been just about to stop to use the restroom or get gas each time.

  “Yeah.” I turn one of the air vents my way, hoping the cool air will help.

  “I’ve never known you to get carsick.”

  “I haven’t before. I probably caught a bug after all the stress from moving.”

  “Yeah, maybe,” she agrees, then mutters, “or maybe you’re pregnant.”

  “Don’t say that,” I hiss. My heart starts to hammer away inside my chest, because I thought the same thing after I realized I haven’t gotten my period yet—something I normally would have gotten a week ago. I glance toward the front seat, thankful that Maisie is asleep and Bernard is distracted by singing along to the radio.

  You’re on birth control. You can’t be pregnant, I remind myself.

  “I’m not pregnant.”

  “Okay,” she says, not sounding convinced. “Do you want Dad to stop at the next rest stop? Maybe if you get out and walk around, you’ll feel a little better.”

  “No,” I reply. “We’re so close.” I glance at the GPS. “I should be able to hold out another hour.”

  “Are you sure?”

  No.

  “Yeah.” I rest my forehead against the cool glass and watch the forest off the side of the road pass in a blur of green and brown, then close my eyes when it becomes too much.

  “Cybil.” I blink my eyes open and find Maisie turned around toward me, and I sit up as Bernard pulls in to park in front of Tanner’s house. “You fell asleep, sweetheart.”

  “Not sleeping much last night must have caught up with me.” I yawn as I grab my cell phone. “I was supposed to call Tanner to let him know when we were thirty minutes out so that he could come meet us. We’ll probably have to wait a few minutes for him to get here.”

  “That’s fine.” She unhooks her belt and hops out, stretching her arms over her head while I put my cell to my ear.

  “Hey, sunshine, are you close?” Tanner greets, sounding happy, and I smile.

  “Actually, we’re already here. I fell asleep. I’m sorry.”

  “No big deal. There’s a key in a rock in the garden next to the front step. You can use that to get in, and I’ll be there in about twenty minutes, tops.”

  “All right.” I unhook my belt and open my door.

  “Fuck, I can’t wait to kiss you.”

  “Me too.” My heart flutters.

  “I’m getting in my truck. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

  “See you in a few,” I say. Then I whisper, “Love you.”

  “I love you too.” He hangs up, and I hop down out of my seat and walk to where Maisie, Bernard, and Jade are standing.

  “Tanner said there’s a rock near the steps with a key in it,” I tell them, and Maisie turns to look at me. I notice her eyes are glistening. “What happened? Are you okay?”

  “This looks almost exactly like your mom’s house.” She walks toward me and wraps me in a tight hug, whispering, “It’s like serendipity, being here and knowing this is going to be where you’ll live and start a family of your own.”

  I squeeze my eyes closed, not wanting to cry. What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve never been this emotional. Clearing my throat, I smile. “I said the same thing when I saw it the first time. I mean, not the part about starting a family here, but that this place is just like Mom’s house.”

  She laughs and lets me go. “There’s plenty of time for talk of babies later on.”

  “Did Tanner say exactly what the rock with the key in it looks like?” Bernard asks, cutting into the moment, and I look to where he’s standing and can’t help but laugh, because there are dozens of rocks near the bottom step in the garden, on both sides of the stairs.

  “He didn’t, but if we don’t find it, he’ll be here in just a few minutes.” I go to help him look while Jade and Maisie walk around the house to take in the view.

  “Victory!” Bernard exclaims, coming up with the key after a couple of minutes, and I take it from him, unlock the front door, and head inside, with everyone following me.

  “There’s a bathroom here.” I touch the door in the hall where the half bath is, then go toward the kitchen and smile when I see a large bouquet of flowers on the counter with a “Welcome Home” balloon floating in the air above it.

  “I’m really trying not to get jealous, but seriously, you have the best luck,” Jade says, leaning in to smell one of the red roses. “Not only did you land a hot guy, but you landed a hot guy with a job and a fucking awesome house.”

  “Language,” Maisie says with a sigh, then mutters, “not that I don’t agree with you. This place is beautiful.” She opens the back door and steps out onto the deck, with Bernard at her back.

  “I can see why you said you love his house,” Jade says, wandering around the living room.

  “There’s a lot to love,” I agree, but really I would move into a one-room shack, as long as I had Tanner with me.

  “Sunshine.” Hearing Tanner’s voice, I spin around and rush to the front door, launching myself into his arms. As he lifts me off the ground, I wrap my legs around his hips. “Fuck, I missed you.” He cups the back of my neck with one hand and pulls my mouth down to his so he can thrust his tongue between my lips. I don’t hesitate to open for him, and I swear my soul sighs as his familiar taste, scent, and touch sink into my senses.

  When he slows the kiss and pulls back, I grasp his face and whisper against his lips, “I missed you too.”

  “Tanner’s home!” I hear Jade yell to Maisie and Bernard, and Tanner’s hand at the back of my neck squeezes. “I think I’m going to need to call the fire department to get the Jaws of Life to separate the two of them.”

  “I told you she’s annoying,” I whisper, and he grins as he places me on my feet.

  “Hey, Jade,” he greets, and I turn to catch her roll her eyes at him before coming over to give him a hug. I stand back and watch them embrace, feeling hopeful that one day they might truly be friends, especially since the two of them mean the world to me. “How was the drive?”