by Knupp, Amy
“That must’ve been difficult.”
Lindsey nodded. “I don’t want to feel guilty anymore.” She could feel the heat of his leg through her jeans.
“I...told my dad I care about you.” Once the words were out she looked at him.
His expression suddenly became alert. “Bet that went over well,” he said carefully.
“Actually, a whole lot better than I’d expected. I knew telling him could mean being forced out of his life. I was prepared for that, and I’d still be here even if that had happened. But...he gave me his blessing. Said he would try to get to know you.” She pulled her sleeves down over her hands and pulled one leg up under her. “I owe you an apology.”
His eyes narrowed.
“I’ve put my dad’s feelings above yours forever. Didn’t even consider how I made you feel.” She wove her fingers with his and rested both of their hands on Zach’s thigh. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” he said quietly.
“It’s not. At all. I can’t change the past but I’d like...” She met his gaze. “I’d like to make up for it.”
His lips curved upward as he seemed to grasp why she was there. “How you going to do that?”
“However you’ll let me. I love you, Zach. That’s what I told my dad.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You could start by telling me you love me, too.”
“I do.” He smiled, then frowned just as quickly. “You’re sure things are okay with your dad? I don’t want to come between you.”
“I tried to play it his way, Zach. I was miserable. So...whether you want to see how things go with me or not, my dad knows how I feel.”
“I want to see how things go.” His voice was so low and soft she wasn’t sure she heard him right. “Forget that,” he said, with more animation. “I want you. The good and the bad. We’ll make it go.”
Emotions threatened to overwhelm her and she found it difficult to sit still. “I thought about it the whole way here, and I’m sure I can get a similar job in Wichita.”
Zach pulled her into a hug. Finally. Lindsey leaned in to kiss him.
He came up for air before she was ready. “There’s one problem with your plan,” he said huskily.
Her heart skipped a beat.
“Owen and I are moving to Lone Oak.”
She stared at him. “You are?”
“I need to be near Gram, and Lone Oak’s the closest thing Owen has to a home.”
Lindsey let that sink in for a few seconds. Maybe minutes.
“What about your job? The company you want to buy?”
“We had our meeting with the commission last night. We won. The development is on.”
“Congratulations. I know how much that means to you.”
“I told Chuck I’m leaving.”
She tilted her head in surprise.
“I’ve been saving my money for years to buy Moxley. Instead, I’m going to use it to start my own company in Lone Oak. I can do this. I’m good at what I do. Just changing where I do it.”
“You’ll have to start from scratch, though, Zach.”
“It’ll be my company.” He brushed her hair back behind her shoulder. “I’ll build it up. I helped Chuck build Moxley.” He was excited about the prospect. His body language said so.
“You’ll do it. I have no doubt,” she said. “So tell me. What will Gram say about all this. About me?”
“She gives you a thumbs-up. You’ll just have to get used to her kind of affection.”
Lindsey laughed. “Something along the lines of anti-affection?”
“She’s quite a woman. I hope you can get to know her better.”
“I’d like that.”
She frowned, not wanting to bring up her last doubt. But she had to. “What about Josh?”
“He’s gone, Linds. He called on his way to Wyoming. Found a job on a ranch out there and is going to start over.”
“Owen’s his son. What if he wants to see him?”
“He agreed to sign away his rights. I told him he can visit but he’s my son now. Our son...that is, if you’d like.... Don’t worry about that yet. We’ll work through it when we have to.”
She could do that. With Zach at her side, she felt like she could do just about anything. “I’d love to adopt Owen with you.”
Zach took her hand in his. “That’ll make Owen the happiest kid in the world. One other thing I’ve been thinking about...”
“More?”
“Billy. Find a family for him yet?”
“Zach.” Tears came to her eyes. “You think we should adopt him too?”
“It’s crossed my mind. I wasn’t sure I could handle two boys by myself, but with you.... Let’s talk about it soon.”
She hugged him tightly again, unable to speak for the emotion in her throat. Her tears dripped onto his bare shoulder. Twenty-four hours ago, she would’ve never believed she could be this happy.
“You’re crying again?” Zach chuckled. “What’s it going to take to make you stop?” He brushed his lips over her temple.
She laughed and sobbed at the same time. “You’ll get used to it, I promise.”
“Think long and hard before you go kissing me and chattering about the future, Linds. I come with some extras—a little boy and an old woman. You think you can handle all of us?”
“Let’s see.” She wiped her eyes, sat up and pretended to ponder. “The boy’s a piece of cake, the woman’s a teddy bear in disguise. And the man?” She stared intently into his eyes. “I’ll show you exactly how well I can handle the man.”
“As long as you keep on showing me for the rest of our lives.”
Instead of answering him, Lindsey leaned in and kissed him for all she was worth.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781460307380
Copyright © 2013 by Amy Knupp
Originally published as THE BOY NEXT DOOR
Copyright © 2007 by Amy Knupp
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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