I’m a fool.
But at least I’m a fool who managed to make sure he’ll stick around.
“Let’s just take it slow, yeah?” Cash said, his deep voice rumbling in his chest. He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning in closer to kiss her, at first delicately, then with a growing hunger and lust.
When he finally pulled away, Sierra clung to his shoulders, only one thought swirling through her mind.
I’m so grateful he didn’t leave.
Epilogue
The sun hung low on a peaceful Sunday evening two months later.
Sierra and Cash strolled along the downtown Necessity sidewalk silently, hand in hand.
Both had been working hard all day. Sierra had closed on four houses. Cash’s ranch was booming—he’d hired on townspeople as hands, and was finding his place in the town. He knew that some of his seasonal hands would come and go when they were in need of an extra few bucks, but the permanent workers already felt more like a family than employees.
Cash stopped at a bench outside one of the shops and sat down. Confused, Sierra just stared at him until he gestured for her to sit next to him. Before Cash could speak, though, they heard footsteps approaching.
The Davis brothers. Again.
“We wanted to apologize for everything we put you through,” said Henry. Thomas stood behind him, a solemn smile on his face.
Cash laughed at them. “Don’t look so guilty now. We’re past all that. Fresh start for all of us.”
The pair nodded, though Cash’s laughter was not contagious.
“We can’t shake the feeling that we almost separated one of the nicest damn couples we’ve ever seen,” Thomas added.
“Oh, we’re not—”
“We’re not actually a—”
Cash and Sierra both felt guilty the second they protested against the idea.
Now the Davis brothers laughed.
“Once y’all figure it out, let us know,” Thomas said.
The men continued laughing as they made their way on down the sidewalk. Sierra’s cheeks were now bright red and Cash had turned pale as a ghost.
Cash rubbed the back of his neck and offered Sierra a smile. After a moment, the comfortable silence returned and Sierra wriggled closer to him. They had the perfect view of the sunset, its oranges and yellows and deep pinks painting the sky.
“So...” Cash began, finally bringing up the question they’d never discussed. “What are we?”
Sierra considered this for a while before saying, “You tell me.”
Cash was frozen, refusing to allow himself to admit the truth. “You know what I’m going to say.”
“I do, yes.”
“So, why don’t you say it?”
“Because I don’t know if I’m ready yet, and you are.”
“How do you know that I’m ready?”
“Because I know you Cash, and I love—”
“Ah-ha!”
“— that about you,” she finished with a grin.
Cash rolled his eyes.
“Fine,” he said. “I love you.”
Sierra snorted. “I’m not sure anything that reluctant really counts.” But her smile was happy.
They sat in that moment together. Sierra’s last relationship had made her strongly believe that she was unlovable and didn’t deserve to hear those three words ever again. But Cash made her believe in a new beginning.
Cash pulled a rectangular box out of his pocket. He opened it, drawing out a beautiful diamond pendant. Carefully, he leaned forward and placed it around her neck.
“I promised I’d get you a necklace.”
“I love you,” was all she could manage.
And that was worth a lot more to Cash than a necklace or a ranch ever could be.
Yeah. Whatever their relationship might bring, it was going to be worth it.
I’m so glad I stuck around.
The End.
About Margo Bond Collins
USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times bestselling author Margo Bond Collins is a former college English professor who, tired of explaining the difference between "hanged" and "hung," turned to writing romance novels instead. (Sometimes her heroines kill monsters. Sometimes they kiss cowboys. Sometimes they do both.)
Learn More
http://www.MargoBondCollins.net
Loving Necessity: The Complete Necessity, Texas Collection Page 29