“Forever, if you’ll have me.”
“What does that mean?” My words are pleading. I have to know.
“It means that I’m back in Texas. It also means I’m still not sure if I want to stay here forever, but I do know that I want to be with you.”
I tuck her hair behind her ear, and kiss her lightly. “I want nothing more.”
She clutches my shirt, kissing me back with enough force that it causes me to step back. “You do want more.”
I shrug and give her a half smile. I’m a guy. She’s hot. That combination alone equals dirty thoughts.
“I know you want me to live with you.”
“I do, but we have time for that, Savannah. I’m just happy that you’re here.”
Tears start to form in her eyes, reminding me that this girl needs to be loved and told so every day. If she’s giving me the opportunity, I’m going to take it.
“I want to live with you, Tyler. After you left, my mom sent me a box of stuff and inside was some letters that my dad and she exchanged. They were so in love and didn’t care what anyone said. He talked about you and how you’d be a stand-up guy some day and had no doubt that you’d fall in love with me.
“I’m not saying we need to get married or anything like that, but maybe we can live together and see if we’re meant to be. I’ll commute to the community college, take some classes until I know what I want to do and at night, we’ll be together. Living a life on the ranch.”
Words are caught in my throat as I listen to her say everything. If I weren’t touching her, I’d think this was all a dream. But she’s here, in the flesh, pouring her heart out to me.
“Yeah?” is the only response I can form, and I hate myself for being an idiot.
“Yeah,” she replies as she smiles bright. “You and I, together, forever.”
When I was told to make a wish, it was about Savannah. I’m not going to tell anyone what it was, but I will say this – always wish before you blow out your candles.
Read other books by Heidi McLaughlin
Thank you, thank you, thank you: Yvette, Traci, Tammy, Amy, Veronica, Audrey, Georgette, Tammy and Kelli for your constant support, guidance, patience and understanding.
Special shout-out & thank you to Stephanie Horton for loaning me your very cute accent!
The Beaumont Daily: You guys rock!
Thanks to Sarah Hansen for my gorgeous cover!
Thanks to EM Tippetts (Emily & Crew) for making everything fancy and functional.
To the readers: If you’re reading this, thank you! I appreciate you turning each page and coming back for more!
Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.
Originally from Portland, Oregon and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup, and their newest addition of a Highland Westie/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL.
During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she’s writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting courtside during either daughter’s basketball games.
Read on for a sneak peek at No Limit by L.P. Dover, a steamy romantic suspense standalone.
“You found me.”
If there was ever a moment when I needed to keep my wits about me, it was now. But how could I do that when I wanted nothing more than to snap the man’s neck in front of me; to make him bleed like he did the families he murdered.
“Did you think I wouldn’t?” I spat through clenched teeth. His file flashed through my mind, the pictures of the carnage he left behind . . . those children. My blood boiled.
He was poised, ready to fight to the death by the look in his eyes. “I guess it was only a matter of time.”