"How long will you be gone?" she asks, accepting the sandwich I offer.
"At least three weeks." The timeline sits heavy between us. "Depends on how the rides go, whether I can stay healthy.”
Rodeo life doesn't leave room for much else—always moving. It's not easy on a relationship, and not fair to someone who deserves more than whatever's left of me between rides.
"I could fly out to see you," she says, her voice carefully casual. "If you want."
Want? Want doesn't begin to cover the ache in my chest when I think about leaving her.
"I want you to," I say, reaching for her hand and threading our fingers together.
"We never finished our conversation in Jackson Hole about you being my girl," I say, reaching into my pocket for the small black box that's been burning a hole there all afternoon.
Kinsley's eyes widen.
I set it on the blanket between us, the velvet surface dark against the faded fabric. "Kinsley Ford, will you be my girl?"
"Wyatt..." She looks up at me with a thousand questions in her eyes. The box is too big to be a ring box, so I know she’s not about to go running for the hills. She knows I’m crazy, but I’m not that crazy.
"Just open it," I say.
She lifts the lid with trembling fingers, and I watch her face transform as she takes in what's inside. The necklace is simple but elegant—three turquoise stones set in silver, each one the color of summer sky.
"Wyatt," she whispers, lifting the necklace. "This is incredible. Where did you get this?"
"Had it custom-made," I admit, feeling heat creep up my neck. "There's a silversmith in Utah, goes by The Silver J. I described what I wanted, and she made it special."
What I don't tell her is how I spent half an hour describing the exact shade of her eyes to a woman I'd never met like an idiot. "So, you won’t forget me," I add, the words coming out quieter.
“I should be giving you something—you’re the one with crazy fans falling all over you.” She sighs. “Speaking of…I saw some more photos online of you and your number one buckle bunny.”
Frustration strikes like lightning, but it’s gone in an instant. I’m not going to let anything ruin this moment. I exhale and smile. “Trust me, there’s nothing to worry about. My grandpa always says, ‘why go out for hamburger when you got steak at home?’”
Kinsley snorts, amusement brimming in her blue eyes. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
“The biggest.” I push my hat back and scratch at my forehead. “Especially coming from Grandpa.”
"Well then, thank you, for the compliment and for the necklace. It's incredible." she says, her voice thick with emotion. "Help me put it on?"
I move behind her on the blanket, and she gathers her hair to one side. My fingers brush her skin as I work the clasp, and the contact sends electricity shooting through my veins. She's warm and soft and real beneath my hands, and for a moment I forget about everything except the way she feels, the way she leans back slightly into my touch like she can't help herself.
I can't resist pressing my lips to the curve where her neck meets her shoulder, tasting the salt and sweetness of her skin. “Is that a yes?” I ask.
She shivers at the contact. When she turns her head, our mouths are inches apart, and the want in her blue eyes mirrors everything I'm feeling. “Yes,” she whispers.
The kiss is soft at first, then deeper as she turns in my arms to face me properly. Her hands find my jaw, while I memorize the taste of her, the way she fits against me like she was made for this moment. The world narrows to nothing but her warmth, her breath, the way she says my name against my lips.
"Gorgeous," I murmur, my voice rougher than it should be as I lean back to take in the necklace against her skin. It's exactly as I'd pictured it. The turquoise stones rest perfectly against the hollow of her throat.
She reaches up to touch the necklace, her fingers tracing the silver work. "It's perfect," she whispers. "Thank you."
The gratitude in her voice is real, but underneath it Ihear something else—surprise, maybe, like she's not used to receiving gifts. The thought makes me want to spoil her forever.
"Jessica's coming to stay with me while you're gone," she says, apparently needing to fill the silence before it becomes something neither of us is ready for. "Couple days, anyway. She thinks I need distraction."
The mention of her best friend makes me smile. "Smart woman. Though I'm not sure anyone could distract you when you've got your mind set on something."
"We'll see." Her fingers are still playing with the necklace, and I watch the movement like a man hypnotized. "She's bringing chocolate and terrible movies and enough gossip to keep me entertained for a week."