It took him a second to respond, his head thunking back against his shoulders as he did. “I’d give you the world if I could.”
My breath left me in one fell swoop even though I hadn’t realized I’d been holding it. “This is me giving you the tiny corner of the world that I can.”
He ran a thumb over his lower lip, nodding his head slowly, and I knew he was starting to see where I was coming from with this offer. “Why ten, though? If it’s just for me to build a house on, why not give me one or two acres?”
“You’re a rancher through and through, Jackson. Would you really be happy living without any horses or other animals to look after?”
I watched as he slumped back in his seat, his expression just a little bit awed. “You really do love me.”
“What clued you in?” The huff of laughter left me easily as the tension in the room finally seemed to break. Jackson’s own chuckle was music to my ears, and I couldn’t help the grin pulling at my lips as I looked at him.
“Can we circle back to something for just a second?” he asked,and I knew before the words ever even left his mouth where we were headed. “You said I could choose to live in your cabin for up to six months after I terminate my contract.”
“If it’s where you felt most comfortable,” I hedged. “But I imagine you wouldn’t want to stay there if you were planning to leave.”
“Sure, but why wouldn’t you just say I could stay in the bunkhouse? Isn’t it listed as my location of residency in the contract?”
“The contract just states that we would provide housing on the Juniper Grove property, and you’re allowed to choose where you want to reside.” A rough grunt left my throat as I cleared it. The silence that followed my statement hung heavy in the air, and I wondered if Jackson understood the implications of what I’d just dropped between us. I had my answer when his eyebrows pulled together as he spoke again.
“What are you saying, Tucker?”
“I’m saying,” I started, licking my lips, “when you’re ready to move in, there won’t be any legal issues around it. And look, I know what you’re probably going to say.” I held up a hand to stop him when he opened his mouth. “I don’t have any concerns there would be legal problems because I would never pursue you for breach of contract, and I trust that you wouldn’t come after me, either. But I wanted everything to be clean and easy for you. I’ve done a lot to make sure you’re safe and set up for a future, regardless of if it’s with me, so making sure this was laid out was important to me.”
The words had hardly left my mouth before Jackson was out of his seat and rounding my desk. His hands found my face, the warm brush of his thumb over my cheek feeling electric despite how gentle it was. He settled his weight on my lap unceremoniously and I let out anoomphthat was quickly swallowed by his kiss. It was slow and languid, full of so much tenderness, it made my eyes water. My own hands wrapped around his low back, tugging him against me on instinct despite how unexpected his reaction was.
When we pulled apart a few seconds later, Jackson rested hisforehead against mine, his fucking dimple popping in the periphery of his smile.
“When, huh?”
For a moment, my brain struggled to comprehend the meaning of his question, everything muddled and stuck on how soft his lips felt against my own. But then it hit me, and I sucked in a slow breath through my nose.
“When,” I confirmed. “Whenever you want to move in. It feels too quiet when you’re not there, and I miss you when I wake up alone. I know there are still things I need to work through where Raleigh is concerned, but I don’t want you feeling like you come second ever again.”
One of Jackson’s hands dropped from my face to cover the outline of Raleigh’s ring through my shirt. “One of things that made me fall so hard for you in the first place was how fiercely you loved Raleigh, even after he died. He’s important to you, so he’s important to me. And we’ll figure out turning the space you shared with him into a space for the two of us. Together.”
His words made my heart squeeze, the love I had for this man blooming in every part of my soul as I pressed another kiss to his lips. There was just one more thing I needed to do to solidify our relationship and his place on this farm. Pulling away, I gazed into his eyes as I ran slow circles over his lower back through his shirt. The affection that stared back at me gave me the strength to say the words that came next.
“I’m telling my parents tonight. I asked them to meet with me after I finish with you.”
Jackson’s eyebrows shot into his hairline. “Really? Are you sure?”
I nodded my head. “I’ve put it off long enough. I wasn’t sure where we would land before, and I worried the whole farm knowing would put pressure on us, but it’s well past time.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“You want to?”
“Of course. If you want me there, then I want to be there. But it’s okay if you don’t. If you would prefer to tell them by yourself, that’s fine, too.”
Tapping at his hip to urge him off my lap, I shook my head. “I’d love for you to come. I just didn’t want to overwhelm you.”
Jackson’s smile was slow and kind. “I’m ready for anything when it comes to you, baby.”
His hand slid into mine as we made our way from my office, and the drive back to the main house was quiet as I struggled to temper the expectations I had for how my parents may react. I wanted to believe after everything and how accepting they were of who Raleigh was, they’d be just as willing to open their arms to Jackson, but I couldn’t deny the difference.
Jackson was younger, and his being my employee complicated our relationship without doubt. Just like I’d told Jackson earlier, though, I believed in us. We’d come too far and through too much to let lesser things break the foundation we’d made. If my parents couldn’t see how good Jackson was for me, it’d hurt, but we’d manage.
When we stepped inside the house, I called out. “Ma? Dad?”