I’ve been back for three weeks and haven’t slept for shit. I accepted a job right after I got home at the same hospice house I worked at before the accident, and I started a few days ago. Sadly, I’m not the least bit excited about it. In fact, I’m not excited about much of anything these days. I’ve been staying with my parents until I can sort out where I want to live, and although that’s fine, I can’t seem to make myself even look. It’s pathetic.

Most days my mind lingers on memories of my time in Montana. About the way the Crazy Mountains loom in the distance beyond Bill’s property or the sound of the cattle as they graze nearby. I swear I can still smell the mix of hay and fresh, dry air, and I miss it. It only took a few days for me to fall in love with Montana and Elias Covington. I miss him more than any of the things that I miss about Montana, though. I miss the look of him in his Wrangler jeans and that dirty cowboy hat that he loved. I really miss the quiet, deep timbre of his voice and the warmth of his arms. I won’t mention what I miss when the lights go out.

I wanted him to ask me to stay, but he didn’t. For a few seconds I thought he might, but I was wrong. I almost wondered when I left if what I was feeling was an illusion. It’s easy to get wrapped up in emotion when life is in turmoil like it was. Add life or death situations and a sexy hard-bodied man and I think it’s impossible not to get carried away. I thought once I was home I could forget him. The problem is…I haven’t. In fact, it’s worse now.

Men don’t fall in love after a few days, especially with women in situations as crazy as mine was, so I’m sure he was happy as hell to see me go. Sure, there was sex involved and men love that, but I think he’s the kind of guy who is happier alone, and I was stomping all over that.

Last week I bought him a brand-new, sexy white Stetson hat and shipped it to him with a thank-you note. I can never replace his granddaddy’s hat that he lost in the fire, but I could at least get him a nice replacement. I just hope he likes it.

It took me forever to write the note I put in the box, and I must have used a hundred sheets of paper trying to do it, but I finally settled on simple.

Elias,

I can’t thank you enough for rescuing me and ending my nightmare. I’m so sorry your granddaddy’s hat is gone. I know this won’t replace the sentiment of your old one, but I hope you’ll be able to make use of this one.

Thank you doesn’t seem like a sufficient term to say to someone who flipped my world upside down. But I’ll say it anyway because I’ll never be the same. Thank you.

With a grateful heart,

Reya

It wasn’t my best, but I didn’t want to look at that hat for one more minute and think about the super soft hair it was going to cover, or what he’ll look like wearing it, so I put it in the mail last week.

We were low on milk and eggs when I left for work today so I stopped to pick some up on my way home. Now I’m headed to my parents’ house for another night in front of the television watching game shows and the Hallmark Channel. Ugh.

As I turn down their street I notice a big white truck in the driveway. My heart skips a beat when I realize the tailgate is down and a good-looking cowboy, wearing the sexiest Stetson hat I’ve ever seen, is sitting on it. Oh my God! What is Elias doing here?

I pull in behind my dad’s car and throw it in park. My heart has picked up the pace and is hammering in my chest. I blink a few times and make sure I’m really seeing what I think I’m seeing. He’s still there, studying me through my window. Looking more handsome than I remember. His light blond hair is curling along his collar and ears a little, but he’s freshly shaven. His Wrangler jeans are obviously new but I bet they fit the same as the old ones.

When I climb out of the car, it’s like I’m in slow motion. I’m afraid to hope that he might be here for me, but I’m also not going to ignore the possibility that he might be. Why else would he be here?

I stop about two feet in front of him, afraid that if I get any closer I’ll leap right into his arms whether he wants me or not. “You’re here,” is all I can say.

“Yeah, thought you deserved a thank you for the hat and I suck at writing letters. It’s easier for me to do it in person.” The sound of his heavy southern accent melts my insides. His lips twitch and one side rises in a half smile.

“You drove all the way here to say thank you?”

He cocks his head to the side and pauses. “Yes, and to tell you I miss you.”

My heart is now thundering in my chest loud enough that I bet he can hear it and I reach up to rest my palm on it like I can calm it down that way. I wish I could come up with something good to say, but I can’t get a single word to form. Realizing I’m not going to be able to talk, I instead close the distance between us and throw my arms around his neck. He wraps his arms around me and lifts me up higher.

“You miss me too?” He pulls back to pin me with those gorgeous blue eyes.

When I nod a yes, happy tears spill over my lids.

“Let’s not do that anymore then,” he says, referring to my crying, as he wipes the tears away. He kisses me hard and long. This kiss is inappropriate for the front yard of my parents’ house, but I don’t give a damn. He breaks away and rests his forehead against mine.

“Your Mama said you got a job.”

“Yeah,” I answer as I glance down at my scrubs.

“If you can give me a few weeks, so I don’t leave Bill without help, I’ll move down here to be with you. That is, if you want me.”

“You’ll move your whole life for me?”

“This is probably the best time in my life to move, considering I only have about a week’s worth of clothes and no furniture to my name.” He grins like this is funny.

“Do you want to leave Montana?”

He tucks a stray lock of my hair behind my ear and smiles sweetly at me. “I want to be wherever you are.”

“Are you sure?”

He gives me a look like that’s a stupid question. “Reya, it took less than a week to fall in love with you. I can’t imagine what a lifetime will do. I don’t care where we are, as long as we’re together.”

“Then let’s go back to Montana. There’s nothing here for me except my parents, and they can visit. I don’t know what I’ll do for work, but I can figure it out.”

“Funny you should mention work. Doc called me last week asking if you’d want a job as his nurse. He said it would be in the office and out on house calls. I told him you went home and I think he got mad at me.”

I laugh out loud for the first time since I was with him last and his eyes smile back at me.

“Montana it is.” I pull him down for a kiss and when I break it I say, “And for the record, I’m pretty sure I fell in love with you when I got a view of you in those Wrangler jeans the first time.” He laughs as I smack his ass and drag him toward the house.