Laney’s heart danced around inside her chest. Graham said such lovely things, and she wanted to believe them all. Especially the part where he said he loved her and wanted to support her.

“Are you going to say anything?” he asked.

Laney blinked, her mind revolving at twice the speed now. “Yes.”

Graham continued to wait, but he looked like he was about to bolt, like it was taking everything inside him to stay and listen.

“I got a loan for the furnace,” she said. “We could’ve kept living in the cabin, but it’s not really meant for long-term habitation.” She filled the teaspoon with vanilla and added it to her frosting mixture.

“I hired Jake because I’m exhausted. I can’t run this ranch on my own.” The words were painful coming out of her mouth, but they hurt less than she’d thought they would. “I don’t put in enough crops, or enough hay to last the winter. So then I’m spending money I don’t have on feed and supplemental hay. If Jake’s here, I can be a mom in the mornings, work around the ranch and house during the day, and Bailey and I go out in the afternoon.”

This past week had been glorious, and a quick smile traveled across her face. “It’s been working out real nice so far.”

“I’m so glad.” His voice sounded like he’d gargled with nails, and she focused on him again. “What’s wrong?”

“I would’ve paid for your furnace. I was going to, I swear. I just got…distracted.” He seemed to fold in on himself and then he sucked in a tight breath. “But that won’t happen again.”

“Graham.” She didn’t mean to infuse so much tenderness into her voice, but it was there, loud and clear. She stepped over to him and cradled his face in the palm of her hand. He leaned into the touch, his eyes drifting closed, and Laney knew in that moment that he truly loved her.

“I love you, too, you know.”

His eyes snapped open, hope bright and beautiful as it shone in his expression. “Yeah?”

Laney grinned. “Don’t act like you didn’t know.”

“Well, all the signs didn’t say so.”

“Oh, so you’re an expert at relationship cues these days?”

He chuckled, his head dipping down in that adorable way he had. “You broke up with me, Laney.”

“It was a very hard decision.” Laney tucked herself into his arms. “But I wasn’t happy. I didn’t like how you’d treated me. And I should get to say those things. Doesn’t mean you have to alter your whole life, but I should get to have my voice heard too.”

“Of course you should. I’m sorry I didn’t call when I said I would.” His large hand rubbed circles on her back, and Laney enjoyed the warmth from his body, the scent of his cologne, the fact that he was hers.

“Can I kiss you now?” he whispered, his mouth already at her ear and then sliding along her neck.

Laney giggled and held onto his broad shoulders as he gazed down at her. “Yeah, all right.”

He growled, a smirk on his face, and then kissed her like he loved her.

“Bailey, someone knocked.” Laney frantically spread another dollop of frosting around the perimeter of the cake. It didn’t look anything like what she’d envisioned, but her daughter didn’t seem to care.

“Graham!” she heard from the front of the house, and Laney’s heart did a happy little flop in her chest. She couldn’t believe he’d rearranged his life for her. Couldn’t believe he loved her. Then his arm came around her waist, and he pulled her into his side with a “Hey, beautiful,” and all her doubts dried up.

“Hey.” She pointed him toward the coffee table in the living room. “Presents over there. Bailey’s friends will be here in a few minutes.”

They’d only invited three girls from school, but they’d all said they’d be there. The sky threatened to open again, but Laney hadn’t received any cancellations yet. She had pizza in the oven, the cake was finished, and even the balloon arch she’d spent the afternoon constructing had stayed up.

“You’re a great mom,” Graham said out of nowhere, and Laney locked eyes with him.

“I’m just doing the best I can.”

“And that’s all any of us can do, right?” He watched Bailey as she tapped on one of the purple balloons in the arch. “I have no idea how to be a dad.”

Laney loved this vulnerable side of him, the way he let his defenses down when it was just the two of them. He’d always been like that; it was why Laney had felt so close to him growing up.

“You’ll figure it out,” she said. “Besides, it’s not like we’re married.”

“Yet.” His gaze bored into hers. “You know I want to marry you as soon as possible, right?”

Fear struck Laney right behind her lungs. “As soon as possible?”

The doorbell rang, and a shadow crossed Graham’s face. “We’ll talk about it later.”

“No,” she said as Bailey skipped down the hall. “Say it right now.”

“I don’t want to ruin the party.”

Laney heard the exclamations and squeals and hurried over to the hallway. All three girls had come together, and she walked down to the door to talk to Allison’s mom. “We’ll be done at eight-thirty,” she said. “I can bring them back to town.”

“Oh, Gina’s going to come get them. She’ll be here at eight-thirty.”

Laney smiled, glad she didn’t have to make a trip into town. “Okay, great.”

“Have fun, girls.” Patricia left, and Laney closed the door, the girls already gone into Bailey’s room.

She returned to the kitchen, where Graham stood in the same spot. “See?” Laney said. “We’ve got time.”

“We’ve talked about having kids,” he said. “And you said you’d think about it. I’m not oblivious to the fact that women can’t have kids forever.” He met her eye, clearly wanting to see her reaction.

Laney had said she’d think about it, and then Mike had come into town. Her furnace had gone on the fritz, and everything had fallen apart.

“No one ever said you were dumb, Graham.” She flashed him a smile. “And I know you want kids.”

“Maybe just one,” he said. “And I could move down here with you and help you run the ranch, and can’t you just see it?” He looked like a kid opening the exact present he’d asked Santa for. “I mean, I can see it.” He cleared his throat and glanced away.

Some of his enthusiasm drifted over to her, and Laney reached up and ran her fingers along the brim of his cowboy hat. Their eyes met again, and she said, “Yes, Graham. I can see a future with you.”

“Then let’s get married,” he said.

“Those things take time to plan.”

“Oh, no, they don’t. We send out a few texts and go down to the courthouse. We could do it on Monday.”

Laney burst out laughing. “Graham, I am not marrying you on Monday.”

Something beastly marched across his face, but he smothered it quickly.

“How about spring?” she asked. “I’m sure the grounds at the lodge will be beautiful then, and that would give me time to get a dress and send proper invitations.”

“Celia can make the cake and all the food.”

“Maybe you should ask her first.” Laney chuckled and shook her head. “It doesn’t need to be grand. Whatever you want. I’ve done it before.”

“Yeah, but not with me.” He grinned at her and added, “I’ll get you a ring and ask you real proper.” He pulled out his phone. “But maybe we should set a date right now.”

She laughed again and threw herself into his arms to kiss him. It was a sloppy, mismatched kiss, but Laney loved the way she felt with him in her life.

“Pull up May, cowboy.”

“May?” He looked panicked. “That’s four months away.”

“It sometimes snows in May. I want blossoms on the trees.”

He opened his mouth, presumably to argue, then he swiped a few times and say, “It looks like May third is a Saturday. Sounds like a perfect day to get married.”

Laney shook her head. There would still be snow on the ground on May third. “Pencil it in.”

“Oh, not pencil.” He tapped and studied his phone, tapped some more. “It’s in, Laney. Can’t be moved.”

She shook her head and bent to retrieve the pizzas from the oven. “Go call the girls. It’s time to eat.”

But he didn’t move. “I love you, Laney. I want you to have the wedding you want. Tell me what to do to help you, and I’ll do it.”

She hugged him tight, intending to take him up on that offer. “Right now,” she said. “I need you to go call the girls to eat dinner.”

He nodded and went and did as she asked.