Madison came into the kitchen, grinning, the phone outstretched. “He wants to talk to you.”

Dallas’s heart leaped. With Madison’s tale about Lawson’s confessions of love running through her mind, she felt almost too shy to answer. And she’d never had a shy bone in her body.

Taking the phone, she turned her back, leaving the hungry teen to wolf down the sandwich and a tall glass of milk.

“Hello.”

“Dallas.” His voice was tense. “Are you sick?”

Oh, that wonderful, manly voice. Pleasant chills danced over her skin.

“No. Why?” And why had he asked about her first instead of his niece?

“Madison thought you might be getting a migraine.”

She made a humming sound. “She could cause one.”

“Or a heart attack. I think I had two today.”

Dallas huffed into the phone. “Can you believe she pulled such a stunt?”

“Unfortunately, I can. But I’m relieved to know she’s safe with someone I trust, someone she loves.”

“Me, too. Anything could have happened. Being in law enforcement, you know that better than I.”

“I don’t even want to think about it. I’ve tried scare tactics, but getting the dangers through her thick head is like trying to make Bryce act responsibly. She thinks she’s indestructible.”

“She’s too street smart for her own good, even if her heart was in the right place. You know why she’s here, don’t you?” Dallas held her breath, waiting for his reply.

“Now I do, and I’m sorry about that, too. She shouldn’t intrude in adult business. It’s a little embarrassing.”

Sorry? As in, sorry Madison had blurted out something he hadn’t been ready to share? Or sorry he hadn’t talked to her himself?

“Don’t apologize, Lawson. I was glad to see her, even under the circumstances.” And I was thrilled to hear what she had to say. If she was telling the truth.

“Little alien does get under your skin, doesn’t she?”

“So does someone else.”

“Yeah?”

In for a penny, in for a pound. “I miss you, Lawson.”

“That’s good to hear. I miss you too.” Was that longing in his voice? “But your work is every bit as important to you as mine is to me.” A slight pause as if he were choosing his words carefully. “It’ll be good to see you tomorrow.”

Meaning exactly what? That he loved her and couldn’t wait to get here? Or was he only being his usual, nice self? “You’re driving down here?”

“As long as you don’t mind if Madison spends tonight at your place.”

Mind? She was ecstatic. Tomorrow, Lawson would be here, in Bayville. With her. “She’ll be good company.”

“Thank you.”

They were quiet for a moment, each content to know the other was listening. The way they’d been since the beginning. Comfortable together. Dallas felt the connection from his heart to hers through the wireless lines.

The emptiness of earlier seemed to fade, along with the warnings in the back of her head.

“My headache’s going away,” she said. “It must have needed to hear your voice.”

“Guess that means I’m good medicine.”

“I could use another dose.”

He laughed, and the sound filled her up like a hot air balloon.

Reluctant to end the conversation, she pivoted, went to the window overlooking the parking lot, and pushed aside the drapes. “How’s everything in Calypso?”

“Busy. A little lonely.”

“Same here.”

“How’s the show going?”

“Great.” She wasn’t great, but the show was. “The station owners are pleased, ad revenues are up, and my callers are interesting, as always.”

“So, you’re glad to be back in the saddle?”

How did she answer that question? She settled for the truth. “It isn’t as satisfying as it once was.”

His voice lowered, rumbled, when he asked, “Why is that?”

Might as well say it. “You’re not here.”

A short chuckle. “I understand. My job is great, but since you left…I don’t know how to describe it.”

“Lonely? Empty?”

“That’s about the size of it.”

Joy bloomed in Dallas’s chest. “Me, too.”

“Can we talk about this more tomorrow? In person.”

“About us?”

“Yes. You. Me. Us.”

”I’d like that very much.”

Lawson sighed, a long, relieved sound. He loved her. She could hear it in that sigh.

And for tonight, that was enough.

The next morning, Dallas dressed and went into the kitchen for a yogurt and juice, wondering how she’d get through the hours before Lawson arrived. What would she say to him? Should she spill her heart and hope for the best?

Madison, like any self-respecting teenager, was still sound asleep. After yesterday’s long trip, she’d probably wouldn’t regain consciousness until noon.

Dallas’s cell phone chimed and, hoping it was Lawson, she grabbed it from the counter. The text was from Emily, asking when she’d be back in Calypso. The Caldwell brood already missed her.

Yesterday, it had been Wyatt. The day before Connie, and she’d talked on the phone several times to each one.

She was falling in love with her father’s family, and she still hadn’t told her mother about them.

After shooting back a text promising to visit soon, she put a pod in the coffee machine and, feeling guilty for keeping the secret, texted an “I love you” to her mother.

As the coffee gurgled to a stop, the doorbell rang. Four times in rapid succession.

Who on earth?

She opened the door to a cowboy with a scruffy, unshaven face and very red eyes. He looked exhausted…and gorgeous.

Before she could think of any reason why she shouldn’t, she jumped into his arms and kissed him.

“Good morning to you, too.” His words rumbled against her lips.

Dallas backed away, but not too far. Just far enough to see his deep fatigue. “You must have driven all night! Are you crazy? Oh, it’s so good to see you!”

“Wow. Madison must have been a terror.” He looked a little dazed, but in a delighted way.

“She was perfect. And still sleeping.” Dallas tugged her cowboy sheriff into the condo and shut the door, wishing to be back in his arms. She was making a fool of herself. She had to stop. Calm down. But it was marvelous to see him. Did he feel the same?

Getting a firm rein on herself, she said, “Want some coffee.”

“No. I want more of this.” With a hand to either cheek, Lawson pulled her face up close, grinned into her eyes, and kissed her until they both trembled.

When he finally stopped, she wilted against him. His heart thundered beneath her ear.

“I think you really did miss me,” she said.

“More than missed you.”

She raised her head to look into his eyes. What she saw made her pulse stutter. “How so?”

He drew in a breath, let it out. “I realize your career is everything to you, and I won’t pressure you, but a certain nosey teenager convinced me that you had a right to know my feelings. What you do with them is up to you. Okay?”

“Okay. I think.” She dropped her head to one side and frowned. “Exactly, what are you trying to say?

Something fierce and lovely blazed in his eyes. “I’m crazy in love with you, Dallas. Never planned it, never expected it, never thought I’d ever feel this way, but there it is. If I had my wishes, you’d go back to Calypso with me today and never leave again.”

“I can’t today.”

His wonderful face, full of hope, fell. “Right. I understand.”

Heart soaring, she cupped his whiskered cheek. “I don’t think you do. I can’t leave today. But soon, after I give my notice at the station and take care of business here in Bayville.”

His lips parted. “You mean it?”

She nodded, so happy she could barely breathe. This was what she’d longed for. This was what she truly wanted. Lawson and his love.

“I’m crazy in love with you, too,” she said, marveling, “and I didn’t even know it.”

“But your career…”

“Is important to me, yes. But, if they still want me, I can create a new and even better show in Calypso. Close to you. Close to my new family.”

He dragged a weary hand down his face. The whiskery sound scraped the air. “Man. I must have fallen asleep at the wheel. This has to be a dream.”

“If it is, I’m having it too.” She looped her arms around his neck. “Don’t wake me up.”

“This is my dream, so I’m saying it again. I love you, Dallas Langley.” He kissed her. “Now, it’s your turn.”

“I love you, Lawson Hawk.” And she kissed him, this time with enough power to make his knees weak.

“You can do that a million times if you want to. Since it’s my dream and all.”

In between, I love yous, she did.

She was nearly to twenty of those million kisses—these things took time—when she heard a door open. Footsteps echoed in the hallway.

“Madison’s up,” she whispered.

They should probably break apart, but Dallas couldn’t bring herself to move. Not now. Not when she finally knew he loved her, and she loved him. The moment was too special, too new, and too marvelous to let go.

In a moment, the teenager appeared in the doorway, pants and T-shirt baggy, hair sticking up like quills on a porcupine.

With her usual disgust, Madison cocked a hand on one hip and grumbled, “Could you two hold it down, please? People are trying to sleep around here.”

She started to turn but stopped and did a double take at the scene before her, her eyes widening as she came more awake. Dallas clinging to Lawson. His arms tightly around her. Both of them probably with stars in their eyes.

“Well. It’s about time.” She sniffed. “Carry on.”

Then, grinning like the famous cat, she headed back to bed.

Lawson laughed against Dallas’s hair. “Carry on. I like the sound of that.”

“Me, too.” She turned her lips up toward his. “I think I was at twenty-one.”

“Better start all over to be sure.”

And, with a joyous laugh, Dallas did exactly that.