Love in the Dust: A Cowboy's Second Chance with a City Girl

Proper date

His words stayed in the air. I could feel the weight of them settling deep in my chest, and for the first time in what felt like days, a sense of clarity pierced through the fog of confusion.

Together.

I leaned into his touch.

"Together," I whispered back to him.

Suddenly

He pulled back ever so slightly and he brushes his thumb across my cheek, his eyes slowly softening. "You realize what this means, right?" He asked me with a rough voice. "There's no more pretending. No more hiding."

I nod the as reality of the situation starts to sink in. "I don't want to act anymore," I admit "I can't."

He let out a deep breath as though he had been holding it for a while his hands moved to hold my face gently. "Good. Because I don't think I can keep away from you anymore. whatever this is between us it is too strong."

His lips hovered over mine again, but this time, the kiss wasn't urgent It was slow and deep.

I could feel his pulse against my skin, and he rested his hand on my shoulder.

"We need to be smart about this," he says his voice steady. "I'm not going to let this affect our work, but that doesn't mean I'm going to pretend like it's not happening when we're alone."

A shiver ran down my spine at his words. The way he spoke made it clear that he had no intent of turning back and if I'm being honest neither did I. There was no more dancing around the tension that had been building between us for weeks.

"What happens now?" I ask hearing my voice still tremble slightly.

He took a step back, he looks my face before they met mine. "We take it one step at a time. No rushing, no hiding. But know this, Margaret, I won't let anything stand in the way of what's happening between us."

His words made my heart race

I nod. "Okay." I say softly my voice still trembling.

He smiles at me,"But if at any point this gets too confusing, you tell me and we'll figure it out together, okay."

I nod again suddenly feeling a wave of relief wash over me at his words. "I will," I promise him with a smile.

For a moment, we just stood there, the room still around us, the weight of what we'd just started settling in. Then, with a soft sigh, he released me and ran a hand through his hair, looking back at the door as if reality was already seeping in.

"I should go before anyone starts wondering where I am," he says with hesitation on his voice.

I bit my lip, the thought of him leaving now after everything that had just happened feeling like a loss. But I knew he was right. We had to be careful, especially in a place where people talked and noticed every little thing.

"Yeah, you're right," I replied softly knowing he was right.

He gave me one last look before stepping toward the door, his hand on the knob. "This isn't over. Not by a long shot." he says to me with dark eyes.

I smiled at his words suddenly feeling a warmth spread across my chest.. "I know."

And with that, he opened the door and left.

The next day. I tried to keep my focus on usual routine. Everything I look in the mirror it reminded me of his hands on my face and his lips on mine.

I arrive at school earlier than usual, keen to avoid any accidental run-ins before I was mentally prepared to face him.

I didn't see him in the morning, which only deepened my suspense.

It wasn't until lunch that I caught sight of him across the courtyard, standing by his truck. My heart skipped a beat. He was leaning casually against the side of the wide-brimmed cowboy hat he wore, cast a shadow over his sharp features."

My breath hitched when he turned, and our eyes met. For a moment, it felt like the world narrowed to just the two of us. He gave me a slight nod, a subtle but unmistakable invitation, and my feet began moving toward him before I even made the conscious decision to do so.

As I approach him slowly taking steps to hom, his lips slowly curl into a smile. "Hey," he said his voice softer than usual, as if it was meant just for me.

"Hey," I reply softly.

He took a step closer. "Margaret," he said his tone turning more serious now, "I've been thinking...well about us."

My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I look around to make sure no one was nearby. "Yeah?" i look at his face trying my best to keep my knees from shaking just from looking at him.

He nods and he looks at me. "I don't want to wait anymore. We've been dancing around this for long enough. How about tonight?" His voice lowered as if he didn't want anyone else to hear the weight of what he was about to ask. "Let me take you out on a proper date."

I blinked in surprise, A date. It felt like such a normal thing, but with him, it felt like it was anything but.

"Like a real date?" I ask.

"Yeah," he said smiling at me. "A real date. No tiptoeing around, no pretending we're just colleagues. Just you and me. Somewhere outside of this school" his eyes dark and possessive.

"I'd like that," I admit to him calmly.

His smiled bigger at my answer, and he reached out and tipped the brim of his hat in a flirtatious gesture. "Good. Then it's a plan. I'll pick you up at seven."

"Where are we going?" I asked him carefully feeling the anticipation already start to build.

His smile turned and a teasing mischievous look appeared on his face, "That's for me to know and for you to find out."

I laughed softly, shaking my head in amusement. "You're really not going to tell me, are you?"

"Nope," he said as he leaned in closer ever so slightly. "But I promise you'll like it."

I felt my heart start to race again, but this time it was from the excitement, I was sure of it. "Okay," I agreed.

As he stepped back from me, his eyes stayed on me for a beat longer. "See you tonight."

With a tip of his hat, he turned on his heel and walked back towrds the school.

Tonight, everything would change for real.