So, basically his I hate career women had been a bunch of crap? Her throat closed up. “I‟m really confused,” she whispered. “You told me you couldn‟t be with a woman who had a career, now you‟re saying you love me. So is the career still an issue?”
“It was never an issue.”
Excuse me? “So why even bring it up?” A headache niggled at her temple. The man was more infuriating than anyone she knew. Was the conversation worth this frustration?
She knew the answer. Dustin loved her, and even though he drove her crazy, he was worth a lifetime of frustrating conversation.
It was his turn to roll his eyes. “If I had come at you with guns blazing, begging you to stay with me, would your first inclination have been to say yes and stay or run at the first opportunity?”
Heat flushed her cheeks. He knew her better than she knew herself. “Honestly, as much as I wanted to see if we could hook up, I was too afraid of being like Carolyn. I would have bolted.”
The corner of his mouth kicked up. “Exactly. And no matter how much I wanted you or how much I knew you belonged with me, I could never ask you to give up your career. That‟s why I was prepared to let you go again if living in New York truly made you happy. But with you living in Bandera, I wouldn‟t have to. I took a gamble that you still loved me, and thankfully it paid off.”
“Maybe I‟m an idiot, but again I‟m confused.” She pulled away and folded her arms over her chest. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
Dustin stepped close until they were belly to belly and cupped her elbows. “Yes, I‟m an ass, and I know I infuriate you—your expression is still an open book to me. Shannon, I love you, you love me, and I think we would make each other incredibly happy for a very long time.”
That wasn‟t enough for her. “So you‟ve given me permission to keep my career and you‟ll visit me at the Rocking P for booty calls? Nice.” Not that the idea of booty calls with Dustin was a distasteful idea. Hope swelled beneath her breast.
He cocked his head to the side. “I want us to be together forever, Shay. Now that you‟re so close, I‟m not going to let you go. The way I see it, you‟re going to be driving to San Antonio every day, so someone will need to run the Rocking P. I had already decided to sell my share of the ranch to Dillon. I‟m currently out of work, and you are looking for a ranch manager. Who is more qualified than me? And when we have kids, we‟ll figure out the particulars. But I‟m pretty sure their Grandma Dumen would be more than willing to watch her grandbabies.”
Her eyes misted. “You really want to be with me forever?” She‟d hoped but hadn‟t been all that confident in this outcome.
He placed a kiss at each corner of her mouth. “Forever. Marry me?”
Joy flooded her, and she launched her body into his arms, planting her lips firmly on his. “I love you,” she murmured, not breaking the contact. This felt right. She was finally home to stay. “Yes, I‟ll marry you.”
Dustin swept her into his arms and swung her around. “You‟ve made me one happy man, my sexy Shannon.”
Tears of happiness coursed down her cheeks. No more looking back. No more asking what if. Her future with the man of her dreams loomed large ahead of her, bright like the Texas sun.