Stone Cold Cowboy(83)
Rory took the necklace from her fingers, unclasped it, draped it around her neck, and fastened it. He pulled her hair free and brushed his fingers through the long strands.
Sadie pressed her hand over the two hearts that rested over her own heart. She felt closer to her mother, and even Connor, for having it.
“Let’s sort through these papers,” Rory suggested. He picked up the thick envelope and handed it to her, sucking in a surprised gasp. “Uh, that’s a lot of money.”
Sadie stared into the barrel at the bundles of cash stacked at the bottom. “What the . . .” She reached in and pulled several out. “There’s got to be at least ten thousand dollars here.”
Rory pulled out the papers from the envelope. She counted the money.
“Look at this.” Rory set one paper after another on the floor beside them. “He has a life insurance policy for one hundred thousand dollars. This is the deed to the ranch. And this is his will. Everything goes to you, Sadie.”
“The night of our first, and only, date he told me that he trusted me to do the right thing where Connor is concerned, even if that meant doing the hard thing and walking away. Tough love. I’m trying to do that, even though it breaks my heart. Old habits die hard, I guess.”
“This money, the house and land, he left it to you to make the life you wanted. He left a note.” Rory held up the paper with only a few lines written on it. “‘Buy something you’ve always wanted just because you like it. Pay off your student loans. Write what is in your heart. Live with no regrets. Love with your whole heart the way you’ve always done and find someone who will love you the same way.’” Rory’s head came up and his gaze met and held hers. “I think you get your writing talent from your dad. As last words go, that’s pretty damn good.”
Tears spilled over her lashes and trailed down her cheeks. “Yes. It is.”
“You took care of him and your brother for a long time, sweetheart. Now he wants you to take care of you. You feel guilty doing that, but you’ve got to ask yourself, when is it your turn? The answer is now.”
“It’s hard.”
“I know. But you can’t keep living for everyone else. Trust me, the only thing that gets you is lonely.”
“Have you been lonely?”
“Until I met you,” he admitted, his eyes soft on her.
“I didn’t realize I was missing you until I found you. You weren’t here and now you are and everything is different and better and complicated and simple. Does that even make sense?”
“You and me make sense. Everything else we’ll deal with and get through together.”
Sadie leaned forward on her hands and knees and kissed him softly. “That’s the best thing you’ve ever said to me.”
Rory slid his hand along her face and smoothed his thumb over her cheek. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen or known. That beauty comes from your heart, Sadie.” He kissed her this time. A soft touch of his mouth to hers that lasted seconds but held a depth of meaning that flowed through her whole body. She leaned into him and savored his touch and the warm, calm, loved way he made her feel. Yes, she felt loved. He didn’t have to say it. She’d like the words, but somehow they’d seem flat compared to the simple, elegant, emotion-filled way he kissed her.
“You’ve got to stop being this fantastic. You make all other men look bad.”
“Good. Then you’ll never want anyone but me.”
“Already done.” She pressed her hand to his handsome face. “Still, you can’t be this great all the time. I must do something that irritates you.”
“I didn’t want to say anything. I mean, you’ve got so much going on already, but seriously, what is with you putting ketchup on your tacos?”
The laugh and smile came out of nowhere. She tried to stop both, but couldn’t. The disgruntled and disgusted look on his face only made her smile and laugh more.
“That’s just not right. Guacamole, salsa. These are condiments for tacos. Ketchup is for hot dogs and hamburgers.”
She playfully shoved his shoulder. “Stop.”
“Never. Not when it makes you smile like that.”
Sadie sat back and stared at him, then at all the papers they’d spread out. “Even during all of this, you find a way to make me happy again.”
“That’s my job.”
“It’s in the boyfriend job description?”
He stared at her a moment, letting that “boyfriend” hang between them. She’d said that once before, but this seemed more definite. They hadn’t really defined this thing they shared so intensely. Saying it out loud made it all the more real.