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When they finally broke apart, neither of them went far. She kept her arms around his neck while his stayed around her waist, his forehead resting against hers.
“I missed you,” he murmured.
Her eyes burned. “I missed you too.”
He kissed her again, shorter this time but no less satisfying, before drawing back enough to look at her. “Next time, we coordinate our surprises.”
A short laugh slipped out. “That sort of defeats the purpose of a surprise.”
“After today, I’m willing to make an exception.”
“Then it’s probably a good idea.”
“Glad we agree.”
She smiled up at him, but the humor faded as the reason she’d boarded that plane rushed back. Missing him had only been part of it. She had returned because she needed to know whether what they had could become something more.
Apparently, Grady had questions of his own.
His thumb brushed her cheek. “You came back for me?”
“I did. And you went to California for me.”
Something shifted in his expression. “I was tired of trying to figure out our future without you.”
Her heart gave a small jolt. “That makes two of us.”
For a moment, Amanda could only look at him. She'd spent so much time wondering whether he wanted the same future she did, and now she was beginning to think they'd been worrying about the same things all along.
He surveyed the busy terminal. “Maybe we should continue this conversation somewhere that doesn’t have several hundred people walking around us.”
“Another good idea.”
“Where’s your rental car?”
“I canceled it.”
His eyebrows rose.
“Once I found out you were coming back, I didn’t see the point of keeping it. I wanted to ride home with you and figured I could get one in Butterfield tomorrow.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He slung his duffel strap over his shoulder, then reached for the handle of her rolling suitcase, her carry-on already secured on top. “Because I have no intention of letting you out of my sight tonight.”
She threaded her fingers through his free hand as they headed for the exit.
Home.
He probably hadn’t meant anything by the word beyond his house in Antelope Rock, but after everything that had brought her back to Wyoming, it landed differently. Maybe by the end of tonight, they’d both know whether it could mean something more.
Minutes later, they were in his SUV and leaving the airport. Grady kept one hand on the wheel and the other wrapped around hers on the console between them.
For the first few miles, neither of them said much. Amanda was content to watch the Wyoming landscape pass outside her window with her hand clasped in his. There would be plenty to say before they reached Antelope Rock. For now, having him beside her again was enough.
Eventually, he asked, “So, what made you decide to come back?”
She turned toward him. “You’re making me go first?”
“You landed first.”