I didn’t even nod at the reverend. Alice could scold me for it later. I didn’t look away from Sarah, maybe afraid she’d disappear if I did, and hopped from the stage. Skirting around the tables, I made my way to stand in front of her. I took off my hat, dipped my chin so I could keep looking into those eyes as pale as mine.

“Is Reverend Abernathy right, baby girl? You want me?”

Her cheeks flushed, and she swallowed hard. “Yes.”

That one word. Fuck, that one word was a gateway to everything.

Yes, I want you to finally make me yours.

Yes, I want to be with you always.

Yes, I love you, Huckleberry Manning.

I’d heard all those yeses from her. Remembered every single one. That one word was the key to my heart. I had no idea why Sarah had bid on me now, why she was looking at me like she had all those years ago, but this time, if I let her in, all she’d find was that my heart was broken.

And yet I was eager for her. For this and whatever was going to happen next. As I took her hand and led her out of the auditorium, I knew I wasn’t going to be the same again. I wasn’t sure if that was going to save me or destroy me.

Either way, she was mine. This time I wasn’t fucking letting her go.

5

HUCK

An hour later

What the fuck? I stared at my closed bedroom door. Sarah had just gotten dressed, covered up that gorgeous womanly body, and left me. After she’d dropped a fucking bombshell. I glanced down at the paper on my chest, but I couldn’t read it. The handcuffs rattled as I yanked on them, but there was no give.

“Sarah!” I called, then snapped my mouth shut, grinding my molars together.

I still had her taste on my tongue, her sticky essence on my chin. I was aching to sink into her, my dick hard and throbbing against my lower belly. I’d almost busted a nut when her dress had slipped to the floor. Fuck, the sight of her in that pretty lingerie and soft, silky skin was something I’d always remember. The fact that she’d let me get beneath her dress meant she’d wanted me. I’d never touch her otherwise. That was why I’d stayed away all this time. She hadn’t wanted me. If she had, she’d have come to me.

She had, but after six years.

Sarah O’Banyon was my every fantasy come to life. Had been since she turned eighteen. I’d wanted her all those years ago, and I still wanted her now. I hadn’t been celibate since, but sex had been a release. To blow off some steam. Nothing more. Sarah’d had my heart once, and it had been destroyed.

I battled often with how I’d handled her dad. I should’ve told him to fuck off, then carry Sarah away on the back of my horse like some kind of sappy western. But he’d threatened to not only take away her college fund but disown her. He was an asshole, but I wouldn’t risk Sarah’s happiness for anything. So I’d stayed away.