Now he narrowed his eyes. “Was that why you left? To see if I’d chase after you? Because that’s f**kin’ crazy, sugar.”

“I left because I got scared,” she replied quietly. “Once I was gone, yes, I figured you’d come after me, but that wasn’t why I ran away.”

She hopped off the bed and walked over to him, keeping a foot of distance between them. “I’m so sorry I took off without telling you. That was a really shitty thing to do.”

He scowled. “Damn right.”

“The only excuse I have is what I just told you. I was scared.” Her expression conveyed a whole lot of regret. “I was really, really scared.”

“Why?” His forehead creased. “Because you thought you’d get in trouble for sluggin’ Tiff?”

“No, because of the reason I slugged her in the first place. I didn’t hit her because she called me a bitch,” Mia confessed. “I did it because I couldn’t stand knowing how much she’d hurt you. I hated the way everyone treated you in town, Jackson. You didn’t deserve it, not one f**king bit.”

He was confused. “And that scared you enough to send you packin’?”

“I realized…” She trailed off, taking a deep breath. “I realized I cared about you so much more than I thought I did. And then when you dropped me off at the ranch, I saw your parents lying together on the couch, and I wanted that, Jackson. I wanted what they had so badly, but with you. Because I love you.”

His heart did a somersault.

“I mean it, Jackson. I love you so much it hurts, and when I realized it yesterday, it scared the crap out of me.”

“Because you don’t want a relationship,” he said in a low voice.

“Because I never thought relationships were capable of lasting.” Her green eyes softened, shining with certainty. “But ours can, and it will.”

“Oh, really?” he couldn’t help but taunt.

Her tone grew fierce. “It will. You said so yourself—I’m yours. And you’re goddamn mine. We belong together and we’re going to get our happily ever after, got it? You and me? We’re forever, Jackson, and we’re—why are you smiling like that?”

Jackson could barely contain the glee dancing around inside him. “Because you’re makin’ my job too dang easy, sugar.”

“What do you mean?”

“I came here to win you back, but you didn’t even give me a chance to make the big speech I was practicin’ on the plane. You stole the words right outta my mouth, darlin’.”

A smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “Sorry?”

“Don’t you dare apologize.” Jackson reached for her hand and tugged her toward him. “I’m glad you finally came to your senses and realized that we’re meant for each other.” He brought his lips close to her ear and added, “I love you too, by the way.”

The way her entire face lit up made him grin. “You do? Even after I abandoned you in Abbott Creek?”

“I love you,” he repeated, his tone clear and unwavering. “I fell in love with you on our very first date and I’m gonna love you ’til the day I die. I hope you know that, and I hope you’re cool with it, because you’re never gettin’ rid of me, sugar. ”

Mia stood on her tiptoes and smacked a kiss directly on his mouth. “Good, because I’m never letting you go.”

Their lips met in a deep kiss that sent a rush of pure joy to his heart. He’d truly expected to show up and have to use some serious persuasion to woo her back, but as usual, Mia surprised him. She was the most incredible woman he’d ever known, quick to apologize, willing to own up to her mistakes, unafraid to tell him exactly how she was feeling when she was feeling it.

He should’ve known that once she’d become aware that she loved him, she wouldn’t hesitate to let him know, and a thrill traveled up his spine as he anticipated their future together. This was the relationship he’d longed for, one chock full of honesty and patience, laughter and challenge. And no-holds-barred sex—he definitely couldn’t leave that out.

When the kiss finally ended, Jackson beamed at the woman he adored. “Should we get naked now, sugar? Because no declaration of love is official until the two parties involved get naked.”

Her melodic laughter echoed in the bedroom. “You’re going to have to take a rain check, sugar. Right now you’re accompanying me and Danny to the bank. We might need your muscles.”

His eyebrows shot up. “What for?”

“I’ll tell you all about it in the car.” She laced their fingers together. “Oh, and before I forget—how did it go with your brother?”

“I’ll tell you all about it in the car,” he mimicked.

They stepped into the hall, rapping a wake-up call on Danny’s door on their way to the living room. As they waited for her brother to get dressed and join them, Jackson cocked his head and said, “So what do you wanna do later? After we’re finished being naked, that is.”

She mulled it over. “Well, I guess we can grab some dinner from Tonio’s.” She thought about it some more. “And then I’m sure we’ll get naked again at some point.”

He grinned. “And then?”

Mia looked into his eyes and gave him a wide smile. “And then we can get started on the forever part.”