I don’t need the GPS on my phone to chart my course to Keith Barnes’ farm. I know the way.

In fact, I go out of my way to take a longer, roundabout route to get there. Less chance of me running into anyone else I know before I’m ready for my presence in town to be revealed.

I’m reasonably certain Mr. Barnes won’t spill my secret. He hasn’t yet told anyone else in town he’s selling to the developer, worried that it’ll get him run out of same said town.

Can’t blame him.

Better the announcement comes after all the pieces are in place. Once the locals find out that they’re getting several new businesses, it shouldn’t be too difficult to win them over.

Hopefully I’ve had a chance to win Tomas back by then. It’s difficult for me not to picture myself living here again, yet I know I shouldn’t get my hopes up for a whole host of reasons.

The first being that Tom might hate me, and he might already have someone else by now.

I admit it—I was wrong to think I could ever be happy without him. I was also wrong to think I could convince him to give up a business that’s been in his family for decades, one that the town counts on. He’s put his entire heart and soul into it literally his entire life.

I was wrong.

Now if I can just get a chance to tell him how sorry I am—as many times as he needs to hear it from me—I’ll gladly grovel for as long and hard as he wants me to.

This real estate deal will make several people a lot of money. Not me, because I’m only earning billable hours for my role in the transaction. But the developer is one of the firm’s largest clients and is good friends with one of the senior partners.

All of my plans, of course, are contingent upon me reconciling with Tom. I’m hoping I can work out a deal with my firm to let me cut back on my cases when I move here. I can work remotely and then limit my in-person work to the Miami office. It’d mean a massive cut in income but I no longer care about that.

If they won’t agree? Then I guess I’ll go back to work for another firm, or for myself, here in Maudlin Falls and the surrounding area.

Yes, I might have checked and there’s still no lawyer in Maudlin Falls. Most of my work would be in the larger nearby towns, like Webley and Colley, but I could have an office here.

Right?

When I make the final turn, I find the front gate at the end of the driveway has been left open for me. I met Keith Barnes a few times when I lived here but who knows if he remembers me?

Slowly rolling up the rutted driveway, I look around at the empty fields surrounding the house. No cattle, no crops. I can see why he’d want to sell but he’s owned the property for decades now and it apparently belonged to his father before him.

It’s a shame it will go to someone else.

I’ve just parked in front of the house next to an older Ford pickup when my personal phone rings—and my heart nearly stops.

It’s Tomas.

No kidding, I absolutely panic.

Which is why I stupidly send the call to voice mail.

My hands shake as I immediately type out a text.

Sorry, just heading into a meeting with a client. Is everything okay, or can I call you back later?

I mean, it’s not a lie but I still feel horrible. I’ve never lied to him. Ever. This just feels…wrong.

And Herb didn’t recognize me this morning. He would’ve said something if he had, and likely would have called Tom about it long before now. Meaning Tom definitely would have said what the heck and called me.

This has to be a coincidence.

Has to be.

Please let it be that and not that he’s telling me he’s getting married, or something horrible’s happened!

He texts me back almost immediately, meaning he hung up when he heard my voice mail.

Sorry, no emergency. Just wanted to say hi.

Now I feel even worse. I don’t want to leave him hanging.

This meeting will take me a couple of hours. Once I’m done, I promise I’ll call you back. I’ve missed you so much. Sorry it’s been so long. Love you.

Yes, it’s admittedly risky adding that and him possibly shooting me down, but I don’t want to leave it unsaid.

I’ve left it unsaid for far too long. Especially considering there was a time it was one of the first things we said to each other every morning, and the last thing we said to each other every night.

I sit there, waiting and hoping he texts me back quickly. I die a thousand deaths in the sixty or so seconds before his reply arrives.

Love you and miss you, too.

Relief hits me so hard that I dang near start crying right there. I text him back a smiley face and then force myself out of the car.

Even though every bone in my body currently screams at me to race into town, track him down, and propose to him right there in front of everyone.

No. Work first.

Besides, just because Tomas says he loves and misses me doesn’t mean he’s still single, or even that he wants me back.

I’m no dummy. He wouldn’t break up with me in a text. He’d want to give me difficult news in person. This could either be a lucky break or an insurmountable obstacle.

Regardless, it means I might have a lot of hard work ahead of me to earn back his trust.