That Fine Line (Pride and Pranks, #1)

by Cindy Steel

But I decided it wasn’t what I wanted long-term, so I went with plan B. “Which is?” “To live on a ranch with my very best friend in the world.” “Awww… I didn’t know you liked my dad’s cows that much.” “Awww…” he mirrored. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“Maybe some people don’t need the whole world. Maybe some people are satisfied with a good honest life, making a good honest living.”

How could I be one thing to somebody, and something so completely different to another?

“Red, when I saw the mountain lion ready to pounce on you, I…” He shook his head, as his words trailed off. “Just don’t go anywhere else by yourself. Or at least without a gun.” “That could have happened to anybody.” He nodded slowly. “I know. But you’re not just anybody. Not to me. And I’m discovering… that I kind of like having you around.”

There were so many things I wanted to say with this kiss. So many things that were difficult for me to say any other way. I kissed him for saving my life. I kissed him for making me laugh, for putting me in my place, and for teasing me. I kissed him for making me feel special. And for this date. This glorious and magical and most confusing date that I wished could go on forever. But mostly, I kissed him for me, because I was starting to wonder if Stitch really was right about that fine line between love and hate.

You’re the first person I want to talk to when I wake up. I lose way too much sleep at night trying to think of ways to get a rile out of you, make you laugh, torture you, kiss you…”

“I didn’t know it then, but all my misguided pranks toward you throughout our entire lives were just to get me to this moment. It’s always been you.”

With the right man, my worries turned to calmness, my doubts to faith, my fears to bravery, and my insecurities to confidence.