Chapter 17

I"m standing in the doorway of my workshop, staring out at the expanse of Texas sky as the sun dips low. It's silent, save for the occasional whinny of a horse or the creaking of the windmill.

"Something"s off," I mutter to myself.

The wooden beams seem to hum with the ghost of conversations past, echoes of laughter that used to bounce off them when Jules was here. Now, they"re just hollow, like they"re missing her voice as much as I am.

I walk back to the house and let the door slam shut behind me. The loud sound makes me wince. Too loud in the quiet, too sharp against the backdrop of a slow Texan dusk. My boots kick up dust as I trudge towards the house, hands sunk deep in the pockets of my jeans.

"Damn," I exhale, feeling the weight of the solitude pressing down on me. A month. It's been a whole month since I kissed Julia's lips, waved goodbye, and she boarded a plane back to Houston, taking the sunshine with her. I didn"t think it would hit me this hard.

"Ry, you"ve got to snap out of it," I scold myself.

Inside the house, I throw together a sandwich, it"s just fuel these days, nothing more. I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the windowpane. Even I can see it, the gruff exterior that"s usually so comfortable in solitude now seems like a facade.

The phone rests on the coffee table, silent and accusatory. I"ve texted her good morning and good night, shared snippets of my day, and tried to bridge the miles with words on a screen. But each message feels more hollow than the last, a poor substitute for the warmth of her presence. At some point along the way, I kept forgetting to take my phone with me outside or into my shop with me.

"Should"ve checked that phone more often, Ryan," I chide, thinking of the missed calls and texts that might've piled up while I was lost in sawdust and wood shavings.

"Can"t change that now," I say aloud, trying to shake the restlessness that"s settled in my bones.

"Can"t keep doing this," I admit, the truth bitter on my tongue. It"s not just the ranch that"s too quiet. It"s my world, my life, without her vibrant energy charging through it.

"Long distance? More like long shot." I push to my feet, restless energy driving me forward. The idea of continuing this way, tethered by fragile digital threads, is unbearable. We"re not built for half measures, Jules and I.

"Need you here, Jules," I whisper, though the declaration is for my ears alone. Or maybe it's a plea tossed into the vast Texas sky, hoping somehow it reaches her in the hustle of Houston.

With a sigh, I collapse into the worn leather armchair, the one Jules claimed was her favorite spot in the whole ranch. I stretch out, trying to find comfort in its embrace, but it"s no use. I close my eyes, and there it is, the soft echo of her voice from our last call.

"I wish you were lying beside me right now," she said, her voice a mix of longing and tiredness.

That simple sentence, that yearning, it"s like a rope pulling me toward her. My heart"s already beating the rhythm of a man about to make a decision he can"t take back.

"Fine, Jules," I whisper to the empty room, "you win."

Next thing I know, I'm throwing clothes into a duffel bag, not bothering to fold them. My keys jingle impatiently as I snatch them from the hook by the door. I don"t bother locking up. It's not like I'm expecting company.

The drive to the small airport feels shorter than ever, my thoughts consumed by green eyes and red hair, by the heat of passion that might be waiting. I park the truck, grab my bag, and head straight for the private hangar where my plane's been collecting dust, a billionaire"s toy that"s seen too little use.

"Let"s hope she"s ready for a surprise," I say to the pilot, who raises an eyebrow but doesn't question it. He knows better.

As we take off, I lean back against the seat, trying to imagine the look on Jules' face when I appear at her condo. Surprise? Joy? Annoyance for not calling first?

"Doesn"t matter," I decide. "It'll be worth it."

One hour. One hour and I"ll be there, knocking on her door, ready to stoke the flames of whatever it is we've got burning between us. And I can"t help but smile at the thought.

The seatbelt sign flickers off, and I let out a breath I didn"t realize I was holding. The low hum of the plane"s engines is a stark contrast to the silent expanse of my ranch. I lean back, close my eyes, but my mind isn"t on the flight.

"Can I get you something to drink, sir?" The flight attendant"s chipper voice cuts through my thoughts.

"Whiskey, neat," I say. It"s not yet noon and I know I shouldn't be drinking alcohol, but what the hell. I"m breaking all my rules today, anyway.

I take the plastic cup, the amber liquid sloshing gently with the rhythm of the plane. It's funny how a man can build barns, wrangle cattle, and carve art from wood, yet be undone by a woman with green eyes and dreams as big as Texas itself.

"Damn it, Jules," I mutter under my breath, swirling the whiskey. She"s chasing her billion-dollar dream, and here I am, sky-high in more ways than one, trailing after her like some lovestruck fool.

The ice clinks against the sides—a sharp, jarring sound. That"s us, isn"t it? I"m the quiet ranch life she"s said she loves, but she"s the clink and clamor of the city. Can the two really mix?

"Another?" The flight attendant is back, eyebrow raised.

I nod, pushing the empty cup her way. This wasn"t part of the plan. Me, leaving the comfort of my land, the simplicity I"ve fought so hard for. But then again, neither was falling for a fiery redhead with ambition that could light up the Houston skyline.

"Thanks," I say as she hands me a refill. I take a sip, letting the burn ground me. It"s a temporary fix, but it"ll do until I see her.

"Visiting someone special?" she asks, trying to make small talk.

"Something like that," I reply, keeping it vague. What would I even say? "Oh, just flying into the arms of the woman who might just be the love of my life, hoping we can figure out how to blend her world with mine?"

The thought should scare me more than it does. But instead, there"s an exhilarating sense of rightness mingled with the fear. I"ve always been a man who took risks, but they were calculated, measured.

This? This is me, throwing caution to the wind, betting it all on a chance that she might want this as much as I do.

"Good luck," the flight attendant says with a smile, and moves back behind the staff's partition.

"Thanks," I offer back, but she"s already gone. Luck. Maybe that"s what I need. Yeah, a little bit of that, and a whole lot of Jules.

"Thirty minutes to landing," the pilot announces over the intercom. Thirty minutes until I see her, until I find out if this impulsive trip was the grandest gesture or the biggest mistake of my life.

I take one last gulp of whiskey, brace myself for the descent. Whatever happens next, I can"t shake the feeling that my life is about to change, all because I couldn"t stand one more night alone in that too-quiet house without her.

The wheels of my rental car grind against the upscale grit of downtown Houston as I navigate the streets with a purpose. Skyscrapers claw at the sky, each window reflecting my determined face back at me. I"m here on a mad dash of hope, fueled by Julia"s whispered longing that crackled through the phone line and ignited something fierce within me.

"Damn it, Ryan," I mutter to myself, "since when do you jet off because of a wish?"

But that wish, her voice soft and vulnerable, was a siren call I couldn"t resist. It"s been a month of solitude, a month of echoing silence in the ranch house that seems too big without her laughter bouncing off the walls. A month of wrestling with the gnawing truth that the distance between us might just be more than miles.

I find a parking spot right outside her condo, which is a stroke of luck in the congested heart of the city, and I kill the engine. My hands are steady as I slip out of the car, but my heart? It"s a wild stallion, galloping through my chest.

"Here goes nothing," I say to no one in particular, adjusting my hat out of habit before I catch myself. No cowboy brims here, just the raw nerves of a man about to lay it all on the line.

The lobby is cool and quiet, the marble floors echoing under my boots. The elevator ride up feels like an ascent to judgment day. Each ding of the floors passing sends a shiver down my spine until finally, the doors glide open with a soft chime. Her floor, her door, just down the hall.

My knock is firm, confident, or at least, that"s the performance I give. Behind the bravado, my stomach is a tangle of nerves and hope. Seconds tick by, slow and syrupy until the door swings open.

"Ryan?" Julia"s eyes widen, a perfect picture of surprise. The setting sun from her window frames her like she"s the masterpiece in an art gallery, and hell, she might as well be.

"Surprise," I manage, the word feeling foreign on my tongue. It"s not often I show up unannounced, not often I chase after someone like this. But Julia isn"t just someone; she"s the woman who"s managed to lasso my grumpy heart and lead it into the light.

"Wha… How?" she stammers, one hand pressed to her chest as if to calm the rapid beat beneath.

"Let"s just say, I wasn"t fond of the idea of you wishing in vain." I step closer, my voice barely above a whisper now. Her apartment smells like her, warm and inviting, and I feel the last of my resolve melting away.

"Ryan," she breathes out my name like it"s a lifeline, and maybe it is, for both of us.

"Hey, Jules." I tip my head, offering a smile that feels more genuine than any I"ve worn in weeks. "Mind if I come in?"

The door closes behind me with a click, and the world narrows down to the two of us. Her green eyes hold mine, fiery embers that ignite something primal within me. There"s no space for words, no need for explanations as we collide in a fierce embrace.

"Ryan," Julia murmurs against my lips, her breath hot and quick. She tugs at my shirt, her fingers desperate and searching. I can feel the pulse of her heart through the thin fabric of her blouse, fast and erratic, matching the thunderous beat of my own.

"Jules," I groan, my voice rough with desire. It"s a plea, a prayer, a name that means home. We"re a tangle of limbs, a mess of need and urgency. Her hands are on my belt, fumbling with the buckle, and a low laugh rumbles in my chest. It's been too long, and my body is alive with the promise of her touch.

"Bedroom," she manages between heated kisses, pulling me along. But I can"t wait, not another second, not when she"s here, real and wanting beneath my hands.

I don't reply with words. Rather, I slide my hands up her shirt, feeling the firmness of her muscles beneath the thin material. Her skin is warm and smooth, her body tense with desire. I can feel her heart racing, her pulse beating wildly against the palm of my hand as I cup it against her chest.

Julia pushes me back, her eyes smoldering with desire. I feel the thrill of anticipation as she tugs at my zipper, her eyes never leaving mine.

"Take me," she murmurs, her voice low and husky. "Now."

I lift her up, cradling her in my arms as she wraps her legs around my waist. Her breasts press against my chest, her nipples hard and erect against my skin. I carry her to the bedroom, my heart pounding with excitement as I feel her body against mine.

I lay her down on the bed, her legs spread wide, and I can"t help but stare at the wetness between her legs, glistening in the low light as I pull a condom from my wallet and roll it onto my shaft. Then I reach between her legs, my fingers brushing against her clit, making her moan softly.

She reaches forward, grabs my cock, and pulls me gently towards her entrance. I thrust inside her, feeling the warmth of her body enveloping me. I start moving, my hips rocking back and forth, her moans growing louder with each thrust.

Julia reaches up, pulling me down to her, kissing me deeply as we move in sync. Her nails dig into my back, her legs tightening around me with every thrust I make, her body arching into me as she cries out, her orgasm teetering on the edge.

I feel a surge of pleasure, my own orgasm building rapidly. I thrust harder, faster, feeling the tension within me coil tighter and tighter. Finally, I let go, the pleasure washing over me like a tidal wave, our bodies shaking with the force of our shared climax.

As we lay there, panting and sweating, I stare into Julia"s eyes, feeling the bond between us deepen. We may be sweaty and messy, but we"re together, in this moment, in each other"s arms, and that"s all that matters.

I'm not sure how long we lay here in silence as I trace the outline of Jules" shoulder blade, her skin pale against the deep blue of her sheets. She"s a flame in her own bed, red hair splayed across her pillow like wildfire. Her breaths are easy, a contrast to the hustle of Houston she embodies.

"Ry," she whispers, turning to face me, those green eyes bright even in the dim light. "This... us... it"s not enough."

"Agreed." I prop myself up on an elbow. The Texas stars outside can"t compete with the spark in her gaze.

"Once a month?" she suggests.

"Sounds about right." I nod, considering the logistics.

"Your place then mine?" Her voice is hopeful, a soft lilt that says she"s ready for more than fleeting moments.

"Me in Houston, you in cowboy country." A smile plays on my lips at the thought.

"Deal." She grins, and something in my chest loosens. We shake on it, hands clasping as a pact sealed with laughter.

"Looking forward to more of your yoga moves," I tease, watching her cheeks flush with pleasure or maybe it"s the remnants of our earlier activities.