As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an amber glow over the rolling hills, Leanna felt her heart quicken. She couldn't help but notice the way Scott's eyes sparkled in the soft light, the way his broad shoulders seemed to fill out his plaid shirt even more than usual. She shook her head, chiding herself for getting carried away. They were just friends, after all.
Leanna had known Scott for years, since she was a troubled teenager and he was the ranch owner who had taken her under his wing. They had developed a close bond, and every Saturday evening, they would have a sunset picnic and go horseback riding together. It was their tradition, their little slice of heaven in a hectic world.
As they prepared the blanket and set up the picnic, Leanna couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and comfort in Scott's presence. She had never been in love before, never even come close. But something about Scott made her heart flutter in a way she had never experienced before.
"Leanna, you're quiet tonight," Scott remarked, his deep voice sending shivers down her spine. "Is everything okay?"
Leanna looked up at him, meeting his gaze for a brief moment before looking away. "Yeah, everything's fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I don't know, I guess I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed lately."
Scott's face softened, and he reached out to take her hand. "You know you can talk to me about anything, Leanna," he said, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the back of her hand. "I'm here for you, always."
Leanna felt a lump form in her throat, and she nodded silently. She knew she could talk to Scott about anything, but she was afraid of what might happen if she let her guard down. She was afraid of what might happen if she let herself fall in love with him.
As they sat down to eat, Leanna couldn't help but notice the way Scott's eyes lit up when he saw the fried chicken and mashed potatoes she had prepared for him. He was a big guy, with an hearty appetite, and she knew he loved his comfort food.
"Leanna, this is amazing," Scott said, his mouth full of chicken. "You always know how to make a guy happy."
Leanna felt a blush creep up her cheeks, and she looked away. "I'm just glad you like it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
As they finished their meal, Leanna felt a sense of sadness wash over her. She knew that the night would soon be over, and she would have to go back to her busy life, her demanding job, her endless responsibilities. She didn't want to think about what might happen if she let herself get too close to Scott, if she let herself fall in love with him.
But as she looked up at him, his eyes twinkling in the soft light of the setting sun, she couldn't help but feel a sense of longing, a sense of desire, a sense of something she had never felt before.
"Leanna, can I tell you something?" Scott asked, his voice soft and gentle.
Leanna looked up at him, meeting his gaze for a brief moment before looking away. "Yeah, sure," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I know we've been friends for a long time, and I know we've always said that we should never be more than that," Scott said, his eyes locked on hers. "But I can't help the way I feel about you, Leanna. I can't help the way my heart races every time I see you, the way my mind fills with thoughts of you, the way my body aches for you."
Leanna felt her breath catch in her throat, and she looked up at him, meeting his gaze for a brief moment before looking away. "Scott, I... I don't know what to say," she stammered, her heart pounding in her chest.
"You don't have to say anything, Leanna," Scott said, his voice soft and gentle. "I just wanted you to know how I feel. I wanted you to know that I'm here for you, always."
Leanna felt a sense of warmth and comfort wash over her, and she looked up at Scott, meeting his gaze for a brief moment before looking away. "Thank you, Scott," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an amber glow over the rolling hills, Leanna felt her heart quicken. She couldn't help but notice the way Scott's eyes sparkled in the soft light, the way his broad shoulders seemed to fill out his plaid shirt even more than usual. She knew she couldn't deny her feelings any longer. She knew she had to take a chance, to let herself fall in love with Scott, to let herself be loved by him.
And as they stood up, their bodies pressed together, their lips meeting in a soft, tender kiss, Leanna knew that she had made the right decision. She knew that she had found her forever in Scott, in the quiet, older white man who had been her friend for years. And as they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them.