You had a God awful track record with men. Cordell knew this.

Your first ex left you dancing alone at prom. Your second ex had outright embarrassed you in front of his entire family. Your third— it was so bad that you gave up dating for two years.

It was humiliating.

But here was Cordell Walker. The literal definition of the perfect man. You couldn't help but get giddy around him, gosh, his hair, his smile. You felt like a doofus.

Yet a part of you still didn't trust him, and he was unbelievably understanding of that even after months of dating. You tried to trust your own judgment this time.

You'd met him when you first moved to town, not being from Texas, everyone was so patriotic it almost scared you. Cordell was patient and offered to buy you a drink at a bar, to which you agreed. You needed to make friends, this would be a good way to start.

Now you were knee deep in a 5 month relationship with him and he was such a stand up guy, you didn't want him to be like your exes. You didn't know what you would be if he was.

Anxiously you bit your bottom lip as you fiddled with the bracelets on your wrist as you waited on the doorstep of the Walker Ranch.

Meeting Cordell's family for the first time as his girlfriend and you were beyond stressed. His mom, his dad, his brother, his kids. Oh Christ, his kids.

You felt your hand tighten around the gift bag in your hand as the door opened to reveal Cordell— his hair not slicked back for once. Smiling down at you, moving to give you a kiss on the cheek as if he knew the anxiety you felt.

"You look great, darlin'."

His slight southern drawl snapping you out of your own head.