Page 96 of Marry Me, Doc

Arabella:

Anonymous source??

Ob-Knox-ious:

Your husband plays the long game. Good on him.

Arabella:

WTF?

Ob-Knox-ious:

You okay? Wasn't sure how you would react.

Arabella:

Look at you, worrying about other people's feelings.

Ob-Knox-ious:

Gemma has beat it into me.

Arabella:

Keep your sex life to yourself.

And thanks. This is… good.

Ob-Knox-ious:

It's justice. Finally.

I pocketed my phone, leaning against the fence and letting the warm June sunlight kiss my skin. I leaned my chin on my arms, watching my husband dreamily. He was laughing at something the little girl had said as he led her in another pass around the circular pen, and his bright, white smile flashed against tanned skin. It had been my idea to combine post-NICU care practice with equine-assisted therapy. Almost all the rescued horses living on my ranch were retired, gentle, and in need of a purpose.It turned out that it was the perfect opportunity to help children of all ages and skill levels.

Spencer finished his lesson with his patient, helping her off the horse with a playful swing in his arms—Oiy, there go my ovaries again—and then he transferred her to the care of her father. When he led Spets back to me, Spencer had a lingering smile on his mouth that made my heart soar. He was happy here with me. I was euphoric to have him.

He leaned against the fence on the other side, resting his chin on his arms like me and angling his head toward me. "You look devastatingly gorgeous when you smile like, did you know that?"

I snorted, rubbing the bridge of my nose as I straightened. It was sunburned and peeling, and I know my hair looked wild from shoeing horses all morning. "I'm starting to think you'll find me blindingly beautiful in every circumstance."

"I do," he admitted.

I pulled my phone out from my back pocket and brought up the article again. I held it out for him to read. "'Unusually bold and self-incriminating’ hidden clause, huh?"

His eyes skimmed over the article, but he barely read it before his eyes flicked up. He looked like a perfect combination of guilty and satisfied. "Bombs away."

"You had this planned all the way back to our wedding day?" I asked incredulously.

"Arabella." He came around the fence and pulled me against his body. He tilted my chin up, his smile canted off to the side. "I waited almost twenty years to win your heart. You think I wouldn't have the patience to take down the person who hurt you?"

I shook my head in amazement, stretching on my tiptoes to bring my lips closer to his. "Your ego did not need this kind of success."

He kissed me softly, sending flutters whizzing away in my stomach. "My ego is already a runaway train. I got to stay married to you. It doesn't get better than that."

I kissed him back, and then I nuzzled his nose with mine. "Any other traps lying in wait I should know about? Bombs about to detonate?"

He clamped his arms around me tight, lifting me into his arms. I shrieked, wrapping my arms around his neck as he carried me back to the house. "Yes. Got you."

I nuzzled his neck while he carried me across the vibrant green ranch to our little house with a superfluous wood stove and ancient furniture. "I do like it when you give me explosions."

He craned his head back, grinning at me. He kissed my forehead, knocking off my cowgirl hat. "Boom."