Page 86

Heat rushed through her, and although she wanted to be alone with him more than anything in the world, her mother had spent too many years instilling in her the importance of good manners for her to just bail. "I can't just leave."

"You've greeted the hosts, snuggled the baby. Your social obligation is over," Sarah said.

The prospect of being alone with JT was enough to dismiss any lingering qualms, and, before she could talk herself out of it, she grabbed her purse and followed JT out to his truck. Thank God there were no cops out on the county road because JT drove so fast she was at one point prompted to remind him they wouldn't make it to bed if they died in a car wreck.

He eased off the gas—a little—and skidded into his driveway in record time. They were both out of the truck in seconds and all but running up the steps. He was kissing her and tugging her shirt up her back before they were in the door, and she gave only passing notice to the stacks of boxes lining the hall, evidence of his upcoming move.

They pulled and tugged at each other's clothes, leaving a trail of shirts, jeans, and underwear in their wake. In his bedroom sat more boxes, but his bed was still there. He wasted no time in laying her down on it, and stretched himself over her so he was cradled between her thighs.

She wanted to touch him, taste him, explore every inch of the man she had so desperately missed. But a month apart had felt like a decade, and within seconds he was sliding into her tight heat, their groans echoing each other at the exquisite pleasure.

He took her in fast, deep strokes that had her crying out as the knot of pleasure tightened low in her belly. Oh, God, she was so close, so fast. His hand slid down to where they were joined, his thumb circling the sensitive bud of her clit once, twice.

That was all it took to send her hurtling over the edge. She felt him stiffen and swell inside her, then the hot pulses of his release as held himself deep.

He rolled to his side and took her with him. She snuggled up against him, savoring the feel of his big naked body next to hers. She reached for his right hand, slowly stroked his thumb with her fingers. "I've missed the magic thumb."

He laughed gruffly. "And God damn I've missed you."

"I missed you too, so much." Her voice caught as emotion once again threatened to overwhelm her.

"I love you."

"I love you too." It felt a little scary to be saying it out loud to a man again. But good. And right. Very, very, right.

"Just so we're clear," JT said as he propped himself up on one elbow, "I'm not going to rush you into anything, but you might want to start preparing yourself for the day I put a ring on this finger." He rubbed the base of her left ring finger for emphasis.

The thought made her stomach flip nervously even as it sent a thrill through her body. "I think I can wrap my head around that."

Then she sobered, thinking of holding little Tristan earlier that day. "But what about kids. What if I can't—"

"You got pregnant once before. That's a pretty good indicator."

"Yeah, but it took all kinds of assistance, and I miscarried anyway. What if I can't carry a baby to term?"

His hand moved from the curve of her hip to cover her lower belly. "What if you can? What if things are different when you're married to a devoted husband who adores you instead of a cheating asshole?" He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss. "The past doesn't predict the future, something both of us need to remember. We don't know what's going to happen. But whatever life throws at us, I want us to face it together."

She stared into his intense blue eyes, so full of love, so full of hope, and felt like she was standing on the edge of the cliff. If she jumped, she would either soar off into the sunset or end up smashed against the rocks below.

Once upon a time, she'd believed she could soar. She wanted to again.

She was going to jump.

"Me too. Whatever comes, we'll get through it together."

Epilogue

Twenty months later

JT smiled at the group of friends and relatives seated on the rolling lawn in front of the Ranch's recreation hall. The notoriously fickle Montana weather gods were smiling on them this late May day. The mountains stood in stark relief against the bright blue sky, and a cool spring breeze teased his cheeks.

It was a perfect day for a wedding.

His brother stood next to him where he waited with the justice of the peace, while Paulina and Sarah stood to his right in matching lavender dresses. From the front row, JT's father flashed him a wink and a thumbs-up.

JT marveled at how far they'd come in less than two years. After JT had made good on his promise to leave the ranch at the end of the guest season nearly two years ago, it hadn't taken long for his father and uncles to realize how much JT had taken on in the five years since he'd been working as the ranch's general manager. Even in the comparatively more relaxed offseason, they found themselves overwhelmed picking up the slack he'd left behind.

Paulina had kept everything from completely going off the rails and had learned a ton in the process, but running spreadsheets and planning budgets for the coming seasons quickly had her bored and frustrated.