Page 111 of A Rancher's Heart

A flash of anger rolled through Tamara. “Well, that’s annoying. Considering I didn’t ask her to. I asked her if sheknewsomeone, I didn’t give her permission to start the ball rolling.” She cupped a hand against Caleb’s cheek, stroking her fingers over his ear. “I wanted to come to you with an idea, not an ultimatum.”

He looked horrified. “I shouted at you for no reason?”

She kissed him quickly, pulling back with a sincere smile. “Oh, I am so glad you shouted.”

He paused, then shook his head. “Nope. Now I’m back to having no idea what the hell is going on.”

He might not yet, but he would soon. And Tamara was beyond the point of no return. She was tired of waiting, and now that he’d crawled out from the shell he’d retreated into, she pretty much figured they could make up the rest of it as they went along. She wanted him.

No, she wanted it all. Him, the girls, more kids. “You know how I like to interfere?”

“You gave that up.”

“Yeah, bullshit on that.” She pulled a face. “The good thing is, since I’m so meddlesome and all, it means I can do this.” Tamara curled her hands around his neck, holding him trapped.

“You plan on throttling me?”

“Maybe. Not today, but maybe tomorrow. Or the day after that. Because, you know what you need, Caleb Stone? You need me. You need me in your life, causing you grief and making you crazy, and since I’m such a kind and giving person, I’m totally going to sacrifice myself and say yes.”

His lips twisted. “I don’t recall asking you any questions recently.”

“Other than how my hearing is?”

He actually flushed.

“Never mind that. Yes, I heard you, and now I’m on a different topic. Keep up,” she teased.

He cupped her chin in his hand. “I’ll try.”

“We’re both forward-thinking individuals. In fact, you’re going to get to brag a little in the future, Caleb Stone, because you know what?”

It was the craziest thing, but it was right. She dropped to one knee in front of him, holding his hand in hers.

He raised a brow, gentle smirk twisting his lips as his anger dissipated and his curiosity rose. “Forward thinking is good and fine, but you got any idea what the first thought that hits a man’s mind when a woman drops to her knees?”

She mock punched him in the gut before wrapping her fingers around his belt buckle. “Later. I’m being romantic. Hush.”

“Ahh. I’ll take notes.”

God, she loved his dry sense of humour. And his bossy demanding ways, and she loved everything about him and it was time he knew it.

“Caleb, you’re the second stubbornest ass I’ve ever met.” She made a face. “I see the most stubborn every time I look in the mirror.”

“Not going to argue.”

She’d get everything she wanted in the end, even if the route there was a little twisted. “I love you. I know you love me too, even though you’re not ready to say it. But I’m willing to wait until you realize you do, but in the meantime, you’re right. We’re going to be together, you and me. We’re going to be a family, because I love those little girls of yours with everything in me. Which is really convenient because I’m hellishly in love with their daddy as well.”

He was smiling now, face full of sunshine. All his frustration and anger gone. “Very convenient.”

She let all the emotion inside her shine out best she could. “You going to marry me, Caleb Stone?”

He sighed, long and heartfelt. Utter happiness in the tone. “Yeah.”

Tamara laughed. “I love you. Direct and to the point.”

“You want it done up fancier?Hell, yeah.” He hauled her to her feet and kissed the tip of her nose. “Better?”

“Perfect.”