Page 65 of A Rancher's Love

Talia wrapped her arms around Madison’s neck and laid her cheek against hers. “Auntie Ginny, this is my new Mommy.”

“Hello, new Mommy,” Ginny said as Madison blinked hard, obviously fighting back emotion. “I hear you recently made my kid brother wear pixie wings. You’re already one of my favourite people.”

Madison laughed, and the afternoon flowed easily from there. Cookies were made, stories shared. When Sasha insisted, Tamara taught them all how to do a wrestling move that could pull a bigger, larger person off balance. While it was fun, it was also important. Planting seeds, making a difference.

The fact that Emma planned to take Dustin down the first chance she got was funny as hell to boot.

Part of the joy of the afternoon was telling Dare about it later. Ginny’s sister was mostly amused by the entire idea, but also slightly horrified.

Dare: I’m so glad I have all boys. How did you even know what to arrange?

Ginny: Are you kidding? Have you forgotten Sasha and her opinions that quickly?

Dare:What was I thinking? So, pedicures? Manicures?

Ginny:Pedicures were labelled “icky” by three out of four of the younger participants, so Madison came up with the brilliant idea of tracing our feet on a piece of paper and giving ourselves virtual pedicures.

Dare:Get out. That sounds fun.

Ginny:I’ll send you a picture of everything later.

Dare:I’d love to see them. Also, speaking of pictures… Have you made any headway on the strange message from your parents?

Ginny sighed. She’d been ignoring that part of the problem.I sent you a picture of it, didn’t I?

Dare:Nope. Shoot me a copy, and I’ll give it some thought.

Ginny:Don’t show it around yet, though, okay?

She wasn’t sure why, but it felt wrong to be flashing the page around when it was a present to her, and she couldn’t even explain what it meant.

Dare sent an eye roll emoji.Of course, I’ll keep it private. Silly rabbit.

Ginny: You can show that cowboy who knocked you up. This isn’t a keep-secrets-from-him situation.

Dare: You are nothing but trouble, but I love you, Truth.

Ginny: I love you, Dare.

Ginny slipped into the greenhouse early the next morning, breathing deep and once again soaking the sensation in to her very soul.

There were few signs of Devjeet and Janae preparing for the season, but it was still too early to start any seedlings. And they’d obviously left the place in tip-top condition the previous fall.

Even with a lot of work to do it felt good to be in that familiar place. Ginny wandered slowly, remembering previous years, planning what she would grow once the seeds arrived.

She did some research for her idea of branching out into natural cleansers and cosmetics.

She was at the far end of the greenhouse, peering at the snow-covered ground outside the plexiglass wall when a small sound echoed. She spun in time for Tucker to catch her around the hips and lift her, pressing his lips to hers and taking her mouth in a hungry kiss.

It had been far too long. She jammed her fingers into his hair, his cowboy hat flying as she gave back as good as she got. Tongues tangling, breath growing erratic. She tucked her legs around the back of his body, and the heat between them continued to rise.

He twisted and aimed for the nearest bench, dropping to his knees with her butt landing on the low surface. His breathing heavy, one hand slipped under her shirt as he hungrily retook her lips and palmed her breast at the same time.

Not what she’d expected. Not at all, but also very welcome as she caught fistfuls of his shirt and jerked it free from his jeans until she could put her hands on his bare skin. She pressed her fingers over the rigid planes of his muscles, dragged her fingernails back and drew a gasp from his lips.

He shoved her bra aside, lifted the front of her shirt, and leaned back just far enough to stare at her semi-naked in the low lights. “Dammit, Ginny. This wasn’t what I planned.”

“It’s perfect. Don’t stop,” she ordered.