Page 90 of A Rancher's Love

He still had hold of her hand and lifted her knuckles to his mouth to kiss them softly. “Just to be clear, I really, truly adore your brain.”

After the highly emotional day, it was good to laugh. “Look, I can’t help it that you’re getting a fantastic package deal. I’ve got a great body, I love sex, and I love to cook. Face it, you hit the jackpot, Tucker.”

He pulled her against him for a brief, but firm hug. “Not going to argue. Like I said, you’re the smartest woman I know.”

If writing in the journal earlier had felt right, this felt even better.

Ginny wasn’t about to confess it out loud, but she admitted it to herself. She liked the idea of being a homemaker. Travelling had never been about being wild and free, but about finding that bit of home in every place she visited.

After dinner, Tucker washed the dishes while she put things away, easy conversation volleying between them about the tasks they looked forward to in the coming week.

Then they curled up on her couch, Ginny nestled under Tucker’s arm, her head resting on his chest as he opened Netflix and they settled in to watch a movie.

Homey. Peaceful.

After the show was done, Tucker clicked the screen off and pressed a kiss to her temple. “I want to stay the night.”

She looked up and traced a finger along his hairline, pushing away a curl. Sliding her fingertips farther down to rasp lightly on his five o’clock shadow. “I notice you didn’t mention sleep,” she teased softly.

“We’ll get around to that eventually,” he promised.

He walked her to the bedroom. Looked into her eyes the entire time as he undid her buttons, as he stripped her naked and removed his own clothes.

Strong, firm muscles pressed against her softness, Tucker crowded over her until she was blanketed by his body.

Slow, drugging kisses followed, his touch as well, mixing up pleasure between his fingers, his lips, and tongue, and teeth. Ginny closed her eyes and let her hands drift. Teasing back until both of them were vibrating with need.

Tucker rolled them both to their sides then pulled her top leg over his hip so they were in a tangled embrace as he slid them together. Slow thrusts, his hands on her breasts briefly before sliding over her belly to the apex of her sex.

She sucked in a gasp at the sharp shot of desire.

“Right there. That’s it,” he encouraged. “Let go. I’ll catch you,” he promised.

Ginny couldn’t have stopped if she’d wanted. Like springtime runoff, everything welled up to the point of no return until together they tipped over the edge and cascaded into pleasure.

They lay together for long moments after, stroking each other, staring into each other’s eyes.

Tucker left for just long enough to deal with the condom before coming back and folding her in his arms again. Face-to-face, hearts beating in time.

She watched as his lashes slowly closed, a hint of a smile lingering on his lips. Contentment rose from him like fresh, spring growth.

He was sound asleep, and Ginny was still staring. Still stroking her fingers over his body.

“I love you,” she whispered, just to try the words.

That too sounded very, very right.

19

Alex summoned Tucker over during coffee break a few days later. “I have a request to pass on from a friend.”

“Sounds intriguing,” Tucker said.

“My friend Ryan—owner of Rough Cut. He and his girlfriend have decided to tie the knot.”

Tucker had done his best to get up to speed on all the local happenings, which included all of the main players in the community. Uncle Ashton, surprisingly, had turned out to be a wonderful source of information, and considering Ryan was also part of the volunteer firefighters where Ashton volunteered time every week, the bar owner’s recent relationship adventures had been thoroughly discussed.

“Ryan and Madison are getting married? Man, that’s quick,” Tucker said. “Didn’t she show up in December?”