Page 9

Ellie

Six Months Later…

“You’re doing it wrong,” Nate said from behind me, his arms sliding around my waist, his mouth grazing my neck.

“I swear to God, if you mess up this cast—”

“You’re choking up too high on the rod, baby.”

“ Nate. ”

He kissed the spot just below my ear, and I instantly forgot how hands worked.

The river sparkled in front of us, glassy and calm beneath the late autumn sun. I stood knee-deep in it, focused—well, trying to be—as Nate wrapped himself around me.

“Let me help,” he said, taking the rod from my hands and adjusting my grip, his fingers skimming my skin.

“You mean let me take over.”

He didn’t argue.

Just smiled.

A smug, I-put-a-ring-on-it kind of smile.

Because he had.

The diamond on my left hand glinted in the sunlight—subtle, vintage, perfect. He’d asked me three weeks ago, both of us standing waist deep in the river, me wearing the waders he’d insisted I put on now that the weather was cooler.

The ring had been dangling from a bright pink lure.

Cheesy as hell, but naturally, I said yes.

And now, every time I stepped into this river, I remembered.

This time was no different.

“I’m trying to fish,” I said, trying to sound stern even as his hands slid a little lower.

“You’re not trying that hard.”

“Because someone’s got his dick pressed against my ass.”

“Not my fault you wore those tight little waders.”

I elbowed him lightly, and he caught it midair, spun me around, and kissed me before I could breathe.

It was soft at first—sweet and sure—but it deepened fast, like everything with us. Our mouths collided in that hot, hungry way that still made my toes curl, even now, even always.

He backed me up against a boulder at the edge of the bank, water swirling around our legs, his hands under my jacket, his tongue in my mouth, and every part of him hard against me.

“I love you,” he said roughly. “You know that, right?”

“I do.”

“You’re mine.”

“I know.”

“I’m never letting go.”

“Please don’t.”

He grinned and reached for the button on my waders. “Think you’ve got one more cast in you today, sweetheart?”

“I think I just felt something tug on the line.”

“Damn right you did.”

And I did.

Because I’d cast my line out once, not knowing what I’d find.

And somehow, I’d caught the grumpiest, sexiest, most loyal mountain man in Montana.

And I wasn’t ever throwing him back.