Page 35

CASE

“I want more mornings like this…” she says as we laze in my bed, basking in the afterglow of our lovemaking.

A smirk tugs at my mouth as my hand roams over her. Skimming her sides, I caress her hip and the curve of her abdomen, her smooth skin as addictive as her kisses.

Whatever has come before now is incomparable to the feeling of having her in my arms, knowing that we love each other, and this is going to be my life for the rest of my days. She's mine and I'm hers. Forever.

“Just to clarify,” I say. “Are we talkin’ about lazy naked mornin’s without interruptions or…” I waggle my brows, earning the blush I was hoping for.

“That too,” she says with a giggle, “I was more thinkin’ about spendin’ time together–meaningful time just bein’ us. I loved bein’ with you last night. But my life is…”

I brace myself on one arm and look down at her. “Complicated?”

“Just a bit,” she replies. “Busy too. I live with Mom and that can’t and won’t change anytime soon. She needs me.”

“I know, beautiful.”

She nods. “And then there’s you. You live in a house full of brothers, Birdie, and Wy. How are we supposed to plan a future if–”

“Beautiful,” I say, tilting her face with my hand. “You’ve read the book. You know our story. This is our happily ever after. There is–and never will be–anyone else. You are the love of my life. Where you go, I go.”

She turns her body into mine. “To be fair, Aster didn’t write much past me realizin’ I was in love with you and that I was your One.

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind, my heart, or my soul about that.

” Damn, that feels good to hear. “But I’m thinkin’ logistically.

How are we supposed to see each other– be with each other?

It felt like my heart was beating out of my chest while you were away, Case.

It was like a huge part of me was missin’.

I couldn’t sleep, Mom kept askin’ if I was feelin’ OK. It was hard.”

My eyes roam over her beautiful face. “Do you trust me, beautiful?” She shoots me a “duh” look that makes my lips twitch.

“OK. Let me put it another way. Do you promise not to freak out on me if I tell you my brothers and I have already talked and we’re goin’ to draw up plans to expand the ranch house and add private wings?

That will mean we can all still have our own spaces but also stay livin’ together at the same time. ”

She sits up suddenly, almost knocking her head against mine before she leans back against the headboard, clutching the sheet to her chest. “ Nooo !” There’s no missing the hope in her voice.

“You don’t promise?” I tease.

Her head bobs up and down furiously. “No, I can't promise not to freak out because that sounds amazin ’!”

I chuckle at her excitement before her brows bunch and her smile falls, confusion marring her expression. “Does this mean? Wait… what does that mean?”

I mirror her position before reaching over to hook a stray curl away from her gorgeous face.

“I’m hopin’ it means you’ll consider movin’ in with me when the time comes that I get down on one knee and ask you to make an honest man out of me.

” She melts and tips her chin up, meeting me in the middle before I kiss her long and deep.

She moves her hands to my shoulders and gently pushes me back. “But what about Mom?”

“Oh, that’s easy. I already asked Jessica and she agreed to us buildin’ her a small cottage in her favorite meadow. It’s where she’s happy and it already feels like it should belong to her anyway. She was so happy that she tackle-hugged me. Can you believe that?”

Isla’s head sags and she stares straight ahead, her eyes glistening in the morning light.

“Beautiful?”

“When did you ask her this?”

“Before I went away when I spent the afternoon in the garden with her.”

She gasps. “Oh my god. That was before you gave me the book. Before you told me that I was it for you and that there would be no one else.”

“Yeah,” I say with a smile.

“You were all in before you even took that chance to tell me about the Call.”

“Oh yeah…”

“Case…” she whispers, her gaze searching my face. I let her look. She’ll never find any doubts because there aren’t any. Isla Murray will be my wife and—if we’re so blessed—the future mother of my children.

Then I have to lock my body because she launches herself into my arms with so much excitement I almost topple over the side of the bed. “I love you,” she states emphatically between kisses. “So.” Kiss. “Damn.” Kiss. “Much. It’s almost too big to comprehend.”

“Can I say ditto just so I can kiss you some more without interruptions?”

She pulls back and cocks her head, rubbing her chin for a moment as if to think about it. “Kiss me like you wanted to that first night we met, Case.”

I don’t even hesitate. Why would I? “With pleasure, beautiful.”

So that’s exactly what I do.