Page 116 of Rope Me In

I blush red. “Because of thejob, but I wouldn’t have seen the job if I hadn’t stopped to look at your chest.” I smirk, staring atsaid chest.

Kade tugs me to him and winds his hands into my hair. He kisses me roughly, his lips demanding my submission as I open my mouth to him.

When we’re both breathless and panting, he pulls back, his eyes shining with tears. “I love you, Presley. Fuck, I love you so much it doesn’t even seem like the right word. Obsessed, maybe,” he teases.

I laugh at his antics and gaze into his eyes, the eyes of the man who has become my family. He’s given me a safe place to land and a home. No matter what happens, I know he’ll be there with me, and I’ll be there for him.

“I’m obsessed with you, too, Kade.”

My cowboy tucks me into him, and I burrow my face into his chest, listening to his heartbeat and deciding the world can wait a few more minutes. I’m happy and content right where I am.

Epilogue

Kade

Seven Years Sober

“You’re going to bea dad.” I clap Gavin on the back. “To a girl.”

Gavin chuckles, but I don’t miss the warm smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he watches a very pregnant Blake in the distance. She’s serving up the pink cake that revealed the gender of their baby to some of the partygoers while chatting with her mom and Jake.

“You’ll have to give me some tips,” he says, taking a sip of his soda.

A smile of my own graces my lips as I think of my little family. I’ve been with Presley for just about seven years now. After three years, we got married, then two years ago, we had a new little life grace us with her presence. While it was unexpected, James Hope Presley, who we affectionately call “Jamie,” has been the best thing to happen to us.

As if on cue, a blonde head zooms past Gavin, and then little hands are tugging at my jeans. “Daddy, up!”

My smile widens as I bend down to pick up my giggling toddler. The pigtail braids I put in her short blonde hair are falling out from all the running around she’s been doing, and her face is covered in what looks like frosting.

“You’re a mess, baby girl.”

“Auntie Blake give Jamie cake!”

“I can see that.” Jamie gives me a toothy grin and lays a wet, sticky raspberry on my cheek before dissolving into giggles. I cringe at the mess now transferred onto my stubble but give my kid a well-deserved raspberry on her tummy in return.

“Daddy, no!” She squirms, her little legs kicking me. I give her another raspberry then tickle her sides. She dissolves into more giggles and squeals, “Uncle Gav, help!”

“I don’t know, Jamie. Youdidget frosting on your daddy’s pretty face.” He laughs.

She giggles louder, her little cheeks turning pink as I tickle her again.

“Don’t tickle her too long, Kade—you know what happens,” Presley says, arriving out of nowhere with a smirk on her face and a wet wipe in her hand.

“Yeah, Daddy! Don’t make me-a-pee,” Jamie insists through her hiccups of laughter. “I’m a big girl.”

Gavin snickers as I stop my onslaught. “She’s definitely your kid.”

I beam at that. My kid is cute and hilarious, so I take that as a compliment as Jamie lays another messy raspberry on my cheek.

“Thanks for that, baby girl.”

“Welcome,” she says. Her tone is so serious that we all laugh. “Down, please.”

“Since you asked so nicely,” I tease, kissing the crown of her head before setting her on her feet.

Just as she’s about to run away, my wife stops her. “Let me wipe your face, Jamie,” she says, bending down to clean the mess from her lips and cheeks. The moment she’s finished, Jaime takes off running in Blake’s direction, probably to try to con her into giving her another slice of cake.

Presley stands and smiles at me, tucking a piece of freshly dyed pink hair behind her ear. She wanted a change from her usual purple, and Jamie got to pick the color. It’s taken me a bitto get used to it, but my wife looks hot no matter what color her hair is.