Page 58 of Sweet Escape (Whispering Oaks Ranch #1)

? Until I Found You - Stephen Sanchez

Wilder

Olivia strides into the kitchen in her pink silk sleep shorts and tank, heading straight for the coffee maker like it’s any other day. Her hair is in a matted, messy bun on top of her head, and her cheeks are still flushed from sleep. But it’s not just any other day—it’s her birthday.

I step into her path, blocking her from her goal. “Nuh-uh. Sit. You aren’t lifting a finger today.”

She raises her pinky and wiggles it, one brow lifted defiantly.

“I don’t have time to spank your ass today, Liv.”

She rolls her eyes dramatically. “Wilder, you know I need my coffee if I’m going to be a functioning member of society.”

“That’s why I’m here.” Griff strides through the front door right on time, carrying a tray from Chapters and Brews. It’s loaded with five of Olivia’s favorite drinks and topped with a bag of fresh pas tries. Daisy trots in after him, ready to snatch whatever scraps she can find.

We adopted the Australian Shepherd a few months after Gracie was born, and she immediately fell in love with Emmy. That may have something to do with the amount of Cheerios she gets if she stands under Emmy’s highchair.

“Oh my God, that smells amazing,” Olivia says.

Griff leans down and kisses her cheek. “Happy birthday, Little Sully.”

She smiles sweetly. “Thanks, Griff.”

“What are you gonna call her when I finally convince her to take my last name?”I ask.

Griff shrugs. “I’m not convinced she’ll say yes.”

Olivia knows I want to marry her, so this conversation isn’t a shock, but it wouldn’t matter either way because she only has eyes for caffeine and snacks at the moment.

“Which one is mine?” she asks.

“All of ‘em,” Griff says. “Take your pick or work your way through ‘em one at a time. Up to you.”

“Might say yes if Griffin asks to marry me,” she says with a smirk. “What do you think, Daisy girl? You want a new daddy?” She tosses Daisy a treat from the jar she keeps on the island, but her self-satisfied grin is directed at me.

“Careful, Cupcake,” I say. “I know I said I didn’t have time today, but I’ll make time.”

“And that’s my cue to go,” Griff says. “See you later, Liv.”

“See you,” she says around a bite of chocolate croissant. “So good. Where are my girls?”

“Mama has them. I have a surprise for you after breakfast.”

“I hope you aren’t planning to be balls deep inside my bestie at some point today. Worst birthday surprise ever,” she deadpans.

I’m glad we’ve gotten to the point where she can joke about what happened a year ago. It tore her up inside for longer than I thin k she’s willing to admit to herself, but she’s finally moved on, and I’m the lucky son of a bitch who gets to call her mine.

I wonder if Jake and Amber got my thank-you card.

“Oh, I’ll be balls deep alright,” I say, “but not with your bestie and not until much, much later.”

She moans around another bite of the fresh pastry, and my dick instantly reacts.

“I’m going to run you a bath,” I say. “Stay put until I get back.”

“Sir. Yes, sir.”

“You’re playing with fire, Pretty Girl,” I say with a backward glance as I pad down the hallway toward our bedroom.

“Maybe I want to get burned,” she calls after me with a giggle.

Olivia Sullivan, my future wife, submerged in a bathtub with bubbles up to her neck, might be the death of me. Her head is tipped back against the side of the tub, her pink-tipped toes peeking out at the bottom as she hums a quiet tune.

I hold out one of the big, plush yellow towels, the ones she bought specifically because they wrap all the way around her body. “Come on, baby mama. Time to get ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“You’ll see.”

She steps out of the tub, and I let my eyes rake over her body as I dry her off inch by inch.

Her breasts are fuller, her hips wider, and there’s a trail of fresh pink stretch marks on her belly.

My favorite part is the horizontal scar tucked beneath her belly that reminds me to cherish every moment I have with them, like it could be my last.

“You’re drooling, Big Guy.”

“Can you blame me?” I smirk. “Have you seen yourself?”

“Right back at ya.” She pops onto her toes to kiss my cheek. “But hurry up, I want my surprises.”

I toss the towel to the side and guide her to the sink, pressing down on her back, encouraging her to lean over the vanity.

“Just one taste first.”

“Wilder—”

“Shh. It’s my turn to eat breakfast.”

I kick her feet apart, locking eyes in the mirror as I drop to my knees and spread her cheeks. Burying my face in her perfect cunt, I lick her from ass to clit, and she releases a full-body shudder. “Mmm. So goddamn sweet.”

I take my time working her up, bringing her right to the edge of her release, her body shaking beneath my touch.

“More. Please.”

“You want my fingers?”

“God, yes.”

“Mmm. It’s been a while since you called me that.”

“Wilder. Please, baby.”

“You beg so prettily.” I slide two fingers inside her tight pussy, stroking her walls as I continue to devour her with my tongue.

She clenches around me. I slide my thumb through her wetness and up to her ass.

She lets out a guttural groan as I slowly push inside and add a third finger to her pussy.

My fingers work her over, stroking against her G-spot, but it’s not until I suck her clit between my lips that her body convulses and she gushes all over my beard.

“Fuck yes. That was so goddamn sexy. Such a good fucking girl.”I stand and slap her ass, meeting her gaze in the mirror .

Her cheeks are flushed a gorgeous shade of pink, her eyes hazy as she smiles lazily back at me. “Did I just squirt on your face?”

“Fuck yeah, you did. Wanna do it again?”

She slumps down on her forearms, closing her eyes. “I don’t think I can move.”

I chuckle, reaching for a washcloth to clean us up before wrapping her in a plush bathrobe and kissing her temple.

“Do I get my surprises now?” she asks.

“Honey, I’d give you just about anything after that performance.”

I take Olivia by the hand and guide her into our bedroom, leaving her at the foot of the bed before heading straight for the closet.

“Close your eyes.”

She sighs and covers her face with her hands, but I know better than to think she’s not peeking. “Close your eyes, Livie.”

“Ugh, fine.”

I grab the garment bag hidden in the back of the closet, along with the shoebox tucked behind the safe, and make my way back to her. She’s leaning back on her hands, her eyes pinched tight.

I drop to one knee and pull out the first cowboy boot.

It took some time to find exactly what I was looking for, but the moment I saw these, I knew.

I carefully slide off one of Olivia’s fuzzy slippers, replacing it with the special-order wide calf boot, then repeat the process on the other side. “Ok, you can open them now.”

She gasps, her hands coming up to cover her mouth as she glances down at her feet, taking in the light pink cowboy boots with the daisies stitched on either side. “Wilder, they’re beautiful.”

“Happy birthday, Cupcake. ”

She cradles my face in her palms, bringing her lips to mine in a lingering kiss. “Thank you.”

“There’s more where that came from.” I nod to the garment bag beside her on the bed. “Get dressed and meet me in the entry in thirty minutes. Think you can handle that?”

“What happens if I’m late?”

“A repeat performance, only you don’t get to come.”

“Shit.”

Olivia

I’ve never felt more beautiful than I do dressed in a tea-length white milkmaid dress with a slit up my thigh, and my brand new cowboy boots.

I curled my hair and left it down around my shoulders for probably the first time since I gave birth.

I’ve been living in pajamas and messy buns for months, but I finally feel like myself again.

“Wow,” Wilder says. “Ok, cancel everything. I’m taking you back to bed.”

“Not a chance. I want to see what else you have up your sleeve.”

Wilder lets out a resigned sigh and drives us down to the big house. Daisy’s ears whip in the wind in the rearview as she barrels down the road after us. As soon as I step out of the truck, a blur in the shape of Emmy Lou nearly tackles me to the ground. “Happy birthday, Mama.”

Mama . The moniker is a new development, and it never fails to make my heart leap in my chest. I thought it would make Wilder uncomfortable the first time she said it, but he just nodded, letting a single tear slip down his cheek.

“Hey, sweet girl,” I say, “where’s Sissy?”

“She’s sleepy,” she says before turning to her daddy. “Can we go to the party now?”

“What’s this about a party?”I ask .

“Thanks a lot, Emmy Lou,” he says, tugging on one of her pigtails. They’re even today—Wilder’s been practicing. “Come here, you little menace.”

She rushes into his arms, and he tosses her in the air. Her melodic laughter drifts on the breeze. Securing her to his hip, he reaches for my hand, and I thread my fingers through his.

He tugs me down the path to the barn, and I pull up short when I spot the massive crowd of people gathered there. Daisy yips and darts off to Jax, her second favorite Hayes brother.

There’s a huge display erected near the paddock with pink and white balloons adorned with bows and daisies in front of two arches with my name written in cursive.

My freshly painted trailer with the custom Lick the Spoon logo is filled to the brim with treats of all kinds, including Grammy’s pies and Evie’s cookies.

My mom and dad are standing nearby, locked in an embrace, while Grammy and Gramps are perched at one of the picnic tables scattered around the area.

I lock eyes with Evie standing behind Gracie’s stroller, and she gives me a subtle wink.

Everyone is here, including Sarah and Max.

Thanks to my quick wit and flirty texts, they’re going on six months as an official couple.

I blink away tears, swallowing around the lump in my throat. “Wilder, you didn’t have to do all of this for me.”

I turn to look at the man who’s given me everything I could’ve ever wanted, only to find he’s not where I left him.

My eyes trail down to where he’s kneeling on the ground, one hand holding a small ring box with a shiny gold bread tie in the center, the other cradling our wide-eyed baby girl. Emmy Lou is standing beside him, a bright smile on her beautiful face.

“Olivia Bennett-Sullivan. Light of my life, mother of my children. You brought me back to life when I was barely breathing. I love you more than you will ever know. There’s just one problem —we’ve got these two Hayes girls when there should be three. Will you marry me and take our last name?”

With my hand over my heart, I glance up at the sky, then back to the man I love. With a smirk, I call over my shoulder, “Hey Griff, do you have a counteroffer?”

He chuckles. “Afraid not. Looks like that’s the best you’re gonna get ‘round here. It’s not too late to run.”

Wilder quirks a brow, the sly grin on his handsome face instantly melting my panties. I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him senseless, taking care to avoid jostling Gracie. “I think I’ll keep you,” I whisper.

He slides the makeshift ring onto my finger, and the crowd erupts into excited cheers. Gracie startles at the sudden, boisterous sound. I pluck her from her daddy’s arms and inhale her lavender lotion before kissing her head. I close my eyes and pinch my arm, wincing at the small bite of pain.

Ok, so not a hallucination.

Just when I think things can’t get any better, Wilder whistles and Daisy trots over with a small drawstring bag attached to her collar. He pats her head and holds out a treat, rewarding her as he unties the bag.

He pulls out another ring box and pops it open. Inside, there's a dainty silver band with a pink emerald-cut diamond in the center. “You didn’t really think I’d have my woman walking around with a bread tie on her finger, did you?”

“That’s more like it,” Grammy says. “Give me my great-grandbaby so you can give that man a proper kiss.”

I laugh, but inside my heart is threatening to beat out of my chest.

Wilder chuckles, replacing one ring for the other. We lock eyes, and everything around us fades away. He threads one hand through my hair and tilts my head to the side.

“I can’t wait to call you my wife.” He kisses me hungrily, swallowing whatever I’d been about to say in response. The kiss is filled wit h pent-up emotion, a year’s worth of memories, our past, present, and future all rolled into one perfect moment.

We’re both breathless when he pulls away and rests his forehead against mine.

“Happy birthday, Cupcake.”

“Happy anniversary , Big Guy.”