Page 42 of The Cattleman’s Unforgettable Love: Ford and Amelia (MacFarland Ranch #11)

Emmett smiled, seeming to understand his reasoning.

"Yeah, that'd be great, thanks. I'd appreciate it.

If you can just tell her that they're both interested in who she is – you know what they're like; they'll probably ask far too many questions.

And tell her to feel free to say no. I didn't come over to put pressure on her. "

"No, I know that. You're doing her a favor by not letting the girls put her on the spot in front of everyone, right?"

"Exactly," said Emmett. "Mind if I ask you something?"

"What's that?"

"The two of you are an item, aren't you?"

He smiled. "Yeah, we are."

Emmett smiled back. "I'm glad. You deserve to be happy."

"Thanks." Ford hesitated for a moment, but he had to say it. "You do, too."

He was surprised when, rather than protesting or claiming that he was happy and that the girls were all he needed – which was what he'd done for years – Emmett dropped his gaze and didn't comment.

"I don't want to push it," said Ford, "but I heard that Shelley's friend Harper has been doing more than her fair share of picking the girls up for you."

Emmett didn't look up as he said, "Everyone's been helping out while Alana has rehearsals for this play."

"I know that," said Ford. "And don't forget that you can always call on me as a backup. In fact, maybe I should talk to Shelley about getting my name on the roster for a regular pickup day."

Emmett lifted his head at that and smiled. "You know the girls would love it if you could. You're always so busy around here, but..." He smiled. "I guess having Amelia around is making you rethink things, isn’t it? Your priorities and how you spend your time."

Ford nodded slowly. "I guess it is." He remembered wanting to protest the other day when Boone had said that his life revolved entirely around the herd.

Those words had hit more deeply than he'd realized.

Of course he loved the ranch. Of course he loved working with the herd, managing the hands, managing the place and the business side of things.

But Emmett was right. Since Amelia had been around, he was starting to realize that he wanted more in his life.

Emmett nodded, and Ford had to ask, "Are you starting to think that you might find time and space in your life for more than work and the girls?"

Emmett let out a short, bitter-sounding laugh. "I don't think so. Even if I wanted to, I'm a bit long in the tooth to start thinking that way. It's different for you. You and Amelia are still at a point where you can build a new life together. You might not be spring chickens, but..."

That made Ford smile. "Yeah, we may not be, but we're not old farts either.

And neither are you. I know I'm the last one you'd expect to hear it from, but I'd say that if you have a chance – I won't say at a new beginning, but maybe just to share something new with someone new.

.." He probably shouldn't say this. "Don't you think Emily would want that for you? "

Emmett blew out a sigh. "I know damn well that she did want it for me.

She made me promise, and I never kept that promise.

Before she died, she asked me to go on living.

Told me that I should find someone new." His throat moved as he swallowed.

"Told me it'd do the girls good, even. But.

.." He shook his head. "I couldn't do it. "

"I can't imagine what it's been like for you," said Ford. "And only you know what's right for you and the girls."

"Yeah. And for the longest time, I would have told you that I was doing what was right.

But now... Now they need more than I can give them.

They're young women. They want decent women role models around them.

That's why I'm here asking if Amelia will spare them some time.

But more than that, they need a mom. I tried to fill that role as best as I could, and I don't think I did a terrible job when they were small. But now... they’re not little girls anymore, and they need … a woman in their lives."

"Yeah," said Ford. "I can't say I know, but I can see what you mean. At the same time, though, you're all they really need. And there are enough women around here these days who I'm sure would be happy to help you out."

Emmett nodded. "Thanks."

"And I probably shouldn't say it, but maybe them spending more time with Harper isn't such a bad thing." From what he'd heard, Emmett and Harper were dancing around each other, but he figured that Emmett would need more of a shove in that direction than a gentle nudge.

Emmett shrugged. "They think the world of her. Anyway, I should get going. If you wouldn't mind asking Amelia for me."

Ford wanted to say more, but he was used to being in Emmett's shoes – to being the one who just wanted the conversation to end so that he could get away. So he let it go. "Sure thing. I'll let you know what she says."

~ ~ ~

"Want to take these upstairs?" Ford asked as he poured two glasses of brandy.

Amelia checked her watch. "Isn't it a bit early for bed?" She gave him a puzzled look until he waggled his eyebrows. "Oh! You're inviting me upstairs, aren't you? Not saying that it's time for bed already."

He chuckled. "Yeah, I am suggesting that it's time for bed, but not to go to sleep."

She got to her feet. "In that case, absolutely. I'd love to take our drinks upstairs."

Her heart seemed to flutter in her chest when he handed her the glasses before picking her up. She'd always thought that the word "swoony" was a strange one, but now she understood it. It was the way he made her feel every time he picked her up like this.

He cocked an eyebrow at her as he carried her up the stairs, seemingly effortlessly. "What are you thinking?" he asked. "Is this getting a bit old now? Do you want me to stop?"

She shook her head rapidly. "No! Don't ever stop. I love it." She bit down on her bottom lip. That was twice today that she'd made it sound as though...

He paused on the landing and leaned in to press a kiss to her lips. "If you're worried about having said too much, don't. It might not be time yet for us to start talking it out, but I will say that I don't ever want to stop."

She touched his cheek with her free hand, trusting him completely not to drop her. "I don't either," she told him. "Not just the carrying me around part, but all of it." She swallowed, but she had to say it. "I agree. It's too early to start talking about it yet, but I hope this – us – never ends."

Inside his bedroom, he closed the door behind them with his heel before setting her gently on her feet. She placed the glasses on the nightstand on her side of the bed and smiled when she realized that she'd already come to think of it that way.

"What's that smile for?" he asked.

"I'm going to say it, but don't worry if it's too much. It was just a thought, but … I already think of this as my side of the bed."

He grinned. "It's not too much. It's right. I already think of it that way, too."

He came to her and rested his hands on her shoulders as he looked down into her eyes.

"I'm glad that Tanner brought it up this afternoon, and I'm even more glad that you want to stay here.

" He frowned, and it struck her that to most people, he might look broody, possibly angry and certainly intimidating when he did that.

But she knew he was just thinking, and she waited.

"I'm going to say the same thing you just did. Don't worry if it's too much too soon – it's just a thought, but I'd like it if, rather than just deciding that you're staying on the ranch, you wanted to decide that you're going to stay here. Start calling this our room, not just mine."

Her heart felt as though it melted in her chest when she reached up to grasp his wrists. "Thank you. I'd love that," she told him honestly.

The lines around his eyes crinkled as he smiled. She laughed when he scooped her up again and laughed harder when he threw her down on the bed and scrambled on beside her.

"Don't need to thank me. I want to thank you."

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "And how exactly might you do that?"

He ran his hand down her side. "I have a few things in mind."

When he leaned in to kiss her, she loved that there was no hesitation before their lips met. It wasn't so much that he'd stopped seeking permission as that he now knew that he had it.

He pulled his shirt over his head, and she mirrored his movements, removing her own, eager to feel his skin against hers. As if he read her mind, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her to his chest, murmuring, "I want you naked, but I just want to hold you first."

She ran her fingers through his hair. "We're of the same mind. I needed this, too. I was a little disappointed at first when you suggested coming to bed – I thought we'd have our brandy and talk first. Not that I wasn't eager to get here."

He chuckled. "Maybe I was just a little too eager to get here. The trouble was, the way you were leaning on the counter in the kitchen, I wanted nothing more than to bend you over it."

Her breath caught in her chest, and heat raced over her skin. "Oh, see, now I'm kind of wishing that we'd stayed down there."

He glanced over at the dresser. "Then we may have to improvise. But since I can never guarantee that someone won't walk in on us in this house, I wasn't going to run the risk."

She laughed out loud. "Oh, my goodness, no! That would be..." She shook her head. "Just … no."

"Exactly.” He was already unfastening the button and zipper on her jeans. She rolled away from him, getting to her feet and shedding the rest of her clothes herself. He scrambled off the bed after her, dropping his jeans and underwear.

"But where are you going?" He curled his arm around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. "Now that I've got you in my bed …"

Shivers chased each other down her neck when he nuzzled his lips to her ear and murmured, "… our bed, I plan to keep you there."