Page 146 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

Amelia and Nat were both watching him curiously. He chuckled. "Are you wondering who the last one's for?" he asked.

Nat made a face. "It's okay. It's for Amelia. I mean, why would he get me one when I said so much crap about cow people?"

Ford handed her the box and said, "Because I hoped you might come around eventually, that's why."

She grinned as she pulled the hat out of the box and set it on her head. "Is this how you wear them?" she asked.

"It looks fine to me," he told her, "but you might want to check in with Laney. There may be some badass way that I don't know about."

She rolled her eyes at him before turning to Amelia. "Do you like it?"

Then she looked at the three empty boxes before turning back to glare at Ford. "You didn't get Amelia one?" she asked incredulously.

He shook his head with a smile and met Amelia's gaze. "I think you know why, don't you, Lil’ Bit?"

She nodded. "I think so."

"Why?" Nat demanded.

Ford reached for his own hat and leaned forward to place it on top of Amelia's head. "That's why," he said. "Because Amelia’s not the kind of woman to wear a cowboy hat. Not until I claimed her with mine."

"Aww," Nat turned to Amelia. "He's kind of sweet, really, isn't he?"

Ford made a face as Amelia laughed and said, "He is – unbelievably sweet and considerate."

When she smiled at him, Ford grinned and touched the brim of his hat as he said, “Why, thank you ma’am.”

"Oh, wow. You're going to have to teach me how to do that," said Hunter, touching the brim of his own hat.

Nat laughed. "All the guys around here do that. It's kind of cool, don't you think, Amelia?"

Amelia nodded and met Ford's gaze. "I think it's more than cool. I like it – a lot." The way she ran her tongue over her bottom lip told him loud and clear that when she said more than cool, she meant sexy.

He checked his watch. "Are you guys headed up for your showers?" he asked. "Should we all call it an early night?"

Hunter yawned. "Yeah. I want to go to bed."

Nat reached for her phone. "I'll see you guys in the morning. Come on, Hunter."

Ford felt bad when it struck him that she knew exactly why he was trying to hurry everyone off to bed.

After they'd gone, he held his hand out to Amelia, and when she took it, he hauled her to her feet. "Do you need to do anything before we go up?" he asked.

"No, I think I'm good."

"I know you're good," he told her with a chuckle. "You're the best – the best thing that's ever happened to me." He curled one arm around her shoulders and hooked the other behind her legs as he scooped her up. "You want to go to bed?" he asked.

"I do," she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Take me away, cattleman."

When he reached their room, he closed the door behind them with his heel and sat down on their bed with her on his lap. "Did you enjoy today?" he asked.

She nodded. "I enjoyed everything about it. You were right this morning when you said it was going to be an unforgettable day." She held her hand up to show off the ring. "I'll remember this day forever. Yes, because of the ring, but also... just everything about it. The way the family welcomed the kids." She smiled. "You giving them their hats – and me mine. But most of all, just knowing that through the middle of it all, there's you and me. I love you, Ford."

He closed his eyes as a rush of happiness filled his chest. "I love you, Lil’ Bit. You've changed my world, and I couldn't be happier. You know, when you left after that first time you were here with Sierra, I told myself that I should just forget about you. Especially when you started working with Cash."

She cupped his cheek in her hand. "I'm glad you didn't. I never forgot about you. I just didn't know..."

"No, I didn't either." He smiled and pressed a kiss to her lips. "But now we both know. We didn't forget because this..." He waved his fingers between the two of them. "You and me. What we share. It’s a once in a lifetime. It's unforgettable."

She leaned in to kiss him, and he rolled them over as he reached for the buckle on his jeans. "I love you, Lil’ Bit."

She chuckled as she pulled her top over her head. "I love you, too. Now show me."

When they were both naked, he held her close to his chest and a rush of emotion clogged his throat.

"Are you okay?" she asked, running her fingers through his beard.

"I've never been better. I just … I never knew my life could be this good."

And it was true. Not so long ago, he'd been content. His life was good; he was happy to take care of the ranch and look out for his siblings and their families. Now, with Amelia and the kids, he knew what happiness really was;