She tipped her head back, offering her mouth to me, and I gave her a quick kiss.
“I have a feeling there will be a lot more nights like this for us back home,” she said.
I didn’t need to tell her I was thinking the exact same thing.
This family, and all the times I’d spent around Ella’s, made me long for one of my own. I desperately craved this kind of life, with lots of kids running around, big family gatherings where nothing exceptional happened save the time spent with the people you loved most in the world.
I wanted all of that for myself. A brood of children, and for the woman at my side to remain there forever.
I needed to ask her to stay, to extend her trip just a little longer. But we were still so new that I wasn’t sure how she’d feel about meeting my entire family, especially knowing how strained myrelationships with half of them were.
And, of course, there was the Mellie of it all. A story I’d definitely have to tell before the two came face to face.
Before, I’d been terrified to share that with her, but now that I knewherstory, knew that she’d understand what I’d gone through, I thought maybe finally sharing my truth wouldn’t be so bad after all.
After dinner, West hoppedin his truck, and we followed him in the van to his side of the ranch and the cabin where we’d be sleeping for the next few nights. Essentially, it was a miniature version of the main house, constructed of logs with lots of windows to let in as much natural light as possible. A small porch jutted off the front, and it was shaded on one side by a massive, towering oak tree.
“This is so cute!” Ella said as we got out of the car.
“Thanks,” West replied wryly. “I was going for rustic, butcuteworks too.”
Ella gave him a middle finger, and we both snorted, shaking our heads.
West came around the back of the van to help me unload our things while Ella walked up the steps and disappeared inside.
“Speaking of cute,” West said conversationally, “you two look great together.”
I gave him a half smile. “Thanks. It’s still reallynew, but…I’m crazy about her.”
“That much is obvious. And she seems great.”
“She’s the best,” I confirmed. “All the Delatou women are.”
“Yeah…” West trailed off. “My big brother got a good one.”
“What about the rest of you?”
West shook his head with a deep chuckle. “Fuck no. At least not for me. The other ones might fall in line after O, but…nah. Not in the cards for this cowboy.”
I laughed softly. “You know, I thought the same thing after my ex fucked me up. Then I met Ella and everything changed.”
While West stared at me, I had a feeling he was looking more through me, his eyes slightly unfocused as though he was a million miles away. I wondered if there was someone on his mind, someone in his life that he was imagining a future with.
But it wasn’t my place to pry, so when he said, “Yeah, maybe,” I let the subject drop in favor of hauling our luggage inside.
The rustic vibe West had been going for was carried indoors with exposed beams and stained shiplap walls, dark wood floors, oversized leather furniture in the living space, and plenty of dark green, burnt orange, and umber accents. Ella appeared from down the hallway, where two bedrooms and the bathroom branched off.
“This place is amazing, West,” she said, leaning against the wall and watching us. “Thank you for accommodating us.”
West waved her off. “It’s no problem, really.”
“Still,” I said, reaching out my hand for a shake. Surprising me, he pulled me into a back-slapping bro hug, and when we parted, I continued. “I’ll get you back one day.”
West only winked, said, “We’ll talk,” and disappeared.
Ella was in front of me in a flash, running her hands up my torso and pushing my flannel from my shoulders.
“God, I thought he’d never leave.” Rising onto her tiptoes, she pressed open mouthed kisses from the collar of my shirt and along my neck to my jaw.
