“Come here.” He hauled her in close. She felt real, but that didn’t necessarily prove anything.
“What’s your answer? Yes or no?”
“You’re talking nonsense, so I’m trying to figure out if you’re real or not.”
“Oh, for pity’s sake.” Grabbing his face, she kissed him.
Not just a peck on the cheek, either. She really kissed him, to the point that he rolled her to her back and yanked open the drawer where the condoms lived. He was a responsible guy, even during dream sex.
Suiting up quickly, he checked to make sure Mila was still his dream lover who supposedly wanted to marry him. Yep, still Mila, her cheeks flushed and her dark eyes bright.
He sank into her warmth with a sigh of pleasure, figuring this was the moment when he’d wake up. But he didn’t. As he began to stroke, as she rose to meet him, her body eager for his, it gradually occurred to him that he could be wrong. This might be real.
When she tightened around his cock and his climax hovered near, he became more convinced. The details were too perfect — her dark hair splayed across the pillow, her arms wrapped around him, the jubilation in her cries as she came, the thunder in his body as he followed her over the edge.
Propped above her, his chest heaving as he caught his breath, he looked into her eyes. “You’re real.”
“Yes, you crazy cowboy. Are you gonna marry me or not?”
“Hell, yeah.” He gulped in more air. “I can’t believe you’re making that offer, but only a fudging fool would turn it down.”
“Then it’s settled. Let’s make it soon.”
“Very soon.” The glow in her eyes filled him with an emotion that was almost too big to fit in his chest. Leaning down he kissed her gently. “I fudging love you, Mila Bridger.”
Then he settled in for another kiss. He’d have to get up in a minute, but accepting a proposal from the woman of his dreams was a miracle. It might even be a Christmas miracle.
Chapter Forty
“I really do have to leave.” Mila gave her husband-to-be another kiss as they snuggled in bed after making love one more time. “I’m not going to greet my family on Christmas morning in the clothes I wore last night.”
“Then give me ten minutes to shower and put something on so I can come with you. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“Do you still think you’re dreaming?”
“Yes, ma’am. If you’d spent every Christmas of your life the way I have, you’d think so, too.”
Her heart wrenched. “It’s real.” She hugged him tight, wishing she could squeeze out all the bad memories. “I love you so much.”
“I can tell. I can barely breathe.”
“Sorry!” Laughing, she let him go.
He sucked in air. “You’re a lot stronger than you look.”
“I’m a ranch girl.”
He smiled. “Just what I always wanted.”
“Well, you’ve got one. Now go take that shower, cowboy, so we can head over.”
“Ranch girls are bossy.” Giving her a wink, he left the bed and walked toward the bathroom.
“I’ll text Claudie. We’ll grab breakfast while we’re there.”
“Sounds good.”
She watched him go. So powerful. So brave. So beautiful. Now that she knew what to look for, she could see those scars, even from a distance. His badge of honor.
