Ryan nips at the corner of my lips. “I saw this barn on the edge of town up for sale. If you’ll accept my late child support payments, they should be enough to get you properly established out there.”
I’ve seen the barn he’s talking about. It’s big enough for a proper nursery, a workspace, and all my tools. It’s perfect.
Excitement rushes through me, but it all seems too good to be true.
“But what will you do?”
“I’m guessing you’ll need some help with the way your business is growing. We can make it a family business. And I can help Marcus out sometimes at Bedrock Security. I might not be up for going out on missions, but I’m a great support guy.”
“You’ve got it all figured out, haven’t you?”
His lips move to mine. “Not all of it.”
I push back onto the bed and crawl on top of him, being careful to avoid where he might hurt. “And what part haven’t you figured out yet?” I kiss his neck and press my chest against him, loving the way he groans at my touch. Loving that he’s all mine to touch as I please.
“I haven’t figured out when you want to have the wedding.”
I freeze at the word wedding and pull back so I can see his eyes. His expression is deadly serious. “Ryan Burke, are you proposing to me?”
My heartbeat speeds up, and I gape at him.
“Too soon?”
I slap him playfully across the arm. “I liked it better when you were on your back and less arrogant.”
He grabs me around the waist and pulls me toward him, grinding his hardness into me. “I like it when I’m on my back too.” I roll my hips onto him, and he groans. “But you haven’t answered my question.”
I press my body against him as I consider my answer. He’s right. We wasted three years. Why waste any more time? There’s only one answer. But he’s going to have to work for it.
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll yell out my answer as you make me come.”
His eyes light up with desire. “Challenge accepted.”
EPILOGUE
PAIGE
Three weeks later…
Gravel crunches under the tires as I pull the van up outside the red barn. Wildflowers are sprinkled across the overgrown lawn surrounding it.
“Tractor!” Noah squeals from the backseat as he points to a rusty orange tractor in the neighboring field.
“It gets a thumbs up from Noah.” Ryan squeezes my thigh, and I glance at him.
“The tractor is a bonus.”
I glance at Ryan, and he looks nervous, but for different reasons than I do. I’m here to check out a barn; he’s here because I’m ready to tell Noah, and the world, that Ryan is his dad.
“Come on.” We get out of the car, and I jingle the keys the real estate agent handed over to me. The barn’s been vacant for overa year, and the owners have moved away. They’re keen to sell the land and barn as quickly as possible.
As soon as Noah is released from his seat, he scampers toward the tractor. Ryan chases after him, and they wade through the long grass to reach it. Ryan hoists Noah into the driver’s seat, and he clings to the large wheel, making vehicle noises.
I share a look with Ryan and give him a nod.
“Hey, Noah…” I’ve rehearsed this in my mind a hundred times, but now that the moment’s here, my palms sweat. “We want to talk to you about something.”
“Watch out, cow!” He turns the steering wheel hard, dodging imaginary cows.
