I turn back to Toby who looks at me with such warmth and affection I swear I'd feel the heat of it even if we weren’t already under the shower head.
"What's with you and animals wantin’ to sneak a peek, huh?" he says, looking down between us. “Then again, I’m not complainin’.”
"What's with the animals on Bull havin’ voyeuristic tendencies? Maybe they learned it fromyou, huh?"
He slants his head and kisses me, doing it while laughing against my lips which might just be my new favorite way to be kissed. "Wanna take this party behind clothes doors? I'm not nearly finished with you yet, Skippy."
I grin. "As long as we're the only two in the room."
"I'll damn well make sure of it," he replies, shutting the water off and stepping out. He grabs a towel for me and himself before moving our still-dripping bodies toward his room.
"Then I guess it's time to claim your prize, this time without an audience."
For the record, he did. And then once again the next morning.
Both times, not an animal was seen nor heard from.
22
TOBY
I turn the rental vehicle into the driveway leading to Dee’s parent’s ranch just outside of Roundup, Montana. As I take it in, I’m left wondering why Dee would ever want to leave a place as beautiful as this.
Not only did I take my first plane ride to get here, but I also discovered that I suffer from air sickness, and a little claustrophobia when riding inside a giant piece of aluminum thousands of feet in the sky.
Thankfully Dee was by my side the whole time, and although she found the entire experience a ‘wild ride’, she didn’t hesitate to try and help me get through it. She even offered to find a way for us to drive back to Spring Haven instead of flying back. Even though I know that’s not a reasonable option, I love her even more for being so thoughtful.
It’s all in the past now though because I’m about to meet Dee’s family for the first time in person. I’ve talked to them on the phone but this time it’s on their turf.
Dee squeezes my hand and I catch an amused smile playing on her lips. "You doin' OK over there, bossman?"
I frown. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I?"
"Well, you've been stranglin’ my fingers for the past ten minutes, for one. And then there's the fact your palm’s clammy and your pulse is racin' like you’re runnin’ a marathon, not just meetin’ my perfectly normal parents who are going toloveyou."
I try to remove my hand from hers to dry it on my pants but she doesn't let go. "Tobes, I promise you. They're not scary. They're just people.Mypeople. And just as I felt welcomed by your family, you'll be embraced by mine. Yeah?" She gives my fingers one last squeeze before releasing me.
Driving through the open wooden gates in front of what looks like the main residence, all I can see are rolling snow-covered hills and vast fields, with a majestic mountain range visible in the distance.
"You have your own mountains here," I murmur.
"So, there’s a funny story there.."
Pulling the car to a stop in a large parking area, I shut off the engine. "Yeah?"
"Wanna know what the mountain range is called?" She giggles, making me curious. "It's the Bull Mountains of Musselshell and Yellowstone counties. Can you believe it?"
I stare at her wide-eyed, marveling at yet another fateful coincidence tying us together. There can be no doubt in anyone's mind about the mountain spirit working her magic when my One was living near her own Bull Mountain and I was on mine two thousand miles away.
Leaning in, I run my fingers through her hair, holding her in place while I kiss her soft and slow, conscious that we could have an audience watching us from anywhere.
Resting my forehead on hers, I look deep into her soft eyes. "You sure you want to trade your Bull Mountain for mine?"
"Oh yeah. I grew up here with mine, but I’m gonna growoldwith you on yours. Just how it was always meant to be.”She never fails to amaze me when she says things like that.
"Why?"
"Because that's where you belong and my place is by your side. I don't ever want to be anywhere else, Tobes."
