Austin took another turn across the floor. “I guess. I feel like, as part-owners, we shouldn’t just piss off on holiday.”
“Part-owners of a thirtieth of the ranch?” The two of us plus John and Tiffany were buying Kendrick out, since he’d retired to go play with his grandkids, but it was slow going, a bit from each paycheck building equity.
“A twenty-seventh, last I did the math.” Austin grinned crookedly. “I know.”
“We’re entitled to some holiday time,” I told him. “If you want to go, let’s go.”
“I do.” He walked back into my arms, and I held him loosely, looking down into those amazing dark-blue eyes. “I want to thank Joe. And I want you to fuck me up the ass and hold my hand in public all over Dover’s Ridge.”
“The fucking part in private, though, right?” I teased.
Austin snorted. “Yeah. I’m not that kind of exhibitionist.”
I swayed with him gently and kissed his hair. “I’m looking forward to our ten-year-late honeymoon.”
“Me too.” Austin nudged me back toward the chair with his hip. “Sign us up before the slots get taken.”
I worked through the form, entering “Austin Grant” and “Seth Grant” from Selbyville, California. Expert-level on the riding. No food allergies. “Do you want me to put a note in the comment box from you to McNeil, so he knows who you are?”
Austin hesitated. “No. It’s been so long, I think we need to talk in person.”
“Fair enough. Can you fetch my wallet?” Austin tossed it to me. I entered my credit card and hit “post.” The page churned,pending for a moment, then said, “Welcome to the Circle-K” and promised me a receipt. “Done,” I told Austin. “Should we look for flights now?”
“Later.” Austin fisted the front of my sweatshirt and hauled me out of the chair. “Right now, let’s go to our bedroom and practice the naked honeymoon part of this trip.”
I never had to be persuaded to get naked with my man. “Sure. Flights are probably cheaper when you search after midnight anyway.”
“Midnight? It’s barely six o’clock.” Austin laughed up at me.
“After one a.m. then. I have many, many plans for this honeymoon.”
Austin kissed me, hot and demanding, then turned and put his forearms on the table, sticking his gorgeous, denim-clad ass out. “The bedroom’s a long way off. How about we start here?”
“I thought you weren’t an exhibitionist.” I pointed at the windows, turned him to face me, and scooped him against my body with my hands under his ass. He laughed, wrapped his legs around my thighs, and clutched my shoulders. Staggering, I carried my winter cowboy to our room, where we’d continue making good on a lifetime of promises.
Second Epilogue – 1 month later
Austin
Seth hummed under his breath as he steered our sports car through the curves of County Road 17. The nice sensible SUV we’d reserved had been given to someone else before we landed in Denver, and all they had left was a dinky compact or this sporty two-door Miata. Seth eyed the options, said, “If we’re going to die driving in snow, we might as well have fun doing it,” and picked the Miata.
So far, we’d lucked out with dry roads, and the ranch was only ten miles ahead.
I watched the familiar landscape go by, fighting an odd mix of déjà-vu and shock. The old supermarket on the corner of Chester Lane had vanished into a bare expanse of concrete and weeds. The new railway bridge over Aramanth had been raised enough it probably no longer scalped the tallest trucks, and a generation of graffiti had gone with the old concrete arches. And yet… and yet everything was so familiar my throat tightened.
Eleven years ago, I’d driven these roads the other way, clutching the molded plastic wheel so hard it indented my fingers. Every curve had been a threat, as I envisioned my father’s cruiser lurking in wait. The pounding of my pulse, urging me to put my foot to the floor, was barely held in check by knowing I couldn’t afford to speed. Couldn’t look suspicious. Didn’t dare attract any attention in case Dad knew what Joe had done. Or even just wanted to mess with Joe, pulled him over, and found me—
“Stop!” I doubled over, my chest closing in hard, a red haze obscuring my vision.
“What?” the vibrations of the engine slowed, we swerved, and then rested at idle. Seth reached over, touching my shoulder. “Austin, what’s wrong?”
“Can’t… breathe.” I panted for air.
“Panic attack?”
“Mm.” I waved a hand aimlessly and relaxed a fraction when Seth’s warm fingers closed on mine.
“Breathe in,” he murmured, his voice quiet and clear. “One, two, three, four. Hold… Out, two, three, four, five six, seven, eight. In…”
