I gape at him, then ask, "You don't want to ride anymore?"
Something flickers over his expression, but I can't pinpoint it. He declares, "I still like it, but I don't think I love it anymore."
I'm shocked at his admission. "Really?"
He tugs me onto his lap. "I don't like being away from you."
My heart skips a handful of beats. I coo, "Aw. I don't like being away from you either."
He cautiously says, "I can't stay on the circuit forever. We both know that."
"You have a few more years in you at least," I assert.
He shrugs. "I don't know. I think it'd be awesome to go out on top, and right now, that's where I'm at."
"I can't disagree with you. But won't you miss it?"
"Sure. But I'd rather be here with you. I can teach kids, keep them safe, and give them the tools I never had. We can make a real life."
Warmth floods me, spreading from my chest outward. I caress the side of his head. "We don't already have a real life?"
He stares at me intensely, and my butterflies kick up again. "What?" I ask.
"You're always going to have to travel some with your career," he asserts.
"True. But it's not too horrible. And I'm not looking for a new career, Wyatt."
He chuckles. "Simmer down, sugar. I'm stating a fact."
"Okay," I agree, not sure where he's going with this.
He says, "Someone has to be home with the babies. So if I have a school, I can be here while you're on the road."
"Babies! Who's pregnant?" I blurt out.
He grins. "No one yet. But once I make you my wife, I fully plan on knocking you up as much as possible."
I gape at him, my heart pounding wildly.
"Now, don't act like you don't want kids. I know you do. Besides, you'd be a great mom," he claims.
"Ummm…thanks."
"Did I just freak you out?" he asks, his lips twitching.
I shake my head and release a breath. "No. This is just a super-serious conversation."
He nods, his expression serious. "Yes. But it's best we talk about this, right?"
"Yes," I agree.
He kisses me. "Okay. So do you think I should put an offer on that land?"
I blink hard against a flood of happy tears.
"I didn't mean to make you cry, sugar," he says, holding me closer.
I sniffle. "You're not. I'm just happy."
