“Anything.”
“Will you stop treating me like some fragile princess and kiss me already?”
With his hand still molded against the side of her face, he slid his free palm around to cup the back of her head. He leaned down slowly, pressing his lips to hers. Savoring the feel of her,the warmth of her, and knowing that life would always be good with her next to him.
Rolling to lay on top of him, she stared down with her hair falling all around her. “Come on, cowboy, you can do better than that. I told you. I’m fine. Nothing hurts, at least not bad enough to stop this from happening.”
He gripped her hips, groaning as her center nestled over his. “You sure?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Then I’m all yours,” he said. “Any way you want me, any time.”
A sharp cry crackled through the baby monitor, and Celine slumped forward and groaned. “This kid has the worst timing ever.”
Although he agreed, he kept that thought to himself. He wrapped his arms around Celine and pinned her beneath him, mindful not to put too much of his weight on her. “Any chance I can get him back to sleep?”
Celine glanced the clock on the nightstand. “A very, very small chance.”
“Then I’ll give it a try. I want that vision from the other night to come true. You waiting for me naked in bed while I get him settled. Can you handle that?”
She pulled her lips down into a pouty frown. “You mean I can’t fall back asleep?”
He gave her collarbone a playful bite.
Laughing, she squirmed and slapped his shoulder. “Okay, okay. I’ll wait for you. Always.”
He gave her one more kiss before climbing out of bed and sliding on a pair of gym shorts. At the doorway, he glanced behind him one more time. His heart constricted at the sight of her laying in his bed, her hair mussed and the prettiest pink blush staining her cheeks.
Tearing himself away, he hurried to the room across the hall and scooped Parker from his bed. He held him close, the image of Celine fresh in his mind. His future might not be mapped out and uncertainty lingered over his next steps with Rough Ride Security, but none of that mattered.
Because he had a beautiful son, a woman he loved, and a world of wonderful possibilities stretched out in front of him.
EPILOGUE
The bite in the early fall air was enough to quicken Celine’s step as she carried Parker up the porch steps of the old house she now called home. Since moving in with Lane, she’d lessened her shifts at the restaurant to help him and Duke get their business off the ground.
And today was the day that Rough Ride Security was officially open.
Duke promised to keep Lane out in the barn for the rest of the afternoon, caring for the small flock of animals they kept buying. She wanted to do something to show Lane how proud she was. How much she appreciated the hard work and dedication he’d poured into Rough Ride Security.
Pushing open the front door, she glanced at her watch. If everything went as planned, Suzy would be in the office starting the decorations and a townful of people who were excited for Lane and Duke’s new venture would arrive in thirty minutes. The food waited to be plated in the kitchen, and she hoped to find a quick minute to change out of her worn T-shirt and jeans and into something a little more put together.
Silence greeted her when she stepped inside. “Hello? Suzy?” She unbuttoned Parker’s jacket and yanked it off before shimmying out of her own. Slow, deliberate footsteps turned her around.
Grinning, Lane walked toward her.
A jolt of disappointment tugged at her heart, but she couldn’t help but return his smile. “What are you doing in here? I thought you and Duke had a bunch of chores outside.”
He shrugged and plucked Parker out of her arms. “I made Duke do them.”
She kept her smile pinned in place but thought of all the ways she’d make Duke pay for not sticking with the plan.
“I wanted you alone for a second,” he said, linking his fingers with hers. He led her into the office.
Celine gasped. Dozens of candles flickered around the dim room. Vases of wildflowers sat on every surface, their intoxicating smell tickling her nose. She trailed her finger over a delicate purple petal then turned in a wide circle, taking in the spectacular view. “Your father would hate what you’ve done to his office.”
Lane chuckled. “Good.”
