"Yeah. Not only did they miss their chance to meet a real life jackalope, they didn't get to fall in love with one, either."
"Tch. They had no chance. The only person I love is you."
Warm fuzzies multiplied in my chest. They were taking over, turning my DNA into romantic goop.
"Y'know, Frederick," Jake said, caressing my hair. "You amaze me. You’re open to new ideas. You’re curious and respectful about nature. You're gonna do big things, baby. I know it. You're ten times the researcher your coworkers are. You’ve put in the effort, the blood, sweat and tears—and most of all, you kept an open mind. Isn't that the most important part of being a scientist?"
Jake traced his finger along the edge of my jawline. I looked at him, my adoration for him warming my body.
“I love you so much,” I said, the words bursting from me with unstoppable force.
His mouth creased into a handsome smile. He roped his arms around me and hugged me until I felt the thrum of his heartbeat pounding against my chest. “Love you, too."
I turned off my phone and set it aside. It wasn't important. I could figure out the logistics of everything later. Right now, I only wanted to bask in Jake's presence.
“Move in with me,” Jake murmured into my ear after a few minutes of laying in silence together. “I'll build you a lab. I'll build you anything you want. I'll bring you sweet tea while you work, and hell, I'll even put less sugar in it. Just for you."
I smiled.
"We can raise our family together out here in this crazy, beautiful place." Jake captured his lips with mine. "Be mine always.”
My heart galloped like the wild west horses Jake was so fond of. This was the best decision I could make for myself. I nestled myself into his chest and smiled.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way," I said.
10
Jake
Months later...
Frederick mutteredthe thirty-thousandth curse under his breath. He looked just about ready to chuck the wrench across the garage.
“Are you sure you don't want any help?” I teased.
I was sitting at the table in the garage sipping sweet tea while Frederick was hunched over working on one of the old cars in my collection. To my surprise, it was his idea to tinker with it, not mine.
Then again, maybe I shouldn't have been surprised that my mate craved new information, even if it was outside his usual comfort zone. Since he moved in months ago, he'd been watching a lot of online videos about cars and picking away at one of my junk oldies with my assistance. His thirst for knowledge was one of the many things I loved about him.
"I'm—" Frederick grunted as he pulled the wrench hard. "Fine."
"You sure?"
Frederick turned around to face me, one hand on his hip and the other fisted around the wrench. He flashed one of his typical scowls, the one he wore when he was annoyed and concentrating very hard.
His belly was swollen with our child.
"Jake, I'm sweaty and hormonal and I cannot for the life of me figure out this engine issue," Frederick grumbled. "So don't tease me or I'll shove this wrench right up your butt."
I would've loved to see him try. That was a fun idea for a new bedroom game. I wondered if there were wrench-shaped dildos.
But I didn't say that out loud.
Instead I went to my go-to mate-soother: the heartfelt compliment.
"Have I ever told you how damned sexy you look when you're pregnant?"
Frederick raised a brow. "Nice try."
