“Yeah, I think I like them.”
The way he looked at me made me heat up from the inside, not just because it was a look that said he wanted to devour me but because it was full of reverence and devotion. Love.
“Do you know how fucking beautiful you are?” he asked, running a gloved finger along the apple of my cheek. “Stunning.”
“I’m not wearing any make up, so I think I’ve looked better.” A swipe of mascara and a little lip gloss was all I’d bothered with knowing we were going riding.
“You’re always gorgeous,” Gunner replied on a swallow. “But like this, your hair up in that damn messy bun, smiling and satisfied is when you’re the most beautiful.”
His words, the honesty in his tone brought tears to my eyes. It brought a light to my soul.
“I love you,” I whispered.
His eyes searched mine for a second before he said, “I fucking love you, too, so much. I have no idea how I missed you for those three years.”
I shrugged. “Shit happens, baby, but we’re good now.”
An enormous smile full of sunshine filled the room. “Too fucking right, sweetheart. Now, get that sweet little ass of yours outside, I have somewhere I want us to go.”
“Where?”
He tapped my nose. “Wait and see. Now hurry.”
“I’ll be right there.” First I wanted to watchhissweet little ass as it left the room.
We’d taken a slow ride out to what Gunner had told me was the North side of their land. It had taken over an hour to get there, pausing every so often for him to point out a bird, a plant, or a point of interest on the land. We also stopped at the creek for the horses to drink, giving us time to sit and talk about the camp, our childhoods and our work. The air was warm but with a hint of a breeze making the sun feel like a balm against the skin.
“Have we done a full circle?” I asked. “I recognize that tree.”
“Sure have. We came the real long way round; I just wanted to watch those hips roll on that horse for as long as I could.” Chuckling, he pulled Peanut, his horse, to a stop and dismounted. “You need help getting down, sweetheart?”
“I can do it.” I gave him a little side-eye which had him chuckling. “I’m not totally useless.”
“Oh, there is nothing useless about you, believe me.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Now get down so I can show you what I brought you out here for.”
With a little struggle, that Gunner kindly ignored and that made me realize I wasn’t as flexible as maybe I thought I was, I got down from Stevie handing her reins to him to tie with Peanut’s.
Turning three hundred and sixty degrees, I held my hands up. “I don’t see anything other than lots of land and that beautiful old tree.” To the East the main house, the stables and the barns weren’t too far in the distance, just under a mile maybe, but far enough that it felt like we were totally alone and free from anyone’s gaze. Every other compass point, though, revealed nothing but wide open space, those rolling emerald waves that I loved.
“You know that Wild and I are having a house built in the future, once we get settled with the camp, the wedding barn and the development site?” He took a deep breath, looking down at the grass beneath his feet. “I picked a place near to the stables.”
“Seems logical.” I understood why he’d want to be near to the horses, especially after the fire.
“Yeah, a small two-bed with open plan living was what I was thinking.” He scratched the back of his neck and looked up at me through his lashes. “But I’ve changed my mind.”
“Is this why you wanted to show me here?” I asked, taking another turn. “Because I agree it’s the perfect spot. It’ll bebeautiful, Gunner, and you can still see the stables and you’d be there in minutes.”
“I spoke to Nash and Wild and we’re going to continue the drive from the front of the house, around the back of the stables out to here.” Gunner pointed where the drive would run, moving alongside me as he did. “I mean I can walk or use the ATV, but I wouldn’t expect you to, especially in the winter.”
I frowned. “Well, that’s a lovely thought, but don’t go to a lot of expense for a new track for my benefit. When I visit I won’t mind a walk.” I felt a tickle at the back of my throat, that pessimism of always being the one left behind still lingering in my heart. The truth was I didn’t want them to go to the expense when one day Gunner might decide I wasn’t who he still wanted.
“That’s the thing, sweetheart,” he said softly. “I don’t want you to just visit.” His hands lifted to cradle my face as his eyes bore into my soul sending a delightful shiver down my spine.
“W-what do you want?” I didn’t dare to think what his words, along with bringing me here might mean. My heart felt like it was beating outside my body as I watched Gunner looking completely at ease with whatever decision he’d made. What he was going to say to me next.
“I want you to live here with me.” His arm circled my waist, pulling me against the solid warmth of him. “This isn’t a proposal.” One finger lifted in playful warning, though his eyes remained serious. “Trust me, when that happens, it’ll make this horse ride look like a trip to the grocery store.”
My breath caught somewhere between a laugh and a sob. “It would be beautiful.” The words came out whisper-soft, while something deep and fundamental shifted inside me. After years of temporary—temporary homes, temporary relationships, temporary happiness—I’d found something that might actually last.
