“Duly noted,” Gunner whispered, his mouth close to my ear. “So, what do you say, Miss. Turner, how do you like the idea of living here? Laying down roots to match those of that huge tree because I’ve been thinking about this house.” His voice softened, eyes fixed on the horizon as if he could already see walls rising from the earth. “A wraparound porch facing west, perfect for watching the sunset paint those mountains. Built-in bookshelves next to a stone fireplace for your collection.” His fingers traced absent patterns against my back. “That kitchen island you’ve mentioned, big enough to bake dozens of cinnamon rolls while I make coffee and try not to distract you.” He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his voice growing softer. “I’ve been thinking about a room facing east, where the morning light comes in perfect for your desk by the window. You can grade papers or plan lessons for the camp kids there while watching the horses in the pasture. And there’s this spot in the back perfect for that vegetable garden and the chickens you miss from your farm. Maybe even that goat you keep talking about.”
His thumb traced my cheekbone as he continued, “And upstairs...well, I’ve planned for at least three bedrooms besides ours. For our kids someday. I can already imagine them running down to the stables, learning to ride just like you did. Like we’d teach them together.”
He paused, swallowing hard. “I want to build a life with you, Cassidy. Morning coffee and evening rides. Christmases by that fireplace and summer nights on the porch. Fighting about whose turn it is to do the dishes and making up after. All of it. Everything. With you.”
I didn’t hesitate. Why would I, for something that sounded so perfect? “I would love it, more than anything. It would be magical.”
“Just what I thought,” he said before pulling me to him.
His mouth found mine with a tenderness that slowly transformed into something deeper, more consuming. The warm summer breeze swirled around us, carrying the sweet scent of wildflowers and sun-warmed grass. His gloved hands cradled my face with a gentleness that belied their strength, the leather warm against my skin as his thumbs traced the line of my cheekbones.
I melted into him, my hands finding their way to his chest, feeling his heartbeat strong and steady beneath my fingertips. The world narrowed to just this moment, the heat of his body against mine, the soft rustle of grass beneath our boots, the distant nickering of the horses.
His kiss tasted of promise and possibility, of mornings yet to come and evenings yet to share. When his arms wrapped fully around me, lifting me slightly off the ground, I felt weightless yet anchored all at once. This was what belonging felt like, this perfect fusion of passion and tenderness, of desire and trust.
The kiss deepened as he ripped off his gloves and tangled his hand in my hair, releasing it from its messy bun so that it cascaded down around my shoulders. The contrast of his rough fingers against my neck sent shivers cascading down my spine. I could feel his smile against my lips as he registered my response, the quiet sound of satisfaction rumbling from deep in his chest.
When we finally broke apart, breathless and flushed, he rested his forehead against mine. His eyes, dark with emotion, held mine with such intensity that I felt seen in a way I never had before. Fully, completely, with all my flaws and strengths laid bare and cherished equally.
“I’ve been waiting my whole life for you,” he whispered against my lips. “Even when I was too stubborn to know it.”
Then in the whisper of the breeze, I was sure I could hear the gentle whinny of a horse and hoped it was Ariel giving me her approval, too.
Gunner
As we walked into the house, hand in hand, everyone was there waiting expectantly. Wilder the idiot was bouncing on the balls of his feet, like he was waiting for me to reveal the secret to eternal life.
“Hey, you two,” Lily said, her eyebrows almost disappearing into her hairline.
“Have a good ride?” Nash asked, heaving Billy over his shoulder making the little guy giggle as he hung upside down.
“Did you do the thing, Uncle G?”
Trust Bertie to be the only one to spit it out.
“I did the thing and asked Miss. Cassidy to live in my new house with me.”
“And?” Wilder asked. “Am I going to be the only single pringle in the house?”
‘You were the only damn single pringle anyway,” Nash scoffed, dropping Billy and catching him by the ankles in one slick movement making him chuckle even louder.
“And you know what, I'm more than fine with that,” he muttered. “All that googly-eye shit. I don’t need someone to knock me on my ass to stop me adopting stray cats and journaling.”
I just chuckled. “It’ll happen one day,” I grinned at Cassidy, “believe me.”
Wilder turned to me, one brow raised. “Maybe. But I feel sorry for the poor woman who catches me, I’m a lot of cowboy to handle.” He paused. “And a whole lot more underneath.”
“Someone shut him up,” Nash groaned and addressed Cassidy and me. “What’s happening before the house is built?”
Cassidy wrapped her arm around my waist at the front, her right hand still in mine, cocooning me in her love. With hertucked against me it felt like there wasn’t anything we couldn’t achieve together.
“She’s moving in here.” I looked at each of them in turn. “If that’s okay with all of you?”
“It’s going to be so good,” Lily cried excitedly. “Wine Wednesday will be so much better now we can both just stumble up to bed when we’ve had enough.”
“Hey,” Bertie yelled, “did you ask Miss. Cassidy to marry you or not?”
“Munchkin,” Nash warned.
