Oh, how she missed him.As she put on a pair of drop earrings, she stilled.Frowning, she put a hand on her heart.Was it her imagination or had her heart rate increased like it did when she was excited?Okay, yes, she was looking forward to tonight, but this was not the usually looking-forward-to-see-her-family-kinda-excited.It was something different.
The sound of a car door slamming shut, reached her.Oh, my goodness, the first guests had arrived.They were fifteen minutes early.It was probably her mom wanting to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything.Quickly, she combed her hair before she hurried to the front door.
She put out her hand to open the door but just before her hand touched the knob, her heart just about jumped out of her body.Hunter was here!It was his excitement she’d experienced.
With her breath stuck somewhere in her throat, she opened the door.Hunter with a slightly wary look on his face, was standing on her doorstep.Joy rushed through her body, making her slightly giddy.
He was really here.She didn’t care why or what it meant or if it meant anything, he’d been excited, she’d felt it.He’d missed her as badly as she’d missed him.
Smiling, she opened her arms.“I have so wished for you!Am I dreaming or is my fiancé really here?”
Taking off his hat and shoving his bag inside the house, he stepped over the threshold, closed the door behind him and pulled her into his arms.“If this is dream, I’m there as well.”He stilled.“You’re expecting people, the table…”
“The family is coming over for Christmas Eve.”
“How much time do we have before they arrive?”
“Ten minutes at the most.”
Shrugging off his jacket, he picked her up and strode toward her bedroom.“Well, I’ll only need five of those.”
“Really?”she teased, stroking his face.“Just five?”
“Maybe two will be enough.I’ve missed you.”As he slid her to the ground, he lifted the skirt and pushed it out of his way.“You look gorgeous.”With his eyes locked with hers, he unbuckled his belt and pushed down his jeans.“I’ve been ready for you since I’ve left Bozeman airport,” he murmured against her lips.
“I want to talk to you.”
“It’ll have to wait.”As he crushed his mouth to hers, he found her heat.Within seconds a whirlwind of sensation hurtled over her.With a groan, Hunter found his way home, rocking her against him.“So good; so, so good,” he murmured before he captured her lips again.
It was a wild ride and didn’t last long.As their cries filled the air around them, they reached the peak simultaneously.
“I’ll never not want to be with you, babe,” Hunter whispered, burying his face in her hair.“I love you.”
Gathering him close to her, her heart settled.This is where she was supposed to be—in his arms.She couldn’t wait to tell him she’d move to Colorado to be with him.
Her front doorbell rang.It would have to wait.
Hunter was breathless as he fastened his belt.“You look like you’ve been thoroughly ravished.I’ll open the door.”
“You should maybe comb your hair before you appear in front of people,” she called after him, also still out of breath.
For a moment she closed he eyes.Hunter was here, weeks before he was supposed to visit her.She didn’t know what it meant, but like him, she was excited.
*
Except for Haydenand Becket, everyone else seemed happy to see Hunter.Cooper wasn’t quite as antagonistic as his brothers, but he clearly had questions.
Hunter waited until everyone was seated around the table.It was time to put all his cards on the table.He stood standing.“Before we eat, I have an announcement to make.”
Glancing at her brothers, Willow sighed.“You don’t have to explain anything to these two, seriously.”
He caught her hand in his.“I get how they feel.”Lacing his fingers with Willow’s, he turned to her family.“I haven’t had time to talk to Willow about this, but I’ve spoken to my family and I’m moving back here.Well, not this ranch, but I’m in the process of buying the one adjacent to the Weston ranch.You all know I love Willow; I’m not going anywhere.One of the first things she told me was that she wasn’t ever going to be anybody’s bride, so I know getting married is not on the table.”
For the first time, he looked at Willow.“I’m happy to settle for whatever arrangement works for you.You can live with me, or if you want to stay here, I’ll live with you, provided of course your brothers agree.I’m happy to pay whatever is necessary.I just don’t ever want to be without you again.”
When he stopped speaking, the whole room had fallen silent.
Willow slowly got up and pushed back her chair.The next moment she was down on her knees, his hand still in hers.
