“I want you.” He leaned forward again and pressed his cheek to hers. “I wantus. I want my own office building out at Feline Friends. I want the good, the bad, and everything in between, but I know I’ll only survive all of that if you’re the one at my side.”
She nodded, a smile appearing among her tears. “I love you too, Trap.”
Pure joy pumped through him, and he slid one hand along the side of her face and drew her into the best kiss of his life. She kissed him back with equal fervor, and while Trap had seen his friends fall in love and talk about their girlfriends, fiancées, and wives, he’d never known how it reallyfelt.
She pulled away, both of her arms wrapped around him as well. She didn’t go far, and they simply breathed in together.
“I noticed you didn’t say that you wanted Cleo.”
That scoff burst out of Trap’s mouth now. “That’s because that cat?—”
Lila Mae’s laughter cut him off, and she straightened and looked at him. He realized she was teasing him, and he grinned and shook his head.
She slid from his lap and extended a hand back to him. “Come on. We’ve got to go. I barely had time to finish those sweet potatoes before we needed to get to your uncle’s in the first place.”
“It’s fine,” he said, though he put his hand in hers and got to his feet.
They were celebrating Thanksgiving at his uncle Jeremiah’s place. He lived in the original homestead at Seven Sons Ranch, and all they had to do was go out Trap’s front door and cross his uncle’s expansive back lawn to reach their Thanksgiving meal.
“I’m not taking that,” Lila Mae said, indicating the marshmallowy mess on the stovetop.
“It’s fine.” Trap reached for the pumpkin bread he’d bought at the bakery last night. “We still have something to offer, and I’m sure I’ll get a ton of leftovers. I can eat those with a turkey sandwich next week.”
Lila Mae frowned at the sweet potatoes. “I’m not even sure they’re edible.”
Trap only chuckled. “I’m sure they are, Lila Mae. What could possibly have gone wrong? It’s yams and brown sugar.”
“Charring,” Lila Mae said, and then she turned away from the kitchen and swiped Cleo’s leash off the island. “I don’t think I’m going to put her in the cat carrier.”
“All right,” Trap said. “I’m sure she’ll have plenty of admirers.”
Cleo was a total diva, and she liked anyone who would sit with her, tell her how beautiful she was, and stroke her ears and along her back.
All of Trap’s siblings had come into town for Thanksgiving, and Uncle Jeremiah’s whole family would be there as well, including JJ, Ruby, and Jade, and Tate, Clara Jean, and Zuke.
Uncle Skyler’s three kids would also be there, including Camila and Gun, and Trap would have plenty of allies and really good friends at the celebration.
His heart filled with gratitude as he left the cowboy cabin and took Lila Mae’s free hand in his when she reached the bottom of the stairs.
“What are you going to do now that you’re almost done at my place?” Lila Mae asked.
Trap cut a look out of the side of his eye. “Jason’s been talking to someone at the Parks and Rec Department.”
“What?” Lila Mae looked fully at him. “How long have you been waiting to tell me that?”
Trap chuckled and shook his head. “He finally set up a meeting for next week. He’s really excited about it, so you could ask him about that today.”
“Can I?” she asked. “It’s public knowledge?”
“Yeah, sure,” Trap said. “I mean, we don’t have a contract from the city yet, but Jason’s working on it.”
“What do they want you guys to do?” she asked.
“Pavilion rebuilds at all city parks,” he said. “It includes some campsites out at Bald Mountain. It’s a huge contract.”
“Wow,” Lila Mae said.
“Yeah.” Trap sighed happily. “Another six-month build. It’s good, steady money coming in.”
