Page 59 of The Cowboy’s Forever Promise

With a groan, he flipped her on her back again. “I won’t last a millisecond if you do that,” he growled, kissing her.

His hands were free to roam over her body and by now he knew what made her tremble, what made her catch her breath, what made her moan. Proceeding to wring even more from her, he angled his head, deepening the kiss.

Only when she was shuddering, sobbing out his name, did he hoist himself above her. “Look at me,” he demanded as he pushed forward.

Her eyes were glazed over, the green nearly black with desire. Picking up the pace, he took them on a wild, untamed ride. Valiantly he tried to hold on to the reins, he wanted to give her as much pleasure as possible before they reached the peak, but he’d wanted this so badly, his body had been craving her so intensely, he quickly lost control.

With his name on her lips, he gathered her close as they crested.

*

It was lunch time already by the time they finally managed to get dressed. They were meeting the rest of the family for lunch before she had to leave for the airport.

As Abby looked around to check that they’d packed everything, Carson took her hands in his. “You feeling okay?”

Laughing, she leaned against him. “If you can’t tell after what happened, I don’t know what to tell you.”

“Good, because I have something to ask you.”

Something in his eyes had her heart pick up speed. “Yeah?”

“I know this is complicated, but I want you to know that what I feel for you isn’t something that will change, ever. I love you, Abby with a depth I didn’t think was possible. And I know we haven’t talked about getting married or having babies or growing old together, but I want all of those things with you. I have a house, one that you’ve told me is similar to your dream house. What I’ve discovered, though, is that it’s just a house if you’re not in it. You’re the one who makes it a home. We can change it, add an extra room for you if you want to work from home. And I was thinking what if you’re in Seattle for a week each month? Sometimes I’ll be able to come with you. I’d like to pay my half of your apartment. Maybe you could find new clients in Marietta or Butte or even Bozeman. As you know, it’s not that far away. Or maybe there is something else you’d rather do—whatever it is, I’ll help you. So what do you say?”

In stunned wonder, Abby listened to Carson’s words. He was talking the way he usually talked about the ranch, about his photography—passionately, enthusiastically, ardently. She’d never thought anyone would ever say that to her, let alone look at her with so much love in his eyes.

By the time he’d finished, she wanted to jump into his arms but with her heart hammering away, she crossed her arms and angled her head. “Say about what?”

He frowned. “About marrying me!”

“You haven’t asked me yet,” she said, trying to keep a straight face.

The frown disappeared and he laughed. “You little minx,” he growled, pulling her into his arms. As she slipped her arms around his body, she felt the light tremble in his. Her heart melted.

Before she could catch her next breath, he was on one knee with a little velvet box in his hand. “Abby Swanson, will you please marry me and make me the happiest man alive?”

With their eyes locked, she got down on her knees as well and put out her hand. “Yes, Carson, of course I’ll marry you. You stole my heart weeks ago.”

“For real?”

“There are things I have to figure out, but what I’m very sure about, is that I want to be with you.”

He opened the box and took out a beautiful ring. A dainty square-cut green stone, surrounded by what looked suspiciously like diamonds on either side, rested on a thin gold band.

“This is an emerald,” he said, pointing to the green stone, “to match your eyes, and these are diamonds to remind us of the night we watched the stars.”

Tears dammed up behind her eyelids. “It’s beautiful,” she sniffed, “but Carson, it’s way too expensive.”

“The lady in the jewelry shop asked me to tell her about you. She’s beautiful, strong, resilient, I said, and she has the most gorgeous green eyes I’ve ever seen. When she showed me this ring, I knew this was the one I wanted to give you. You’ll have to get used to the idea that I’m giving you things.”

Slowly, he slipped the ring on her finger. It was a perfect fit.

“I checked the size with June.” He grinned. “But I wasn’t wrong.”

When the tears finally came, she didn’t wipe them away. “It’s a beautiful ring, Carson, thank you.”

Alarmed, he jumped up, pulling her up with him. “Are you feeling unwell? Why are you crying?”

“Happy tears,” she managed before he pulled her close. “You mentioned babies. I … I don’t know whether I’ll be a good mother, I never had one.”