I’m not trying to be the woman they lost. I don’t want to take Olivia’s mother’s place. I’m here as her step mom. A sweet step mom. One she can some to, one she knows loves her.

And it’s hard sometimes.

Kieran isn’t perfect. Sometimes, he’s a downright dick. But he’s getting better. Day by day, he seems to be relaxing. His walls are coming down, and he talks to me. Really talks to me.

With a sigh, I hear him come in the door. Olivia is with Sandy at his house, and I’m here at mine, waiting for him. He said we had something important to talk about, and I’m hoping it’s not just a set up for him to ask me to marry him.

I’m not ready.

He’s not ready.

Olivia is ready, but she’s a child; she doesn’t understand everything that goes into this.

“I’m in here,” I call, but he’s behind me, his lips on my neck. And that familiar heat flares up in me, that excitement that only he can bring me.

“Come sit down,” he says, and I turn to face him, seeing both the primal lust in his eyes and a worry I’m nervous about.

We sit, side by side on the couch, and she takes some papers out of a bag he’d left. “I did something that might make you mad,” he says, studying me with those penetrating eyes. But I listen, not willing to jump to anger without hearing the reason.

I’ve learned that Kieran doesn’t generally act without reason. So I’m willing to hear him out before losing my temper.

“I hired a bodyguard and PI to watch your house,” he says, and I find myself warming up. It’ll take a damn good reason to keep this from getting ugly. “Have you seen a dark car on the driveway late at night?” he asks, and I startle.

“I did once,” I say, the info coming back to me. I rattle off the plate number and I see genuine appreciation in his eyes.

“Smart girl,” he says, before looking at the paper in his hands. “I’m sorry I brought this to your doorstep.” He hands me the paperwork.

On the page is information about a woman, but the picture draws me in. She’s aging, but in a way that leaves me certain she was beautiful once. I glance at the name. Camila Knight.

“Who is she?” I ask, looking at him form the facts on the page.

“My ex.” He’s quiet, and the honesty is astounding.

“Why is she here?” I ask, confused.

“I think she’s trying to learn as much about me as she can. And that means learning about the people in my life.” He runs the back of his index finger down my cheek and I shiver.

“So what do we do?” I ask, unsure of what to do now.

“I’m talking with a lawyer. I understand if this makes you want to walk away from us,” he says, and my heart fractures. I grab his face in my hands, loving the dark stubble on my pale skin.

“Never,” I whisper, and kiss his lips.

He breathes a sigh of relief against my damp lips, and I shiver again. “I love you, Kieran Knight,” I say, and I feel him stiffen at the words.

“I love you too,” he says, giving me a quick kiss after the words as I release him. “You’re going to have to meet my family.”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” I say it as a joke, but it’s flat. Joking about not having a family is still a bit too painful. But his smile is full of understanding. “Let’s fix it,” I say, and there’s a flash behind his eyes I can’t quite decode.

“Let’s fix your relationship with your family. I never got a chance to tell dad I was sorry. You have that chance. They’re alive. Don’t waste it.” The words come from the heart, and I see him considering.

“I love you, Emma Astor,” he says, kissing my lips again. “Olivia loves you. You’re our whole world.”

“You were doing just fine before I came along,” I tease.

“We were hanging on by a thread. You and this farm saved us.” He presses his forehead against mine and rubs the tip of our noses together.

“It’s a ranch,” I say, my tone teasing.

“God, I love you, woman,” he says, kissing me again. “But I’m serious. You brought us back from the brink of disaster. Thank you.”

“No,” I tell him, thinking about how lost I’d been before Olivia came into my life, talking to the horses like dad had done. Having her around reminded me of him, but also made me realize I could go on without him. “You guys saved me. I was drowning without dad. Olivia told me it’s okay to cry, and you forced me to fight and realize what this place means to me.”

Kieran lifts his fist and presses it to his chest. With a quick double tap, he gives me a quick kiss. “You’re a warrior,” he whispers, and I bring my fist to my chest.

“Still beating,” I whisper, and his face lights up with his smile as he kisses me again.

No matter what comes next, I’ll be okay. I made it through losing dad. I made it through almost losing my ranch. I made it through giving away my heart. I can only hope Kieran Knight will take good care of it, and will love me back as much as I love him.

THE END