Chapter Twelve
Mark’s lawyer friend turned out to be one of the top lawyers in all of Oklahoma with several prestigious cases under his belt and a hell of a lot of respect. He also had a warm spot in his heart for Mark Guthrie and was saddened when he heard of his father’s passing.
He also had child protective services on the phone within ten minutes of hearing their story.
Justus kept a tight grip on Tuesday’s hand. The beautiful woman sat straight in the leather chair, her head held high, proof that no one could break her.
With him beside her, he’d like to see the person who’d try.
The lawyer came back into the room. He held out a slip of paper. “Here’s the address where you can pick up your son.”
A cry left her as she leaped to her feet. She rushed for the slip of paper and then threw her arms around the lawyer. “What did you have to do to make this happen?”
He patted her back and withdrew, slightly embarrassed by the display of gratitude. “It’s all in who you know. Your lawyer would have succeeded in returning your son to you as well—it just might have taken a few more days. Now you don’t have to wait.”
Justus thrust out a hand, and they shook hard. “Thank you for what you’ve done. You can have your secretary bill me.”
He held up a hand. “One phone call is free for a friend of Mark’s.”
“One phone call means the world to us, sir. Thanks again.”
He didn’t linger, because Tuesday was already out the door, running back to her car, which she’d insisted on driving because they’d need the car seat to bring Joshua James home. And she’d been right.
The drive to the house took too long for them both. She was alternately silent and bouncing on the seat. When they pulled up to the curb, she jumped out while the car was still in motion.
He reached her side as the door was opening. A woman stood there holding Joshua James and his diaper bag. She handed him over with a smile, but Justus only had eyes for the woman he loved and their son.
The baby flapped at seeing them and Tuesday buried her face in his hair, cuddling him tight to her chest. Justus wrapped his arms around them both, breathing deep to ward off his own tears that threatened to fall.
“It’s gonna be all right now. Gonna be all right,” he said.
She sniffed loudly and laughed, which had Joshua James giggling along with her. “Let’s go home, Justus.”
He nodded and led them to the car. She sat in the back with Joshua James, and he couldn’t blame her. All he wanted to do was stare at the boy too.
As Justus glanced in the rearview mirror at Tuesday’s glowing, happy face, the lump in his throat grew. As soon as he could manage it, he was going to have a house to take them both home to. He had to get his life in order because now he had the best reason to.
* * * * *
When Tuesday walked into the hospital room holding Joshua James in her arms, her momma let out a cry. Tuesday rushed across the room and sank to the bed, passing the baby into her mother’s outstretched hands.
“Oh thank God,” her momma said, tears making her voice wobble. She wasn’t supposed to lift the baby at all, so Tuesday helped by bringing him to her lips to kiss.
Behind her, Justus settled a big vase of flowers on the windowsill, and her mother looked up with a smile.
“Those are lovely, thank you. Oh, and balloons too.”
“Justus is like a kid in a hospital gift shop.” Tuesday grinned. “He insisted on a teddy bear for Joshua James too.” She looked her mother over. After not seeing her for a couple days, the changes were evident. “You’re looking so much better.”
“I feel better. I didn’t relish the idea of that second surgery, but I think we got it this time.” Her cheeks were pink and her eyes had some lights of life in them, unlike before.
Tuesday hugged her, squashing Joshua James between them. He protested by squirming, and she handed him over to Justus. Her mother watched this exchange, and Tuesday braced herself for it.
“I just knew back in Texas when I saw you two that you’d end up together.” She beamed at them.
Justus squeezed Tuesday’s shoulder, and she put a hand over his. “You knew before I did then.”
Her momma chuckled. “Isn’t that usually how it goes? Oh, I’m so happy to see my daughter with that smile on her face!”
They embraced, Tuesday gentle and watching that she didn’t bump her abdomen.
“When are you getting out? Have they said?” she asked.
“Yes, tomorrow morning if everything looks all right.” Her mother eyed her. “Your time is up soon, and you’ll need to go back to Texas.”
“Yes. Justus is heading back tonight.” It pained her to say that, as she’d miss him like crazy, even if it was for only a few days. Any distance between them felt too far now that she knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.
They hadn’t discussed their future yet, but she expected that soon he’d surprise her with a ring in hand.
“Jessica has been here a lot lately, and it seems like the ordeal she put you through has made her grow up,” Momma said.
Tuesday nodded. “I know she was scared. She keeps apologizing to me every time I see her.”
“She needed an awakening. I’m just sorry that it caused you so much despair, honey.” Her momma cupped her cheek.
She leaned into her touch. “At least I got him back. Thanks to Justus’s connections.”
The story spilled out then, and her momma looked to him, stunned, tears standing in her eyes. “We have you to thank for knowing the right people.”
He gave a tip of his head, too humble to do more. “I was glad it worked out.”
At that moment, Joshua James demanded all the attention, so they put him on the bed and all fussed over him. Momma studied his face for a long minute. “Have you noticed, honey, that his eyes are turning green?”
“The prettiest color,” Justus spoke up.
Tuesday looked up at him, and he held her gaze. Love radiated from the cowboy.
And he was all hers.
* * * * *
Justus leaned against his truck and took a few minutes to rest a spell. He and Ford had been at it since sunup putting up the last of Guthries’ hay. Ford handed him a bottle of water and he took with a nod of thanks.
Ford stretched, and his back popped. “Forgot what a pain the old-fashioned way of baling is.”
“Yeah, keeps ya fit, that’s for sure.” After a hot shower these past two nights, he’d fallen straight into bed and barely gotten a few goodnight texts off to Tuesday before passing out.
“What’s going on around here now that the old man’s died?” Ford swigged his water.
Justus looked over the land he’d been curator of for the past weeks. He’d enjoyed it and was sad to see it end, that Mark’s father had to pass away to free up his son to take over full-time once more.
“I won’t be needed now that Mark can get back in the saddle.”
“Always work around our place.”
He shrugged, uncommitted. He wanted to stick around because of Tuesday, of course, but they could settle within twenty miles of her hair salon and she’d still have a decent commute to work.
“I’m going to start looking for a place to buy straight away.” Justus’s statement had Ford cocking his head.
“For real? Bro, that’s great.”
“Someplace small’s fine by me. Organic farming won’t take much space the way I have it planned out.”
“Does Tuesday know?”
“Haven’t had much time to talk those things out yet, just startin’ out and all. I haven’t even asked her to marry me.”
Ford grinned. “Once you get over the nervousness, it’s all smooth sailin’, brother.”
He chuckled and drained his bottle. “I’ll take your word. Better get back to it if we want to quit by sundown.”
He crumpled his bottle and threw it into the back of the hay wagon. “Let’s get to it.”
The rest of the afternoon was spent on the hot, sweaty work but it gave Justus time to think.
And dream.
If he really could find a small place for sale and a bank to lend him money, he could work on the next step, which was a roof over Tuesday and Joshua James’s heads.
After he and Ford finished up, they headed back to the ranch to unload, which meant more hard work to stack the hay. By the time they were through, both were sweating, dirty and beat. They shared a grin.
“Appreciate your help today, Ford.”
“No problem. I can’t wait to get into that hot shower, though. Maybe Susannah won’t mind giving me a massage. My shoulder’s stiff.”
“She’ll see right through that front, bro.”
Ford chuckled as they rounded the hay shed to see a familiar truck in the driveway.
“What’s Uncle Ted doing here?” Justus asked.
“Maybe come to pay his respects.”
“The funeral took place yesterday, so he’s already done that. Must be something else.”
Ford shrugged. “I’m headed home.”
“See ya.”
Justus went into his quarters and took a brief shower. He didn’t bother to shave but put on clean jeans and a T-shirt. He was starving, so he hoped there were some good casseroles the neighbors had brought after the funeral, but really he wanted to sit and talk with Mark about his idea for a farm. Maybe he’d know of a place for sale nearby or have some other advice to offer.
When he came outside, Mark and Uncle Ted were standing around shooting the breeze. Mark lifted his jaw to him. “Just the man we were looking for.”
“Oh?” He lengthened his strides to reach them.
His uncle didn’t appear to be stressed at all, his face lined with only age and not tension. Whatever they’d been discussing couldn’t have been bad.
“Let’s have a seat on the porch, discuss some things,” Uncle Ted said.
He drew a deep breath, anticipation suddenly surging through him. This was definitely an odd start to things. What could they want with him?
Mark led the way to the porch, and the older men took the chairs while Justus pulled up an overturned bucket.
“Wait till you’ve been at this for a coupla decades, Dalton. Then you’ll choose the most comfortable seat you can grab.” Mark wore a half smile.
“Reckon you’re right,” he returned.
“Been talking over ranch life with your uncle here. Makin’ plans.”
He listened carefully to what Mark wasn’t saying. “What sort of plans?”
“Well, since my dad’s passed on,” his voice faltered and then regained strength, “I can resume duties here and we won’t be needing your help as much.”
He gave a nod. “I figured it’d come to that. I’ve been making plans of my own.”
The men cocked brows at him.
“You still considering that organic farm you talked to me about?” his uncle asked.
“Yessir. Thought I might pick your brains and see if you know of any small spreads for sale. I don’t have much saved…” Of course, Mark had offered him that thirty percent once he went to auction, but that was some time off.
They traded a look that had him sitting up straighter on the bucket. Something was definitely going on—this wasn’t a sympathy call.
“You know all this land we own isn’t utilized,” Mark began.
“And you know almost all of the Dalton Ranch is. Except for one small spot near the border here.”
Justus looked between them. “Yes, I know.”
“I’ve given a portion of my land to all of my sons and your brothers as well, in exchange for help around the place.” His uncle folded his fingers in his lap.
“Yes.” Justus wasn’t sure what he was getting at.
“And the fields I don’t use are on the border as well,” Mark said.
The words hit Justus square across the face. He stared at both men. “If I’m meant to be putting two and two together, I am. But I might be coming out with five.”
They laughed. “What I’m saying, nephew, is that I’d like to deed that land near my border over to you. But it’s not good for much.”
“Unless you’ve got more land to add to it. Which I have.” Mark leveled his stare at him.
Justus shifted on the bucket and finally was too antsy to stay still and stood. “Say it plain.”
“Between the two of us, we have a nice chunk of acreage to offer you, boy,” Uncle Ted drawled.
His heart slammed hard and he gaped at both of them, words far from his lips. “You’re giving me the land?”
“That’s right. It’s a bit more paperwork with two deeds to sign, but I think in the end, you’ll find it satisfactory.”
He jerked his hat off his head. “Satisfactory? Are you serious? This is the best moment of my life. Well, besides the one where Tuesday admitted her love for me and we got Joshua James back, thanks to your help, Mark.”
“That was nothin’, Dalton.”
“It wasn’t nothin’ to us and we owe you. Now you’re giving us more.” He’d choke up if he wasn’t in front of two of the hardest men he’d ever known besides his own father.
“We decided you’re a hard worker and deserve rewards for your efforts. Besides, the future is in the hands of your generation and we need farmers,” Uncle Ted said.
“And if that venture doesn’t work out, you can always add to the herds and run on both sides of the boundary line. I hope you’ll be satisfied with this deal rather than the original thirty percent I offered,” Mark added.
“Yes. I couldn’t ask for more.” He’d be smack in the middle of it with support on all sides. And now he had the land to put a house on.
He reached out and shook both the men’s work-roughened hands. “Thank you both. So much. Now I guess there’s only one thing left to do.”
“Buy a plow?” Uncle Ted asked.
He laughed. “No, an engagement ring.”
* * * * *
Sit tight and I’ll come to you, Justus had said.
Tuesday let out another groan that had Joshua James looking at her.
“I would have driven up there to see him. We haven’t seen him in too many days,” she told her son as if he understood. He did pick up on her frustrations and hurl the toy in his hand across the floor.
She looked around her apartment. She could tidy up some more, but she’d managed to wipe down the kitchen and bathroom and straighten her bed. The stack of laundry she’d brought home clean from her momma’s house was still in the suitcases, but she didn’t care about laundry.
She wanted Justus.
His hands on her, his mouth on her. Her insides throbbed to feel him moving inside her again. Going to the Dalton Ranch meant she could ask somebody to keep the baby while she and Justus slipped away.
With him coming here, it was likely the baby would be wired from the long drive and stay up till all hours, outlasting her energy.
She told herself that Justus had a reason for his request, so she’d be patient.
Except she wasn’t.
Ugh, she was going to have to do the clothes just to stay busy.
She got off the floor where she’d been sitting with her son and walked to the front door to retrieve a suitcase. Just in case, she peeked out the window but no truck sat there. No cowboy stood there.
Grunting, she hauled the bag into the living area where she proceeded to unzip it and take out the stacks of neatly folded clothes. Her momma had helped her with this chore, happy to do something during her recovery to help. She hoped her sister had a handle on things and wouldn’t allow their mother to do too much too fast and set herself back.
After she shuttled the clothes to Joshua James’s drawers, he pitched a fit that he was hungry. As she lifted him into her arms, she said, “It’s time to start feeding you solids. You’ll be much happier when you have more in your belly. Stupid rules for raising a child. Clearly the doctors don’t know how hungry little cowboys are.”
She stopped herself. Little cowboys? When had she begun to think of him that way?
Since seeing him in Justus’s arms, practically inseparable the entire time he’d been in Tulsa. That sparked bad memories of why he’d needed to come in the first place, and she firmly shoved the whole ordeal from her mind and concentrated on fixing the bottle.
She wasn’t heating them every time anymore, and he didn’t seem to mind the milk hot or cold. But she gave him warm this time in hopes he fell asleep before Justus arrived.
Her body tingled at the thoughts of what he’d do to her—where he’d put his hands first. She cast another look out the window but there was no sign of him.
So she took the baby to the sofa and curled up. He gazed up at her with his blue-green eyes, which were rapidly becoming more green than anything. Maybe the next baby would have Dalton blue—
Whoaaa, you’re getting way ahead of yourself.
Daydreaming of what Justus’s baby would look like was taking it a bit far when she didn’t even have one out of bottles let alone diapers.
She bit back the giddiness it made her feel, though. With Justus, she wanted it all. The whole romance.
Joshua James’s eyes were closed and he took one last stuttering baby breath before falling fast asleep. She carried him to the crib and laid him down gently.
When she came out of the room, she looked around herself. Now what? “Here I am with alone time and you’re nowhere around, Justus Dalton,” she scolded under her breath.
She cocked her head at the rumble of an engine. She rushed to the front to look out and stifled a squeal when she saw the big cowboy climbing from the truck. Boots hit the ground and long legs stretched. He reached back inside for something and came out with flowers.
She pasted her hands over her mouth, bouncing with excitement. When he hit the bottom step leading to her apartment, she couldn’t wait anymore and ran out to greet him.
A slow Texas smile spread across his handsome face as he looked up at her. “You’re pretty as a picture standing there like that.” He took the steps two or three at a time until he hit the landing at the top.
“I’ve missed you,” she said in a low whisper and threw her arms around him. He caught her, bouquet around her back as he held her tight. She breathed in his masculine scent and rubbed her cheek against his broad chest stretching a western shirt to the limits.
“I’ve missed you.” He lifted her face with a forefinger beneath her chin. Then swooped in and claimed her lips.
The kiss went from tender reunion to get-my-clothes-off-now in a hot second. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him through the open door.
“Baby’s asleep,” she muttered against his lips, pulling at his buttons. She popped three and trailed her fingers through the spattering of hair on his chest as he reached back to close the door with a quiet snick.
“Brought you flowers, doll.” He nibbled her lips and around to her neck.
“They’re lovely.” She gasped.
He laid them on the nearby counter and ripped her shirt off. Going for her breasts without a second to spare. She gave a low cry as he bit at her nipples through the cloth of her bra while shimmying her shorts down her thighs. They puddled at her bare feet, and she stepped out of them as she opened his shirt the whole way and shoved it off his bulky shoulders.
He lifted her. She wrapped her thighs around him as he carried her to the sofa and laid her down. The hand behind her back worked at her bra clasp. He groaned in frustration, and she reached back to help him.
As soon as her bra loosened, he sank his teeth into the strap and yanked it off with his teeth.
“God, I hope you do that every day for a month.”
He flashed a grin. “Got other tricks too. Hold onto your hat.”
“Speaking of hat.” She knocked his off, and it tumbled to the floor. Her fingers met his thick soft hair and she stopped. “You got a haircut.”
“Been to town. Thought I’d surprise ya.”
“In the future, I’ll save you money by cutting it myself but you do look good enough to eat.”
He cocked a brow at her and she kissed him. Drawing on his lips and tongue while exploring his back and chest and finally went for his belt.
“Not yet, doll.” He tugged her across the couch, holding her ass in the air. He lowered his head and began to feast on her pussy. Delivering slow, wet licks that had her fisting his hair and choking back cries of pleasure. When he found her nubbin and sucked on it hard, she gave one long, amazing, never-ending shudder.
Her orgasm hit with a power that stole her breath. Stole her mind. She rode out the waves for too many seconds to count, only aware of his name on her lips. The name of the man she loved.
* * * * *
“Justus!” Her breathy cry had him rock-hard, aching to thrust deep into her. She clutched at him with a desperation that was echoed in the very marrow of his bones.
“I need you—now.” His voice was low and closer to a growl than human. He kicked off boots, jeans and tightie-whities. In the process of digging through his pockets for a condom, the velvet ring box he’d shoved there tumbled out across the floor.
Her gaze landed on it.
He stared at her features for two solid heartbeats, afraid and exhilarated and disappointed that he was showing his hand this way, when he’d wanted to give her the flowers followed by words of love and then drop to bended knee.
Instead, he’d taken one look at her and let her drag him through the door. He had her naked before he’d even given his plans a thought and by then, he figured asking her to marry him could wait.
She pushed up onto her elbows. “Justus, is that…”
He gave a jerky nod, half out of his mind with lust. Her flavors on his lips didn’t help one bit. “I want to put that ring on your finger proper, doll. I want you and little Joshua James. I want a family and a life with you. Tuesday, will you be my wife?”
She stared deep into his eyes. Her lips were swollen from his kisses and her eyes were twin candles with love shining up at him.
He reached for the box and closed his fingers around it.
“Justus.”
“I didn’t mean to ask you like this, but I’ll do it right.” He kneeled on the floor by the side of the sofa and took her hand. Bringing it to his lips, he brushed a soft kiss over her knuckles. She shivered.
Heart pounding hard, he watched her face as he popped open the ring case. “I love you, Tuesday. Marry me.”
Her eyes moved from his to the ring. A simple diamond setting with an intricate woven band encrusted with diamonds.
“Oh my God.” She clapped a hand over her mouth, sitting up. “It’s… It’s…”
“If you’d like something different, the saleswoman said we have a week to trade it.”
“No!”
He stared at her.
“I mean, I love it. Oh God, Justus, I love you.” She cupped his face and brought her forehead against his, eyes burning with tears. “Yes, I’ll marry you. Be your wife. Have a family with you. All of it!”
He kissed her soundly, so much love rolling through him that he choked up with emotion. When he broke the kiss, he withdrew the ring and slid it onto her trembling finger.
She looked down at it and a sob left her.
He gathered her into his arms and began seducing her all over again. But this time, the moment was heightened by their vow to love each other for the rest of their days.
He located that condom and when he hovered over her core, he threaded his fingers with hers. The ring glinted, and he grinned.
“You’ve made me the happiest man alive.” In one swift thrust, he joined them.
The exquisite heat wrapped around his shaft had him panting for control. But Tuesday was restless, rubbing against him. He reached between their bodies and strummed her clit. She cried out, inner muscles squeezing around his length.
Watching her face as he pleasured her, he stroked her wet, straining nubbin until she was arching under him. As her breaths grew choppier, he pushed deeper. Pulled out halfway and thrust inside once again.
As he made love to her, he held her gaze, letting her see all his love. He felt the touch of her love for him in the way she stared back into his eyes. She hooked her hand around his nape and jerked him close for a kiss. The flip of her tongue made him move faster and faster. The searing heat coming up from the base of his spine enveloped him.
He squeezed his eyes shut as the release rushed up and broke over him. But as he twitched his hips and felt her tighten down on him, he popped his eyes open again to share the moment with the woman he loved.
* * * * *
The explosive orgasm took a while to recover from, and Tuesday lay boneless in the wreath of Justus’s arms. She tried to steady her heartrate, but it was damn difficult when she’d just gotten engaged and been given the best sex of her existence all in the same moment.
He captured her hand, bringing it up to stare at the ring in place on her fourth finger. “Looks pretty if I do say so myself.” He brought it near to kiss.
She shuddered at the warmth of his breath on her skin. “It’s gorgeous and so perfect. You did well, cowboy.”
“Mmm. I like you calling me that.”
“Do you? Cowboy.” She teased the corner of his mouth with a kiss.
“Uh, huh.”
“Cowboy.” She kissed him full on the mouth, and the moment spiraled on for long minutes.
When they parted, he gave her that crooked smile that always made her belly flip. “Got another surprise for you, doll.”
Her jaw dropped. Then she recovered. “You better not tell me you bought Joshua James a pony because he’s far too young still.”
He chuckled, chest shaking her. “Not yet, but it’s a good idea.”
She batted at him. “He can’t even crawl yet!”
He sobered as he studied her, the look on his face leaving her feeling like the most beautiful woman alive.
“I can’t wait to show you my surprise but you feel too good nekkid in my arms.”
She reached around him and pinched his carved buttocks. He didn’t even flinch, only grinned.
“I plan to keep you here as often as possible, doll.” He stroked a hand down her side, raising goose bumps in his wake. “Except…”
She waited. “What?” she asked at last.
“Be nice to have you in a bed.”
They shared a smile. “I need a bigger apartment if I’m going to move Joshua James to his own room.”
He pressed a finger over her lips. “Hold that thought.”
Behind his finger, she mumbled, “Justus Dalton, what are you up to?”
He rolled off and got to his feet. “I’m starvin’.”
She laughed. “Why do I have a feeling I’m going to be hearing that a lot in the future?”
He flashed her a grin. “Why don’t we get dressed, wake up our son and grab a pizza?”
She stared at him, slack-jawed.
He blinked. “What did I say wrong?”
She opened her mouth but only a squeak emitted.
He dropped his underwear he’d been about to put on and came to grab her arms. “Tuesday, what is it?”
“You said… You don’t even know what you said, do you? It just rolled off your tongue so easily.” Tears blurred her vision.
“Oh no. What have I done?”
She shook her head, overcome with emotion. She slid her hand over his heart and looked into his eyes. “You called Joshua James your son.”
His eyes flickered with something she couldn’t name. “I think of him that way.” His voice grew soft and gritty as if his throat had closed off.
“I love you so much, Justus. I don’t know how I found a man like you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. He eased his hands up and down her back. They stood there for a long minute, just soaking it all in.
Then a cry came from the other room, letting them know “their” son was awake and ready to get out of his crib.
Laughing, they pulled apart. “Mind if I get him?” Justus asked.
“Of course not.” Tears threatened to fall again as she watched him dress and disappear into the bedroom. When he came out with Joshua James in his arms, there was no stopping the tears dropping off her lashes.
My family.
* * * * *
Having his future wife’s arms around him as they galloped across the land toward what was soon to be their own piece of Paradise Valley had Justus feeling like he might explode with happiness.
How was it even possible to contain all this joy in one body? It was something he’d have to get used to, because he planned to keep it forever.
As he approached the boundary, he slowed the horse. Tuesday tightened her arms around his middle.
The horse slowed to a walk and Justus brought it to a halt. He wanted to dismount so he could look at her face when he told her all this belonged to them.
He slid off and reached up to assist her down. He held her for a moment longer, feet dangling off the ground.
She leaned in and planted a kiss on his lips, and they smiled at each other. He set her down and she looked around. “What are we looking at? The view’s lovely.”
Inside, he beamed. The fields rolled on forever, and the sky sank down to touch the earth, casting streaks of light over the fertile land where he’d grow vegetable crops and maybe organic peanuts, which did well in Texas.
Turning his attention to Tuesday, he stared into the most beautiful set of green eyes. “There’s a small amount of land we stand on that is the Dalton Ranch.”
She nodded.
He pointed. “It runs along there, in a meandering line for a quarter mile or so.”
She nodded again, following his finger.
“And beyond that…” He took her by the hand and led her a few paces over to the Guthries’. “Right here, where we stand, this belonged to the Guthries.”
She looked at him for a long second before saying ,”Belonged?”
He nodded. “Mark and Uncle Ted got together and decided that each of them deeding me a plot would grant me a nice chunk of land to start a farm on.”
Her lips parted on a gasp and she searched his eyes. “Yours?”
“Ours.”
Tears flooded the depths of her eyes and spilled over the rims, to streak down her beautiful face. “Oh Justus. I can’t believe life can be this simple.”
His brow wrinkled.
She went on, “To find a man like you who would so easily accept Joshua James as your own. To have work that I enjoy and people who come to me exclusively. And to be so in love… with a man who is just given a piece of land by people who are so giving and kind.” She broke off.
“I guess we’re both lucky as hell. But maybe it’s that we put our best out into the world and we get it back in reward. And that we’re grateful for each day.”
She nodded. “That’s exactly it, Justus. I’m so proud to have you at my side.”
He chuckled. “Doesn’t hurt that I come with land to build you a house on, does it? Joshua James gets his own room.”
She laughed and turned into his arms, sliding her hands up his chest while giving him the bedroom eyes he’d never get tired of looking into. “I’m looking forward to having our own private space.”
“Uncle Ted and Aunt Maggie have offered us their home. Plenty of room there while we build our five-bedroom house.”
She twitched back. “Five?”
“I was hopin’ you’d give me a few more babies.”
She socked him in the arm. “Don’t get too far ahead of yourself, Dalton.”
He shook with his amusement. “All right, I’ll settle for just practicin’ for now.”
“Mmm, I’m all about the practicin’,” she drawled in his same tone.
He lowered his lips to hers an inch at a time, watching the light play in her eyes. “Wanna break in our new land?”
“I wondered how long it would take you to ask.” She surged upward to kiss him, her fingers already working off his shirt.