Zaylie was the first one out of the van when it stopped in front of the ranch house thirty minutes later. She barreled into Claire’s arms and hugged her. “Guess what, Aunt Claire, I got the bestest mommy in the whole world for Christmas, and Teresa got the bestest daddy, and we get to take the kittens home with us and put up our own Christmas tree tonight and…” She stopped for a breath and went on, “and Teresa likes our kitties’ names and Angela says if I want to I can call her mommy, but I don’t have to. Do you think my mommy in heaven will be sad if I do?”
“I think your mommy in heaven would be happy that you have someone to love you, so if you feel comfortable calling Angela mommy, then that’s okay,” Claire answered. “Will you send me a picture of your tree when you get it finished?”
“Yep.” Zaylie nodded seriously, and her expression changed to worry. “You’re comin’ to Christmas Day, right?”
“Sure I am, darlin’,” Claire answered. “Can I bring Levi?”
Zaylie giggled. “Yes, yes, yes! And Little Bit and Hopalong and Nomie.”
Levi picked Zaylie up to hug her and then set her back on the porch. “I don’t think they’d be happy in the truck, but you can come back and see them anytime you want. Maybe you and Teresa can spend the weekend with us sometime after Christmas so we can get to know her better.”
“Yes!” Teresa pumped her fist in the air. “And if there’s more kittens…”
“Whoa!” Angela shook her head. “Three cats in one house is enough.”
“Can we have a donkey then?” Zaylie asked.
“Only if you want to leave all three kittens here,” Grant said.
Zaylie hung her head for a moment and then said, “I’ll keep my kittens. They’d be sad without me.”
“Okay, girls, let’s get moving. We’ve got lots to do before the end of the day.” Grant drew Claire close to him. “Remember when we used to say we wanted a normal family like other kids had, where we lived in a town long enough to get to know everyone? Well, I think I’m about to have that for me and for Zaylie. I hope you and this cowboy find the same thing that I have with Angela.”
“Me too, brother,” she whispered. “Now get out of here before I cry.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He stepped back and nodded toward Levi. “Take care of her. The first days after she gives Zaylie back to me are rough on everyone.”
“Do my best, and y’all come back anytime—for supper, for Sunday afternoon, or for a week. We’ve got lots of room, and we’d love to have you.” Levi slipped his arm around Claire.
“Road goes both ways, and our home is always open to y’all,” Angela said.
“Next time I want to meet the rest of the family,” Grant said.
“They’re all off to do the last of their shopping today, but I’d love for you to meet them,” Claire said. “Now go. The girls are waiting in the van and I’ll be fine.”
“Promise?” Grant asked.
“I don’t make promises I can’t keep.” She managed a weak smile.
She and Levi both waved as the van pulled away from the ranch. When it was completely out of sight, he gently scooped her up into his arms and carried her into the house. Without a word, he took her down the hallway to his bedroom, kicked the door shut with his boot heel, and laid her on the bed. Then he took off his boots and work coat and stretched out beside her.
“I’m here for you if you want to cry, throw a fit, or take a nap.” He gathered her into his arms, and she rested her head on his chest.
“I love you,” she said. “But I’m not going to weep or pitch a hissy. There’s no way I can sleep, but I can think of something we might do since we have the house to ourselves for the next few hours.”
Levi propped up on an elbow and got lost in her green eyes for several moments. “I could stay right here forever, just drowning in your eyes,” he said.
“That’s a beautiful pickup line,” she teased as she sat up, removed her jacket and shoes, and tossed them over to the side. “Ever see Top Gun?”
“I’m not sure a boy can truly grow up without seeing it. It almost put me in the Air Force rather than ranchin’. Why?”
“I’m thinkin’ of a line in it that says, ‘Take me to bed or lose me forever.’”
“Well, darlin’”—he stroked her cheek with his fingertips—“I don’t want to lose you for a single day, much less forever.”
She put her hand on his and held it on her face. “I love the way your touch makes me feel.”
“How’s that?” He kissed her knuckles one at a time.
“Like I’m special.”
“Oh, honey, you are beyond special to me,” Levi whispered as he removed his hand and began to unbutton her shirt. “When you touch me or even glance my way, I feel like I’m sittin’ on a king’s throne.”
He removed her shirt and her bra and tossed both toward the end of the bed. Then he took off his shirt and threw it in the pile with her things.
“I love your curves.” He ran his hands down her sides and then brought her to his chest so he could feel her breasts against his bare skin. “Truth is, I love everything about you, Claire Mason. Your eyes, your lips, your hair that always smells like vanilla, and your body—you flat out turn me on just lookin’ at you.”
She leaned back enough and ran her fingers through the soft hair on his chest.
Just like the last time, they made love so passionately and so hot that when it was over, they were still floating somewhere above the clouds with their fingers entwined and their hearts beating as one. When they finally drifted back to earth, he rolled off to one side and brought her to his side with an arm around her, while they struggled for breath.
“We belong together,” he said.
“I believe we do,” she muttered.
Claire was starving when she awoke with one leg thrown over Levi’s naked body and tangled sheets around them both. She peeked over the top of his broad chest so she could see the clock on the nightstand. Two o’clock! Retta, Cade, and Justin could be returning any minute.
She got out of bed, scooped up her clothing, and hurried to the bathroom. She turned on the water in the shower and waited impatiently for it to warm up. She’d barely stepped under the spray when Levi pulled back the curtain and joined her.
“What’s the hurry?”
“Two things. I’m hungry, and the family will be home soon,” she answered.
“We’re consenting adults.” He lathered up his hands and starting at her neck, worked his way to her ankles.
Her hormones raced, and new desire flooded her whole body. “You’re making me so hot…” She turned around, and with a little hop, her legs were around his waist. “Ever had shower sex?”
“No, but I’ve got a feeling we’re about to,” he answered.
She wiggled her hand between them, and he pressed her up against the shower wall. With water spraying on them like a warm rain, they rocked together until they both reached the climax at the same time, and then they sank down to the floor, breathless again.
After a few moments, he stood up and extended a hand to help her.
She put hers in it and took the fastest shower she’d ever taken in her life. When she finished she dried off and got dressed, then headed for the kitchen. She was only there a few minutes when Levi arrived with water droplets hanging on his gorgeous brown hair.
His arms circled around her from behind, and he buried his face in her wet hair. “You are beautiful.”
“And you are sexy as hell,” she said. “You want cold fried chicken or lasagna heated up in the microwave for lunch.”
“Both.” He kissed her on the neck. “Or maybe a third round on the kitchen table?”
The sound of pickup doors slamming made them step away from each other, and seconds later Retta rushed in the back door with gift bags in her hands. “Cade and Justin are bringing in more presents to go under the tree, so don’t shut the door. It’s cold out there. Did your brother get Zaylie yet?”
“They’re probably in Randlett by now,” Levi answered for Claire.
“Did you cry?” Retta’s eyes went to Claire.
“Almost, but it took a lot of willpower not to.” Claire fixed a plate of lasagna and heated it in the microwave. “Always before, I knew that Grant would call on me before long to come get her, or it would be a holiday or sometime when I was needed. This time was different. I’ll see her probably more often, but I’m not needed anymore.”
“You’ll always be a part of her life.” Levi draped an arm around Claire’s shoulders. “It’s just in a different way now.”
“He’s right.” Retta set the bags on the table and removed her coat. “And besides, we need you here on the ranch. I’ll hire you after New Year’s if you want to stay. I’m going to need help after the baby comes for sure, and I understand that you know your way around bookkeeping as well as the kitchen.”
“That’s sweet but…” Claire couldn’t think of a single but. Retta had just offered her the opportunity to live right there on the ranch where she felt at home. If Levi would offer her the same thing, she just might take them up on it.