Comfort. Warmth. Contentment.

Tricia sighed. She felt wonderful. All was right with the world.

“Good morning, sunshine.” Tricia’s eyes popped open. This morning was different from every other morning she’d experienced in her life.

She wasn’t alone.

“Morning,” she answered softly.

Tricia didn’t move. She didn’t want to break the spell.

Sunlight filtered through the window, showcasing tiny dust particles dancing in the rays. A strong steady heart beat beneath her cheek. Her head rested, not on a pillow, but on a firm, male chest. Tricia’s body was draped over his, her arm around his waist, her leg nestled across his thighs.

Unlike the morning-after when Lance left her alone and everything fell apart, this awakening was different. Just like in her fantasy, he was here. She was wrapped in his arms and her doubts and fears seemed faraway.

“Rest well?” His voice was husky from sleep.

Tricia couldn’t resist peeping up at him. “Yea, did you?” Her breath caught in her throat. He looked so sexy, all sleepy-eyed with dark scruff on his jaw.  

“Better than I can ever remember. I like snuggling with you.” He dipped his head for a sweet kiss.

Tricia melted against him, heat infusing her body. They were both deliciously naked, having fallen asleep after making love the night before. Her hand slid up his chest to find his shoulder. “Aren’t you going to be late?”

“I have time for this.” He whispered the words into her perfect little ear, “No red-blooded man could resist you.” The brush of her hair across his cheek was all it took to take him from morning wood to morning steel. “What a shame it would be to wake up with you in my arms and not take delicious advantage.” He rolled over to face her, still feathering kisses all over her face. “May I?” He tugged her to him, loving how her exquisite curves fit against his body.

“Yes, you may.” In for a penny, in for a pound. Tricia couldn’t have turned him down if her life depended on it. She’d wanted him too much for too long. “Being here with you like this seems like a dream.”

Lance knew the feeling. He planned on fulfilling a lot of dreams with Tricia. He’d lain awake in the predawn hours and made a mental to-do list: Tricia bent over the back of the couch, him taking her from behind, Tricia perched on the counter, legs spread open, him on his knees with his head buried between her thighs, Tricia straddling him in the porch swing as he worshiped her tits. “I’m up for making all these wishes come true. Starting with this…” Taking her knee, he pulled her leg over his, giving him room to bring their most intimate areas into close contact. “Are you wet for me?”

Tricia shuddered. “Probably.” His frank comment made her blush.

“Let’s see.” Taking his cock in hand, he slid it between her legs, moaning when her cream bathed him in sweet heat. “Oh, yea. You want me as much as I want you. Don’t you?”

“More.” There was no use pretending, she was totally at his mercy. As he pressed the wide crest of his cock into her body, she buried her head in his lightly furred chest. His sheer size would intimidate most people, but it made Tricia feel completely secure.

Holding her gaze, he flexed his hips, burying himself an inch or two deeper. “There are so many enticing parts of you, I don’t know where to begin.” He brought a hand between them to trace an erotic path down the valley of her breasts, then over to outline one nipple with the tip of his finger. “No man ever laid eyes on a more perfect sight.”

Tricia shivered at his attention, unable to catch her breath. The sweet burn and stretch of his possession vied with the thrill of his touch as he teased her breasts. Her nipples hardened in anticipation, her blood ran thick, her pulse quickened. “You excite me so much.”

“I’m relieved,” he growled, surrendering to the power she held over him. Crushing his mouth to hers, Lance kissed her hard, his greedy tongue hot and wet as it darted between her lips, tangling with hers, soothing, thrusting. When she teased back, he captured her tongue and sucked on it, causing her body to press forward, impaling her more securely on his cock.

“Lance!” she exclaimed as he seated himself fully, filling her up, making them one. His mouth branded hers, his teeth scraping her bottom lip. She swooned as his fingers on her breast added to the pleasure – milking and rubbing the tender, swollen peaks.

What they were doing couldn’t be defined as a quickie, because Lance took great care to show her - with every move, every thrust – how he valued her pleasure over his own. His kisses turned soft, yet more insistent, more potent, plumbing the depths of her mouth with pure sensuality. Tricia trembled in his arms.

Lance hissed his pleasure as he moved in and out of her perfect body. The snug walls of her pussy clamped down greedily around him. She was so hot, so tight, so perfect as she rocked into him, moaning his name. He buried his face against her neck, giving over to the need to thrust harder, deeper.

“Oh, God, Lance!” she cried, as he repeatedly speared her to the hilt. Sure, steady strokes fed the aching, throbbing need to be taken and possessed by the man she loved more than life.

Lance lost himself, indulging in the paradise of plunging in and pulling out, reveling in the purpose of his creation, enjoying what every man lived for. “Tricia, Tricia,” he whispered, knowing he couldn’t hold out much longer. He was almost there. Almost. He could feel the fever building, knew she was ascending her pinnacle, loving how she keened and whimpered, her drenched sex convulsing and pulsing around him.

“Oh, fuck,” he panted as his balls drew up, every muscle tensing, pleasure crawling up his spine like hot, molten lava. He was undone, helpless in her arms. The thundering wave built and built, piling higher and higher until it crashed over his head. His vision faded as blinding white ecstasy roared through his blood stream and a ball of pure fire exploded between his legs. Lance bellowed, every muscle freezing, as he let go, pumping his essence deep within the woman of his dreams.

The clock ticked.

Outside, birds chirped.

Inside, their breaths were harsh, their bodies slick with sweat.

Completely sated, Lance cradled her to him, his cock still embedded within her, still enjoying the tiny clenches of her sex as the electric storm of their loving died slowly down.

“See, this is the best way to start the day.” He kissed her temple, his heart still hammering in his chest.

“The best,” she agreed. “I’m not sure we should even move. The day can only go downhill from here.”

He chuckled, tilting up her head so he could gaze into her beautiful eyes. “Maybe not. I have a surprise for you after work. Then, who knows? I might be able to top this.”

She raised up and smiled, so happy that it scared her. “I’d really like to see you try.”

“Challenge accepted.” Lance grasped her head and pulled her close for one more kiss. “Get dressed and I’ll take you to work.”

 

* * *

 “Your grandmother called, I told her you’d call back.” Bryn announced as she held a Mylar balloon to the helium tank, filling it until GET WELL SOON spread out smooth enough to read. “If you’d take your cell phone with you, you wouldn’t miss anything.”

Tricia accepted the phone, slipping it into her pocket. “Sorry, my mind has been elsewhere. I’ll phone her later.” Maybe.

“By that smile on your face, I think I can guess where your mind has been.” She tied a ribbon to the balloon and tied it off. “How are things with Lance?”

“Good.”

“Really?”

“Yea, too good.”

“Too good to be true?” Bryn asked with wide eyes and a pursed mouth.

“No, I wouldn’t say that.” Tricia shook her head. “Lance is doing everything he can to be…what I need.”

Ting!

Grateful for the interruption, Tricia left Bryn to her balloon bouquet making as she went to wait on Jaya Starr. “Good…” She was about to add the word morning, when she saw the tears on the young woman’s face. Hurrying to her, she drew Jaya into her office. “What’s wrong?”

“My mother just died.”

“Oh, Jaya.” Tricia enfolded the slight woman in her arms. “I’m so sorry. What happened?”

“She collapsed on stage, they said she had a heart attack.” Jaya wept so hard, she quaked in Tricia’s arms. “She lives in Paris. I can’t go to her. We can’t afford it.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Tricia wished she could spare the money. “Can I help you send some flowers?”

Jaya looked stricken. “I don’t know if I can. Wiring flowers is expensive, isn’t it?”

“You let me worry about that,” Tricia patted Jaya’s shoulder.

“I came to see if you’d let me work a few hours in trade or if I could make you some potpourri for your shop in exchange.”

“Let me do this for you and we’ll work something out later.” Tricia took Jaya to the counter and they picked out a tribute of white roses to wire to her mother’s funeral in France.

Once they were through, Jaya collapsed in Tricia’s arms. “Do you want me to call Nolan to come to you?”

“No.” Jaya shook her head. “I don’t want to bother him.”

“I’m sure it wouldn’t be a bother.” Tricia couldn’t imagine Nolan not wanting to be here with Jaya.

“Tricia!” Bryn called from the rear of the store. “I’m running down the street to the nursing home to deliver these to Mrs. Astor.” She held out the balloons tied to a pink metal bucket full of lotions and candles.

“Great. Be careful,” Tricia called, keeping her eye on the fragile woman in front of her.

Once Bryn was gone, Jaya broke down completely. “Nolan and I are having problems.”

“I’m so sorry!” Tricia was shocked. “What’s wrong?” Maybe she shouldn’t have probed, but Jaya seemed to want to talk.

“We’ve grown apart,” Jaya hiccupped and laughed sadly, “which is funny, because we grew up together. Inseparable. Best friends since kindergarten.” She hugged herself as if she were freezing.

“How romantic.” Tricia couldn’t imagine anything better.

“We got married because I was pregnant.” Jaya’s face crumpled. “He wouldn’t have asked me otherwise.”

“Why would you think that?” Tricia couldn’t imagine one without the other. “You two seem so perfect together.”

“He is perfect,” Jaya agreed softly. “He’s so perfect that he gave up everything to marry me for the baby’s sake…and then I lost it. And he was too good, too noble to leave me afterward.”

Hearing the woman pour out her worries and sorrows broke Tricia’s heart. “I’m sure he loves you, I can see it on his face when he talks about you.”

Jaya didn’t seem convinced, but Tricia did her best to console her, walking her out when she’d calmed down enough to go home.

“Thanks for what you did, sending the flowers for my mother.” Standing next to a half-whiskey barrel planted full of marigolds, Jaya promised, “I’ll come back and help you anyway I can, you let me know when and where.”

“Of course, don’t worry about it for a moment. You just take care of yourself.” Tricia watched her go, her heart hurting for Jaya. She placed a protective hand over her middle, hoping against hope that nothing would happen to her child. One day soon, she’d be able to feel it move. Tricia couldn’t wait for that miracle. As she stood there, a thought occurred to Tricia, a thought that caused her pain.

Lance was good and kind, like Nolan. She hoped he wasn’t trying to be noble too.

Pushing aside the disturbing idea, Tricia turned to go, almost running over a mother and her little boy who were about to enter the shop. “Oh, hello, welcome. How can I help you?”

“Cecil is the ring bearer in the Worthy wedding,” the mother said, pushing the reluctant looking toddler inside.

He kept rolling his eyes and muttering that he, “Didn’t want to be no ring bear, Mama.”

His mother ignored him. “Is this the right place to get measured for his tux?”

“It is.” She led them in. “Miss Bryn will help you.”

Bryn, just back from the nursing home, took the little boy’s hand and led him and his mother to the dressing room.

Climbing on the stool behind the counter, Tricia considered returning her grandmother’s call. She hadn’t spoken to her since finding out about Shenandoah and the role her family played in cheating Lance and his family. Pretending she didn’t know anything about their shared past would be difficult, but she’d promise Lance she wouldn’t mention the travesty and, somehow, she would find a way to avoid the topic. For now, at least.

Honestly, Tricia was finding it hard to reconcile the woman she’d grown to care for with the dreadful woman Lance described. She knew her grandmother said she had sins to atone for, but she’d never dreamed these transgressions would be so damning or impact her own life so personally. Weighing the phone in her hand, she tried to decide if she could do this. Her choices were simple, avoid the topic or cut all ties.

Taking a deep breath, she placed the call.

As the ringing continued, she steeled her nerves.

“Tricia?”

“Yes, ma’am. How are you?” Tricia pressed the keys aimlessly on a calculator, anything to settle her nerves.

“I’m holding my own. How are you feeling? Are you managing well?”

Tricia knew she was concerned about the epilepsy. “I haven’t had a seizure in a number of days.”

“Wonderful. How’s business at the shop?”

“I can’t complain.” The tediousness of their conversation seemed so awkward to Tricia. She wondered if her grandmother could tell.

“Have you seen your young man?”

Tricia hesitated, squirming uncomfortably on the stool. “Yes…we’re together. For the baby’s sake.” She jammed her fingers in her hair and tugged a few strands. “For now.”

“I see.” There was a pregnant pause. “Are you happy?”

Was she happy? “Yes, I am. I can’t be sure what the future holds, but for now, I’m safe and happy.”

“Good,” she said, then broke off into a ragged cough. When she recovered, Marcelle cleared her throat and spoke slowly, “At this stage in my life, my greatest desire is for you to be happy.”

Tricia bit her tongue to keep from saying something she shouldn’t. “I just want you to feel better. After all, you’re going to be a great grandmother.”

“I know.” Marcelle coughed again. “I hope we can get together one day in the near future.”

“I’d like that,” Tricia agreed. “I’ve got to go, I see a customer coming.”

“Of course, dear. I’ll speak with you soon.”

…When the day was over and it was time to go home, Tricia was sitting outside her shop at a small café table, sipping a glass of water. She’d never been fond of drinking anything, so consuming enough water to keep herself hydrated and the baby healthy was something Tricia had to force herself to do. Staring up the street, she wondered if Lance had forgotten her. He’d never been late before, even if he hadn’t been able to come after her himself, he’d always sent someone else to pick her up at the proper time.

Glancing at the clock on the courthouse tower, she hoped nothing had happened.

Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop.

The noise of hoof beats caused Tricia to turn and gaze down the block. Even though this was Texas, seeing horses come down main street wasn’t an everyday occurrence. “Lance?” She stood up, surprised to see a horse drawn wagon heading toward her, making its way between the rows of parked cars, slowing down traffic, and causing people to stop and gawk. “What are you doing, Lance?” she called as he came near enough to hear her. He looked so good, like a cowboy hero of the old west, guiding a pair of white horses in a buckboard wagon.

“Picking up my date.”

The closer he came, the wider her eyes opened, for the back of the wagon was full of flowers – mounds and mounds of wild flowers. “How? Why?”

He smiled. “Aron was about to mow a field to plant some Bahai grass and I knew you wouldn’t want all of these flowers to be destroyed. So, my men and I, we took a little time and picked them for you.”

“Oh, my gracious, Lance.” She came to the wagon, staring at the huge pile of blooms – all the colors of the rainbow, from blue and purple, to yellow and pink. The image of Lance and his men picking wildflowers for her made Tricia smile. “I love this. Thank you for bringing them to me.” She was tempted to try and find enough vases for them all. “What are we going to do with all these beautiful flowers?”

Lance laughed. “I don’t know. I’ve got what I wanted out of them.”

“And what was that?” He held out his hand and she took it, climbing onboard to sit beside him.

“I was privileged to see the smile they brought to your face.”

His answer caused Tricia’s heart to miss a beat. “Tomorrow, perhaps we can have someone take them by the Starr’s. Jaya makes potpourri and she could dry the blooms and use them in all sorts of wonderful combinations.”

“Sounds perfect.” He sat still with the reins in his hands.

“I’m ready. Where are we going?” she asked, soothing her skirt, her eyes expectant.

He patted a basket at his feet. “I’m taking you on a picnic, down by the river.” Lance leaned toward her, his eyes locked with hers. “After I get my kiss.”

Tricia sucked in her breath. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed her lips to his. Her nipples tightened against his chest and desire bloomed deep. Lance licked the seam of her lips, tempting her to open for him. With a whimper, she gave him what he wanted, parting her lips so he could take possession of her mouth.

With breathless excitement, she kissed him back. Warm, open-mouthed kisses.

Honk! Honk!

An amused citizen tapped on their horn, causing the horses to shift uncomfortably in place. Lance reluctantly pulled away. “Spoilsport.”

Sitting next to him on the bench seat, Tricia almost vibrated with excitement. “I wasn’t expecting this, thank you.”

Lance gave her a smile, pushing his hat back on his head. “I don’t know why, I told you that I’d try to top this morning.”

Tricia blushed. “As wonderful as a ride in a horse drawn carriage, wildflowers, and a picnic will be, I don’t think they’ll come close. This morning was pretty spectacular.”

“Ha!” Lance barked a laugh. “I’ll take that as a compliment, but don’t sell me short, the evening isn’t over.”

…By the time night fell, Tricia had to admit he was right.

He guided the horses to a lovely stop on the Guadalupe, one with a dock where she could sit and dangle her feet in the water. The picnic he packed was out of this world, nothing fancy but all delectable. Good cheese. Pears. Melon wrapped with prosciutto ham. And brownies. “Are these Libby’s brownies?”

“Yes,” he answered around a big bite. “She calls them her orgasmic brownies, I thought we’d test out the name in a while, to see if they live up to their hype.”

Tricia took a big bite and shuddered at the sugary goodness. “I think I can see their potential.”

“I have your potential right here, Miss Yeager.” He palmed his crotch. “Just wait until we get home and I’ll prove it to you.”

She loved his teasing. “You’re spoiling me.” Even as they laughed, Tricia worried that he was doing all of this out of some sense of guilt or obligation. “You didn’t have to do this, you know.”

“I rarely do anything I don’t want to do, Miss Yeager,” he assured her with a cocky grin.

“I talked to my grandmother this afternoon,” Tricia announced out of the blue.

Lance sobered. “You did?”

Tricia nodded, noticing the tightness of his features. “I did as you asked, I didn’t mention Shenandoah. I did tell her I was staying with you.”

“What did she say to that?” He began putting the remainder of their meal back into the picnic basket.

“She asked me if I was happy.”

“And what did you say?”

They stared at one another, each trying to read the other’s expression.

“I said that I was…happy.”

“Good.” Lance seemed to visibly relax. “Me too.”

Tricia felt like there was so much more they needed to say, but for right now, this was a good beginning. After their picnic, Lance watered the horses while she played with the flowers, making a daisy chain and a wreath for her hair. Truly, this was the most romantic thing she could have ever envisioned. Not long ago, she’d bemoaned the fact that no man had ever given her flowers and today she was surrounded by the most beautiful array she could imagine.  

 The trip from the river to Tebow was made under a blanket of stars. They made small talk as they traveled, Tricia telling him about Jaya’s mother and other happenings around town. “Is there any word from Skye and Noah about Blue?”

Lance kept his eyes on the road ahead of them. Traveling down the right-of-way on this narrow road wasn’t the safest thing in the world to do and he’d be glad when they made the turn-off toward the ranch. “They flew to Oklahoma with Zane to speak to Brooke and to meet with the lawyers for the Hughes family.”

“Did they make any progress?” Tricia couldn’t imagine the turmoil this was causing Noah and Skye.

“Not really. Skye wanted to offer some type of compromise, some visitation rights for the grandparents.” He waited for a car to pass before he continued. “They wouldn’t budge. It was a wasted trip. Noah and Skye arrived back in Kerrville this morning.”

“What are they going to do? They’re not giving up, are they?”

Lance shook his head, guiding the team of horses to make the turn down the ranch road. “Not by a long shot. Zane’s investigator is still digging. Hopefully, he’ll find something to bargain with. The Hughes family has money, but so do the McCoy’s.”

“I feel so sorry for Skye and Noah.” She hugged herself tight. “It seems that anytime things are going well, something happens to muddy the waters.”

“That’s life, Tricia,” Lance stated the obvious as he pulled up on the reins and stopped the wagon near the stable. “No one has a life free of storms.”

The mention of the word storm seemed momentous to Tricia, considering Cady’s prediction. “No, I suppose not.”

“We just have to ride them out the best we can and learn to enjoy the moments of happiness we’re fortunate enough to find.” He helped her down from the wagon and gave Devin, who was pulling late duty, instructions to see to the horses and to contact Jaya Starr the next day about the flowers. Once he was through, he held out his hand. “Come on, beautiful, I’m ready to celebrate one of those happy moments with you.”

Tricia allowed him to tug her close, her mind full of everything that had happened. She wanted to press him to talk, to discuss their situation, to decide details about their future. But how could she when she wasn’t sure how she felt, or what she wanted?

“You’re very quiet. What are you thinking?” he asked as they strolled, hand in hand. He could sense her thoughtfulness.

“I just don’t want to make a mistake. I don’t want to hurt you or hurt our baby by my actions.”

Her answer surprised him and his mouth went dry. Clearing his throat, he found his voice. “I don’t want you worrying about such things. Nothing you’ve done has caused these problems, the damage was done before our time. We don’t have to play the hand that we’re dealt, we can begin a new game of our own.”

As they strolled down the narrow lane toward the cabin, the boughs of the trees met overhead, creating a dappled pattern of moonlight on the ground. “You equate everything in your mind with a card game, don’t you? Hands. Bets. Risk. Limits. How can I be sure you’re not bluffing? Isn’t that a poker strategy too?”

Lance didn’t take offense. Instead, he surprised Tricia by picking her up, wrapping his arms around her and molding her softness to the contours of his body. “Put your legs around my waist.” Tricia clasped her arms around his neck, holding onto him tightly. She trembled softly against his body and he could feel her heart fluttering like the wings of a hummingbird. “Does this feel like I’m bluffing?” Unable to resist, he claimed her mouth and to his immense relief, she responded hotly, her body straining to get closer to his.

As he drank deeply of her sweetness, Tricia could feel his need for her. A man couldn’t bluff this type of response. “Hold me tight, Lance. Hold me tight.”

He did as she wished, cradling her close as he moved up the steps of the cabin. “I have a fantasy of my own.”

Trailing kisses down the side of her neck, Tricia moaned and tipped her head back, giving him more access. His tongued blazed a trail over her shoulder and down to the creamy swells of her breast. “Tell me.”

“I’d rather show you, it has to do with this swing.”

Painted white, the porch was bathed in soft light from lamps on the wall. Surrounded by her plants, Tricia felt welcomed. “I don’t think the swing is long enough for us to lie down on.”

“We don’t need to lie down.” Lance sat down in the swing and she settled in his lap, her knees resting on the cushion on either side of his thighs. “How’s this?”

“I like it.” Tricia was mesmerized by the intense need on his face. Wanting to please them both, she took the initiative and unbuttoned his shirt, then pushed her dress from her shoulders and released the catch on her bra, letting the garments fall to her waist.

Lance lost his breath as he gazed at the full round globes she revealed to him. The nipples were tight and swollen, demanding his attention. “Beautiful.”

Tricia’s breath hitched and she arched her back as he stroked the velvet tips with his fingers, toying with them in turn. She held onto the chain of the swing as he played with her breasts, cupping them in his palms and pressing kisses all around the areolas. “Take me in your mouth. Please?”

With slight movements of his feet, Lance put the swing into motion as he sucked a nipple between his lips. Her taste entranced him. Peaches and cream. Her skin was as soft as the petals of those flowers she adored. His senses reeled and his cock grew hard.

Tricia closed her eyes and let herself feel. The tug of his lips. The friction of her femininity as the swing rose and fell, allowing her to pump against his hardness. Letting her hands slide to his shoulders, she held on. The erotic rhythm of the swing and the tugging of his lips at her breast felt so good that she began to climax.

Lance could feel her response and his own desire flamed. With haste, he freed his cock from his pants and pushed her panties aside. Tricia raised up to help him and soon he was inside her and they both exhaled with relief.

As his mouth found hers in a heated rush, Tricia clung to him, her breasts flattened against his chest, the nipples rasping in the fine hair. Every pass of the swing intensified their pleasure, giving an extra emphasis to the exquisite pull against her clitoris.

“That’s it, hold on to me. Never let me go.”

Tricia didn’t know if Lance realized what he said, but she gripped him tighter, her nails digging into his shoulders. Their mouths fused, their tongues mating wildly as their bodies rose and fell with the motion of the swing. Rapture built until neither could resist it any longer. Tricia’s release flashed over her, causing her to shiver in his arms, her voice rising to call out his name. Lance tightened his grip as he surged into her over and over, his husky groan filling her ears as his seed filled her body.

Laying her head on his shoulder, Tricia rested against him, letting her breathing ease and her heart rate settle to normal. “I don’t think I’ll ever look at this swing the same way again.”

Lance chuckled, rubbing her back. “I’m just glad we’re a good distance away from everything else. You’re noisy.”

Tricia sprang back and looked around, almost falling from his lap and Lance had to make a wild grab to save her. “I didn’t think about people hearing us.” She glanced around, searching the shadows for movement.

“There’s no one out there, everybody is tending to their own business.” He nipped her on the neck. “Like I’m tending to mine.” He eased her to one side and adjusted his jeans, tucking himself back inside.

She straightened her clothes too, realizing she liked being characterized as his business. Standing to her feet, she tossed a teasing quip over her shoulder. “We should be more careful, though. I don’t want to ruin your reputation.”

Lance jumped up to unlock the door for her to enter the house. “Are you kidding? Having you around has done wonders for my reputation.” As soon as they were inside, he fished a key from the pocket of his jeans. “I’ve been meaning to give you this.”

Tricia froze. “What is it?”

“The key to my heart,” he teased, then nodded toward the door. “The key to my house. We live together now, it’s part of the package.”

Standing a few feet away, Tricia felt magnetically drawn to him. “What’s all in the package, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Not at all, a person should be properly informed of any deal they enter into.” He gave her a smile. That damned panty-wetting smile. “The package includes room, board, the key…and me.”

“That’s quite a package.” Tricia’s heart flipped over. “What did you mean when you said I’d done wonders for your reputation?”

Lance toed off his boots. “You kept me waiting so long, I got nervous you’d end up with someone else – so I tagged you.”

“You tagged me? What does that mean?”

Lance crooked his finger to beckon Tricia to him. “Come closer. This is important.” She moved nearer to him, as surely as if he held a string in his hand and was reeling her in. “Tagging is claiming. I’ve hung around these McCoy’s too long, I guess.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

He looped his arms around her neck, his fingers sifting through her pale golden hair. “According to Tebow rules, when a man sees a woman they want to put their brand on, they call out the word ‘tag’, which alerts all other men within hearing distance that the woman is to be considered off limits to everyone but the tagee.”

Tricia frowned, then burst into giggles. “No way.”

“Way.” Lance let his eyes glide from her shoulders to her waist.

“So, you’re telling me that the reason I didn’t get very many invitations from men…was because you fancied me and let it be known?”

“That’s the reason no one I knew asked you out, the rest were just idiots.”

Tricia chewed on her bottom lip, hiding a smile. “I think you’re accepting a little too much of the credit, or the blame, or whatever you want to call it.”

“Nope, I’m taking full responsibility for this.” His voice dropped with every word, until he was whispering sensually. “Just like I want to take full responsibility for you.” He pressed his forehead to hers, rubbing noses and capturing her lips in a kiss. “Marry me, Tricia. Let me take care of you and our baby.”