After another amazing orgasm that nearly took off the top of her head, Hayley agreed to do the sensible thing and eat the food that Mrs. Stanislowski had made the effort to provide. Badger was fine with her wearing his shirt during the meal and she was more than fine to render him shirtless as they ate breakfast. It wasn’t every day that a girl could sip coffee and stare at a chest like his.

He finished off his coffee and put down his mug. “I don’t mean to rush you, but I have another surprise.”

“Another one? How have you had time to arrange something else?”

“By goin’ to bed late and gettin’ up early.”

“I believe you. Are you exhausted?”

“No, ma’am. If I could look forward to what we just had every day, I might not need to sleep at all.”

“You mean the omelet.”

He grinned at her. “Right, the omelet.” His gaze softened. “You’re the best, you know that? I can’t imagine why some guy hasn’t begged you to marry him.”

“One did. But it wouldn’t have worked.”

“Why not?”

“He knew I wanted to have at least one kid, maybe two, and he was all for it.”

“That sounds like a good start.”

“It was. I said I wanted to keep working even if we had kids. He was fine with that, too.”

Badger nodded. “Still on the same page.”

“Then he promised that whenever possible, he’d help me with the kids.”

“Whenever possible?”

“Uh-huh.”

He let out a weary sigh. “In other words, whenever his sorry ass wasn’t busy with whatever he had goin’ on, he’d lend a hand.”

“Yes. That’s what he offered.”

“He’d help you, but it was still your job even though they were his kids, too.”

“Yes! Oh, Badger, thank you!” She left her chair and went around the table to kiss him. “You can’t imagine how many guys don’t get that.”

“Yeah, I can.” He drew her down to his lap and nestled her head against his shoulder. “I listened to soldiers for ten years. They’d brag about how much help they were to their wives when they went home on leave. It never dawned on them that when they weren’t there, she had the entire job of raising their kids plus holdin’ down a fulltime job because kids cost more than what an airman makes.”

“Right.” Cuddling with him was almost as much fun as sex. But he’d mentioned a surprise so she reminded him of it.

“Whoops. We need to get goin’. It’s scheduled for eleven but I can probably get it moved to eleven-fifteen. It just means we won’t have as much time to do it.” He stood and set her gently on her feet.

“Do what?”

“Can you trust me that you’ll like it and let it go at that?”

“That’s a powerful lot of trust. And let me say that if it involves skydiving, you’ll be horribly disappointed in my response. I’m not as plucky as I look.”

“No skydivin’. But if we don’t get a move on, we’ll lose our window of opportunity.”

“Then let’s make it happen.” Hayley commandeered the bathroom for a few minutes so she could dress and repair her makeup from what she carried in her purse. She hadn’t brought a brush, so she finger-combed her tousled hair. Nothing to be done about the telltale flush on her cheeks.

When she came out, the covers on the bed were straightened and the dishes were stacked. Badger looked the same as he had when they’re arrived at the B and B.

“How do you guys do that?”

“Do what?’

“Roll around on a mattress with a woman for an hour plus and then, when the interlude is over, you manage to pull yourself together and appear as if nothing happened.”

“I have no idea what you’re talkin’ about.” He gathered her close. “But I surely do like how you look right now.”

“Like I’ve been playing mattress bingo?”

“Like you’ve been enjoyin’ yourself.”

“I have, Badger. Thank you for arranging this.”

His brown gaze warmed. “My pleasure.” He gave her a quick hug and released her. “Time to go.”

When Hayley stepped out of the privacy of their room, she hoped no one would be around. She wouldn’t mind staying in her cocoon of sensual bliss.

No such luck. Although no guests were in evidence, Mrs. Stanislowski sat at the reception desk working on her computer. She glanced up and took off her reading glasses. “Hello, there! Was everything all right?”

Hayley gave her a quick smile. “Yes, thank you.”

“It was all perfect.” Badger oozed Southern charm as he tucked an arm around Hayley’s waist. “Whoever made that breakfast knows her way around a fryin’ pan.”

“That would be me.” She gazed at him, clearly dazzled.

“Well, ma’am, it was lip-smackin’ good. If you wouldn’t mind puttin’ breakfast up there again tomorrow, we’d be much obliged.”

“Certainly. Same time?”

Badger glanced at her. “That work for you, darlin’?”

“Sure.”

He tipped his hat to Mrs. Stanislowski. “Then we’ll see you in the mornin’.”

Once they were on their way, she turned to him. “Can you even tell me where we’re going?”

“Wild Creek Ranch.” He glanced at the clock on the dash. “And I’d better step on it.”

“Did you send the text saying we’d be a little late?”

“I did. While you were gettin’ dressed. It’s no problem.”

“Good.” She settled back in her seat. “Does it have anything to do with Ryker?”

“No, ma’am.” He chuckled. “I’m not goin’ to tell you.”

“At least I know we’re not going up in the plane if it doesn’t have anything to do with Ryker and we’re headed to the ranch.”

“We’re not goin’ up in the plane, but that would be fun sometime. There’s a lot to do right now, but maybe after Christmas.”

“I’d love that. I forgot to ask how long Luke’s staying, but he’d love it, too.”

“That’s right, I’ll be meetin’ him tonight at dinner. Did you tell me what he does for a livin’?”

“I don’t think so. He’s the marketing manager for a group of upscale restaurants in Portland.”

“Sounds impressive.”

“It is. He makes good money, but…”

“But?”

“I don’t know. He’s good at it. I just never thought it fit him.”

“Why not?”

“He should’ve been a cowboy.” Then she laughed. “Like in the song. Instead he wears a tie and spends a lot of time in meetings.”

“Ever ask him about it?” He turned off the main road onto the ranch road.

“Once.” She gripped the armrest to steady herself over the bumps. The snow had been plowed, which left frozen ruts.

“What’d he say?”

“After putting all that money and effort into getting a business degree, he felt obligated to make use of it.”

“I know how that feels.”

“You do?” She hadn’t meant to lead up to the subject of his college days, but this was the perfect opening. Maybe he’d tell her what she already knew. Then she wouldn’t have to worry that she’d slip up and accidentally reference it.

He sighed. “Sure do. Anyway, it’ll be good to meet Luke. I’m lookin’ forward to it.”

Or maybe he’d let the subject drop. She considered asking him directly and decided against it. He might not be in the mood to reveal elements of his past he’d rather forget.

When they got to the ranch, Badger drove over toward the barns and Hayley guessed her surprise. “A sleigh ride!”

“Yes, ma’am.” He smiled at her. “Ever been on one?”

“No, I haven’t!” She gazed at the green sleigh with red trim, perfect for the holiday. “I’ve lived in snow country all my life and always thought it would be fun. But I never made it happen. This is great! Who’s the guy standing by the sleigh? I don’t recognize him.”

“That’s Jim Underwood, Faith’s dad. He’s takin’ us out.”

“This is so cool.” She was out of the truck by the time Badger walked around to get her. “You have the best ideas.”

“And you have the best smile.” He hooked an arm over her shoulders as they walked toward the sleigh. “Makes me want to keep comin’ up with these ideas.”

When they reached the sleigh, Badger introduced her to the tall, angular cowboy waiting for them.

He tipped his hat and greeted her with soft-spoken courtesy. “Call me Jim,” he said. “Everyone does.”

“Call me Hayley.” She shook his calloused hand. “I’m so excited about this.”

“Badger thought you would be.”

“And who are those two fine horses you’ve hitched up to the sleigh?”

“This here’s Bert, the taller one, and the other’s Ernie, the stockier one.”

“From Sesame Street?”

“Yes, ma’am. My daughter named them.”

“I love those names. I watched Sesame Street.” She turned to Badger. “Did you?”

“I wasn’t…um, no. But I surely would like to meet these two.”

Hayley glanced at Jim. “Is it okay if we say hello to Bert and Ernie?”

“Absolutely. They love attention.”

As she and Badger loved on the two geldings, she was dying to ask him how come he’d never watched Sesame Street. Not now, though.

Shortly after that they were settled in the sleigh, lap robes tucked around them, and Jim climbed up to the bench seat in front. He turned around. “All set?”

“All set,” Badger said.

Jim clucked to the horses, and they started off, bells jingling.

Hayley couldn’t stop grinning. She turned to Badger. “I love this,” she murmured. “This is about the most romantic thing I can imagine.”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I told your momma about the sleigh ride and that it was a surprise.”

“I’ll bet she was dazzled.”

“She was, although I don’t think anyone could be as dazzled as you.”

“Me, either. This is epic.”

“And the perfect setting for this.” He reached into his jacket pocket.

The ring. He was going to play it straight, too, because they had an audience. She took a shaky breath. She’d have to be equally convincing.

He must have seen the panic in her eyes, because his expression was kind and his touch gentle as he cupped her cheek. “We haven’t known each other very long, darlin’.”

She gulped. “No.”

“But from the moment I first saw you, I knew we were meant to share somethin’ special, somethin’ timeless.”

Her heart beat crazy fast. “I—I thought so, too.”

He opened the ring box and a brilliant blue sapphire sparkled in the sun.

She stared at it, mesmerized.

With a forefinger under her chin, he tilted her face up to his and held her gaze. “Hayley Renee Bennett, will you marry me?”

She couldn’t breathe.

He gave her a soft smile. “The answer I’m hopin’ for is yes.”

“Y-yes.” She swallowed. Not real, not real.

“That makes me the luckiest man in the world.” He slipped the ring on her finger. Then he leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss before putting his lips close to her ear. “Don’t want you lyin’ to your momma.”

Right. It wasn’t real.