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“But…but what about everything?”

“We can handle everything else.” He inhales a breath. “No more suitcases. No more running. You deserve to be worshipped. You deserve to feel safe. You deserve a home, Delilah. Make one with me.”

Hope, excitement flows through my veins at the promise of a future with Cole. Tears well in the corners of my eyes.

“I told you if you kept callin’ me darlin’ you’d want to keep me,” I say, risking a teasing little smile.

Cole’s blue eyes open wide, and he blinks for a moment. Then a growl leaves his bearded lips. “Delilah…”

My lips part in a laugh, then I throw myself into his arms and bury my face in his neck. “Fooled you,” I murmur, kissing his throat. “Yes, I’ll stay.”

“Thank Christ.” He crushes me to him, in those big arms, against that broad chest that racks in a relieved shudder, and I hang on for dear life, I hang on so tight I’m not sure where he ends and I begin.

My home.

With the man I love.

39 Cole

Breakfast forgotten beside me, I shake out the kitchen paper and read through the morning headlines.

“Mayor Hale Settles into Second Term”

“Pig Chases Jogger into Cornfield”

“Hale Development Eyes Land for New Luxury Apartment Community in Tempest”

“Green Mountain Lights Spotted Above the Complex”

I shake my head. It all irritates the hell out of me, but maybe Tempest isn’t so bad with Delilah here. She makes me want to get this town back to what it used to be.

The soft pad of bare feet has me lowering the paper to see Delilah. She comes down the hall and enters the kitchen with bedhead and a sleepy expression on her face.

She’s in one of my favorite outfits. A crop top and cutoff shorts. Her creamy skin glows in the light from the kitchen window. Her long blond hair, with the ends freshly colored pink, cascades down to her waist.

“It’s our day off.” I close the paper. “You should have slept in.” She’s been working as hard as I have at the distillery. Long nights, late hours.

“No. I want to spend it with you.” Delilah smiles as she pulls a mug from the cupboard.

I watch her rummage around the kitchen, no doubt making it a goddamn mess, littering the counter with coffee cups until she’s found the perfect one.

I want this, right here, with her. Chaos. Wildness. But that’s when I remember I fucking have it. She’s staying.

I lost track of how many times we made love in the Creek House yesterday. We fucked fast and feral like we couldn’t get enough, like I was finally claiming what’s mine.

Mine. She’s fucking mine.

Maybe a man shouldn’t be this desperate, in this deep over a woman, but I don’t give a fuck.

I want to wake up the rest of my life with Delilah. I want her to wake up with me kissing my way down her gorgeous body. I want her to wake up with our babies.

Love. Life. It’s what Delilah breathes into me every time I’m with her.

There are still those three little words I need to say, but I’m planning on it later today. Hassie had a good idea with the picnic, strawberries, and champagne. A cowboy can do romance. I intend to show Delilah that.

“Hi,” she breathes, as soft arms wind their way around my shoulders. A kiss caresses the side of my cheek.

Not content with just a kiss, I reach back, take her wrist, and pull her onto my lap.