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He bent his head briefly to kiss her neck. “Any day I can get Colleen Falkner to say ‘I do’ is a good day.”
She looked up at him. “That’s Colleen Lassiter to you, mister.”
He grinned and her heart did a flip. “Sounds good, doesn’t it?”
“Sounds wonderful,” she agreed, then nodded toward her mother and aunt. “They’re so excited about the house you’re having built for them on the ranch.”
He laughed a little. “I know. Between the two of them, they’re about to drive the architect wild enough to jump out a window.”
Colleen’s gaze slid across to the other side of the wide, manicured lawn, where the foundation of a house had already been laid. Sage had surprised her, and thrilled her mother, with his plans to build a three-bedroom house on the property for Laura and Donna. They would have their own place but be close enough to the main house that they could come and go as they pleased. The two women hadn’t stopped talking about it since.
“They’ve changed the layout of the downstairs three times already,” Sage mused, humor evident in his tone.
“You realize that with this beautiful house, they probably won’t want to move to Florida after all?” And really, the two women had only decided on Florida because Aunt Donna already lived there and it would have been the easiest solution. Now things were different.
“Why would they, when Wyoming has everything?” he asked, then, smiling gently he added, “They only wanted to live together. Now they don’t have to be in Florida to do it. And if your mom gets sick of winter, we’ll buy the two of them a condo in Florida and they can go as often as they like.”
Her heart did the flippy thing again as she realized just what an amazing man she’d fallen in love with. “You’re incredible.”
“Not really,” he said wryly, “but I’m glad you think so.”
“I really do,” she told him, turning in his arms so that she could look at him. Colleen knew that every ounce of love she felt for him had to be shining from her eyes, because she felt lit from within, as if she was absolutely glowing with the happiness she’d found.
“Besides,” he said on a low laugh, “once the two of them have their passports in hand, I have a feeling they’re going to be taking lots of trips. They can’t wait for that cruise you’re sending them on. But home will always be here. Waiting for them.”
She studied his features, wanting to be absolutely sure he was okay with this and not just doing it because he knew she’d love having her family close by. “Are you really positive, Sage? There aren’t many men willing to have their mother-in-law, not to mention her sister, living right on his doorstep.”
All trace of amusement left his face as he met her eyes. He lifted one hand to smooth a stray lock of her hair back behind her ear before saying, “J.D.’s not here today—and damned if I don’t wish he was. But I know what he’d say and I feel the same way. Family is important. Love is all that matters.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Oh, you really know how to touch my heart.”
“You are my heart, Colleen.” He bent to kiss her gently, briefly. “And your mom. Donna. They’re nice women. Why shouldn’t they be with their family?” He grinned. “Besides, when our babies start arriving, how great will it be to have two willing babysitters close by?”
They’d already started trying to make their family, and Colleen sighed with the thought. Babies. A husband who loved her. Her vision still blurred with a wash of tears she was too happy to shed, she went up on her toes and kissed him. “I love you, Sage Lassiter.”
“Damn straight you do,” he said, his half grin taking all of the arrogance out of the statement.
“You’re impossible.”
“And very lucky,” he added.
“Oh, that too,” she agreed, sliding her arms around his waist and cuddling in close. He held her tightly enough that she heard the steady thump of his heart beneath her ear. Closing her eyes, she smiled to herself and relished the sensation of having her life be everything she could ever have hoped for.
A beautiful, love-filled wedding on a gorgeous ranch that was now her home. Her family was close and happy. Soon, she would be on her way to getting her practitioner’s license and she had the love of her life holding her so gently it was as if she were a fragile, priceless treasure.
