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Laughing, Ranger agrees and we head into the shower for another steamy session before putting on robes and going downstairs. Once in the kitchen, we devour potpie and indulge in some wine that Ranger got at the store the other day. It’s red and fruity, and I like it.
“I can’t believe you’ve never had wine before.” He shakes his head, tsk-ing me.
“It’s not my fault! I’m only twenty, you know.” I tease right back. “It’s not legal for me to drink unless I’m under the supervision of an adult. Are you that adult?”
My lover waggles his black brows at me suggestively.
“Hell yeah, little girl. Want some candy while we’re at it?” I collapse into laughter again as he grins.
“So, thoughts on the vino?”
I take another full sip of the delicious drink. “You’re in trouble because I think I could get used to this.”
“Oh boy,” Ranger rolls his eyes as I laugh.
After dinner, we decide to sit on the front porch and enjoy the sunset.
“I love summer.” I snuggle closer to Ranger on the glider.
“It’s my favorite season, too.” The cowboy puts his arm around me.
“What’d you do during summers, growing up?”
He thinks for a moment, his gaze going faraway. “I used to play in this old stream near our house. Back when it was just me and my one brother. We had fun, throwing rocks and catching frogs. Life was a lot easier back then.”
I sigh enviously.
“I wish I had siblings. But my mom had trouble even getting pregnant with me. I miss having a family, come to think of it.”Hard to be the last one to carry on the name.
Ranger pulls my chin so I look at him. “What if I was your family?”
My heart begins to thump so loud that I can hear it.
“What do you mean?” I ask in a slow tone.
“What if I was your husband?” I can hear the seriousness in Ranger’s deep voice.
“What?” I sit up straight, grasping for words.Did he just…?My heart skips a couple of beats, unsure what is going on.
“Darcy,” Ranger begins. He clears his throat as my heart continues to pound. “Darcy,” he repeats. “These past few months, I’ve never been happier. I feel alive again, in ways I’d honestly forgotten about. I feel like all of this –” he gestures around the porch – “has changed me, made me better, happier.” Ranger takes both my hands in his. “You’ve changed me, Darcy. With your kindness. Witheverything. I want to marry you.”
My jaw drops and happy tears start to fall from my eyes. “Yes, yes!” I whisper, wrapping my arms tightly around Ranger’s solid frame.
“Yes?” Ranger confirms.
I nod over and over again, too moved to speak out loud. Ranger strokes my hair, our embrace tight and full of…love. I think the word again, but this time I feel relief at the sentiment.Ranger wants me to be his, and I’ve never been happier.
The cowboy pulls me back from him, our faces inches apart. “I’m so sorry I don’t have a diamond ring, Darcy.” Ranger looks truly embarrassed. “All I can give you right now is my heart.”
I’m moved beyond speech for a moment, and take Ranger’s hard jaw into my hands. I kiss him, gently.
“Ranger, I don’t mind, and I’m not just saying that. All that matters is love, not something shiny to wear. Ring or no ring, I just want to be with you forever.”
We embrace again, each of us treasuring the precious moment in our own ways.
How silly you were, thinking those thoughts earlier. This man loves you. I giggle. “You really want to marry me? Really, really?”
“I really want to marry you.” My cowboy confirms in an amused voice. “You and only you, Darce.”
