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“What?” she whispers, blinking back tears.
“Is it a man?” I brace myself for it, thinking of Emmy Lou, of places to hide the body, of a feral protection I’ll never get over, not as long as she’s on my ranch, in my arms. “Ruby, if someone hurt you—”
“No,” she says breathlessly. Tears stream down her face as she shakes her head. “It’s not a man, Charlie.”
I growl my relief and hold her to my chest. “Tell me soon, Sunflower.”
Nodding, she relaxes against me. “I will.”
So much more to say. To plan. But all that can wait. This can’t.
I kiss her.
My mouth devours her tongue, her puffy pink lips. Her body arches toward me, twisting in my arms, as she straddles me. Using her hips as handles, I yank her closer. Her heart beats against my chest—my soul—so fast I ache.
She moans into my mouth, her hands combing through my hair.
“Charlie,” she says, her eyes glazed with desire. “I love you.”
“Baby, I love you.” I skim her cheek with my finger. I have to say it again to make it true. “And you’re stayin’.”
I have had everything I have ever wanted in my life, but nothing, fucking nothing, compares to having Ruby.
“I’m staying.” She giggles, her eyes shiny with tears. Then, her light dims. “But ...are you sure you want this? Whatever it is. Whatever we are.”
I give her a stern look. “There’s no messing with my mind, Ruby. I fell a good long way for you, darlin’, and I’m not walking away now. Especially not from what’s between us.”
I swear to Christ her smile’s powered by the sun.
“And what’s that?” she asks, placing her small hand over my heart.
“All of me, all of you,” I tell her. “Forever.”
“Aguide?” Charlie laughs as I run a currycomb over Arrow’s jet-black locks.
I stick my tongue out at him. “I could do it. Follow Ford around and learn the ropes. Take guests to the fishing pond.”
“Baby, Ford would run circles around you.”
“I want to help around the ranch, Charlie.” Puffing a lock of hair from my face, I try to frown as fiercely as I can at him.
He raises a brow. His piercing blue eyes dance with laughter. “Help, huh?”
Smiling, I bounce across the grass and into his arms.
I love my silent and broody cowboy, but I love this happy one too.
I run my fingers down his dark beard. “Didn’t you hear? I have to sing for my supper, Cowboy.”
“Not on my ranch.” A low growl rumbles from deep in his chest. “Not onyourranch.”
I blush.
I love this man. With everything in me.
He gives me a lazy grin and leans in for a kiss. Until Arrow shoves his nose between us, earning a low growl of disgruntlement from Charlie. “Bastard,” he says, giving his horse a gentle pat.
My heart flips over in my chest.
