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Okay, so he was a big part of it. A huge part of it.
But let’s not feed his ego any more than necessary.
It’s hard to argue with him when he’s hugging me from behind. His arms feel so warm and protective wrapped around me like this with him at my back. He bends his head down and turns my chin to kiss me again. We haven’t stopped doing that since this morning.
At the moment, I’m trying to zip a stuffed suitcase and he won’t let go of me.
“We can get home faster on the jet though. I’ll find someone to pay to bring my truck back,” he all but whines.
I pat him on the forearm but roll my eyes at the same time. “The only way we get home faster is if you stop hugging me and help me pack,” I laugh.
“I swore I wouldn’t let you go again.”
I close my eyes and lean my head back onto his chest. It’s tough to take in a deep breath because he’s squeezing me so tight.
“I’m not going anywhere. Now, you just have to let me breathe,” I choke out.
“Fine.” He gives in like it’s the last thing he wants to do. Not before turning me in his arms, lifting me in the air, kissing me, and squeezing my butt first though. I pinch his butt back, and he jumps and chases me around the room while we both laugh.
It feels good to laugh again.
* * *
I feel a gentle rub on my shoulder and lean into the strong hand, nuzzling my chin onto it.
“Blythe,” he whispers. “We’re home.”
I move the blanket farther down in my lap and sit up, rubbing at the sleep in my eyes. When we started the drive home, I planned to stop at a few places to sightsee and spend time with Gage. Instead, I slept the whole time while he drove and rubbed my back and shoulders.
The same tension and stress in my muscles that was there when we first met has all but disappeared. But he hasn’t been able to keep his hands off me anyway, whether I needed a massage or not.
I blink a few times and see the front gate to the ranch come into view. I wasn’t sure if he’d drop me at my parents’ house or bring me straight here, but I’m happy with his choice. It’s what I would have chosen.
As the headlights beam ahead of us, I recognize the entrance to the long driveway. But there’s a new sign above the gate. Two massive logs hold up a fancy metal sign high in the air and there’s a cutout in the middle.
Prairie Rose Ranch.
I touch the necklace around my neck and whip my head in Gage’s direction.
“You—” I choke on the tears, “you did this?”
He puts the truck in park once we’re off the main road and nods his head.
“I did it for us. This place means everything to me, just like you do. It was Sterling, or S, Ranch before. But I want it to be ours, not just mine. I named it for you and I’ll do everything else in my life for you too if you’ll let me.”
Every word out of his mouth is confident. But his eyes tilt at the edges, hovering right above desperation. Just waiting for my reaction.
I could say what I feel and what I know he needs to hear, but actions speak louder than words. So I show him as I lean over and kiss his big soft lips. He holds my face in both of his hands and pulls back an inch.
“Iloveyou, Blythe Farrow,” he whispers, lingering on the word love with more assertiveness.
He’s never seemed so sure. And I’ve never felt sohome.
“I love you,” I whisper back.
Epilogue
Six months later
