“Because I want to spend my convalescence at your house where Amy is happy. We’ll have my couch brought over and I’ll sleep on it. That town house is no good to us, anyway. I’ve been thinking about buying some property with acreage for horses. We’re going to need a much bigger house.”
Natalie smiled. “How big?”
“With enough bedrooms for more children. I’d like to hire an architect to design a Western-style home with lots of windows and timber.”
“That’ll be a project to keep you busy until you’re back on the force.”
“I’m afraid that’s still iffy.”
“No, it’s not. You’ll be back in no time.”
He caressed the side of her face. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”
“You’ve got that the other way around.” They couldn’t stop kissing each other.
“My mother’s already crazy about Amy.”
“It was so funny yesterday. Oh, Kit—we can’t wait for you to come home.”
“One more night, then we’ll never be apart again.”
That sounded like heaven.
Epilogue
Tonight was their three-month wedding anniversary.
Natalie had prepared a special picnic and had driven to the new house they were building in Barton Creek. Kit had gone in for his physical and planned to meet her there afterward. She was nervous waiting to hear the verdict.
This morning his mother had come to Natalie’s house and told her she wanted to look after Amy overnight. Whatever news Kit received, June knew how important this night was to the two of them. She wanted to give them time alone. Natalie had learned to love his mother and Amy was crazy about her nana. There’d be no more calling her “June.”
The framework of the two-story ranch house had been erected. The drywall would go in next. Natalie walked inside. The front door hadn’t been hung yet. She went up the staircase to the master bedroom where the adjoining veranda looked out over their ten-acre estate. Kit would only be seven miles from work, yet it felt as if they were far away from civilization.
As soon as the barn was built, Kit would bring his horse from Marble Falls and buy one for Natalie. Vic had purchased a miniature horse for his son. Kit couldn’t wait to get one for Amy, but she needed to be a little older first. He planned to take the daughter he was adopting on rides around the property. With the sixty-thousand-dollar trust fund she’d inherited, Amy could one day study to be anything she wanted—maybe an architect, like her great-grandfather. But secretly Natalie knew that Kit wanted to turn his little cherub into a cowgirl. Natalie loved the idea.
In a few minutes she glimpsed Kit’s car through the trees, coming up the winding drive. Her heart picked up speed. Please let him bring the news he wanted. They’d both stayed busy getting this house designed and built, but she knew he couldn’t wait to be back with the Sons of the Forty.
His Ranger friends dropped in whenever they could, but when they were on a new case, Kit might not see them for weeks at a time. He’d been going to his therapy sessions faithfully and doing everything possible to hasten the healing process.
But sometimes he would get discouraged. He didn’t know if he could handle a desk job for the Rangers. That rush he got when he went out on a case would always be missing. About a month ago he was having a bad night and she’d asked him if he’d be interested in forming a private investigator agency. He would own it and run in a way only he knew how to make it successful. To her surprise, he didn’t dismiss her suggestion. Just to know he was considering the idea gave her hope.
She watched him pull up and get out of the car. His body language gave her the first indication that he wasn’t happy. Her stomach clenched. She would have to be strong for him.
“Natalie?” Excitement was missing from his voice.
“I’m up in our bedroom, babe.” She’d brought blankets and their sleeping bags so they could spend the night. With her heart pounding, she waited in the bedroom for him. He walked in and his gaze darted to the picnic she’d laid out. He took in the sleeping bags.
“Tell me what the doctor said.”
His wooden expression said it all. “I’m not there yet.”
“You’ll get there. When does he want to see you again?”
“In a month.”
“That’s not a long time. Another month of therapy will make you stronger. By then our house will be finished and you’ll be able to get back to work.”
He nodded before his hands went to his hips. He was so gorgeous and she loved him desperately, but she couldn’t help him.