The Wanted Short Stories (Wanted 5.5)

“I love you more, Ellie Mathews. I love you so much.”

I kissed her again, and I had to force myself to pull my lips from hers. “Want a s’more?”

She nodded her head in excitement as I began roasting a marshmallow.

“Gunner, do you ever think about our kids’ future? Like, where do you see them at the age we were when we got married?”

My heart dropped to my stomach. “Well, shit, Ells. Considering Colt is just eight and Alex is nine, I don’t even want to think that far ahead.”

She giggled as she tilted her head. “Without a doubt, I see Colt wanting to run the ranch. Luke, too. Ari said that it’s all he talks about.”

I smiled and nodded my head. “I do see that. Even Will tells Josh that he’s gonna run the ranch with the other boys.”

“Alex…I see her totally being a country girl.”

I shook my head. “No, I want her to live in the city for some time.”

Ellie was about to put a s’more in her mouth when she stopped. “What?”

I nodded my head. “Yeah, I want her to go to college, preferably the University of Texas, and then she can spend a few years in the city.”

“You mean, after college? What if she wants to be in the country?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I just want her to have the best life possible. I could totally see her wanting to be like you,” I said with a wink.

She laughed and said, “So can I.”

I let out a breath. “I’m not looking forward to her liking boys, that’s for damn sure.”

Ellie pushed a s’more into her mouth and attempted not to smile.

My whole body sagged. “What? Does she already like boys?”

Ellie shrugged her shoulders and attempted to eat the mouthful of chocolate and marshmallow.

“Who is it? I’m gonna kill the little bastard.”

Ellie slapped me and then reached for her water. “Stop it, Gunner Ma

thews. You’re not going to put the fear in these young men when they come calling on your daughter.”

“The hell I’m not.”

Ellie shook her head. “What’s next on our schedule?”

“I think we need to let our stomachs settle a bit and then head back to the hotel. I have a few toys to play with…thanks to Ari.”

Ellie rolled her eyes and slid out from the booth as I held her hand.

“Can we go dancing tonight?” she asked.

I smiled down at my beautiful blue-eyed beauty. “Baby, we’ll do whatever your little heart desires.”

“Dancing. I’d love to go dancing.”

I started to lead her out of Halcyon as I said, “Then, dancing it is.”

Ellie and I barely made it into the hotel room before we were clawing and ripping our clothes off of each other.