Crazy Heifer (The Valentine Boys 2)

Which reminded me.

“You love me,” I said as I crawled back over him.

He didn’t even hesitate.

“I’ve loved you since I saw you at the diner. I just didn’t know it,” he whispered gruffly.

I laid my naked body on top of his, and then looked down into his eyes as I said, “I don’t know when I realized I loved you. One day, I just woke up and knew. I’d felt that way for a while. You were sitting on the side of the bed. You were in your jeans and chambray shirt, slipping on your boots, and you had your cowboy hat in your teeth as you tried to get dressed in a hurry. When I looked at you and saw how you were trying to be quiet and not wake me, I decided then and there that no matter what I had to do, I was going to make sure that you always wanted to keep me.”

His hands encircled my waist, and he pulled me in tight to his chest.

“There’s nothing, not a single thing, you can do that won’t make me keep you now,” he told me. “It’s early yet, and I think that you still need some time to adjust to ‘not married’ life. But when the time comes, and I think that you’re ready, I’m going to ask you to be my wife. We’re going to have kids. We’re going to live in a house that I wish built me, and we’re going to live happily ever after. We’re going to rock on the porch when we’re ninety, and we’re going to remember these days as the best days of our lives.”

I felt a tear slip free of my eye, and it hit his lips with a soft plop.

He licked the tear off of his lip, and then he leaned up and kissed me.

“I love you, Desi,” he said. “If you happen to get ready before I realize it, just let me know.”

I laughed at him then.

“I’ll definitely let you know, honey.”

The thing was, I was fairly sure I was already there.Chapter 1510-4. Coffee that.

-Coffee Cup

Desi

“Something light,” he reminded me. “We have one more good workout to get in before we’re taking the next three days off before the big race on Saturday.”

The reminder of the Spartan race had my belly rolling over with nerves.

“I’m rethinking that,” I teased.

He rolled his eyes and popped my ass again, this time on the other cheek so they were both burning equally.

“You’re running that thing if I have to drag you behind me by your hair.” He let me go and took a step back. “Are you still meeting with Malloy today for lunch?”

I frowned hard. “Yes. I’m just hoping that he doesn’t have Mal with him again.”

Callum sighed. “I’ll drop you off. If he’s there, I’ll stay. Sound good?”

I grinned and pressed my lips to his chin, which was the only thing I could reach without him bending down.

“I’ll be back.”

After my shower and a quick change of clothes, I made it back to the main house in time to see Codie having a face-off with Georgia and Nico’s kids.

“What’s going on?” I asked my best friend.

“I’m having a staring contest with one of the twins. I’m not sure which,” she answered.

“It’s Bourne,” I answered automatically.

Bourne’s surprise was evident when he broke the stare with Codie. “You know which one I am?”

I nodded once. “You have the cutest little cowlick.”

Bourne swatted my hand that was reaching toward him away. “Don’t touch me.”

“Why not?” I asked, wrapping him in a hug.

He stilled, unsure what to do, then wrapped his arms around me and squeezed.

He was strong for a kid, and I had no doubt in my mind that had to do with who his dad was.

Speaking of his dad.

Nico was standing on the front porch staring at the scene. I grinned at him, even though he still kind of scared the crap out of me.

“I’ve never gotten a hug before,” Codie said as she too wrapped Bourne into her arms. Though, by doing that she also wrapped her arms around me. Then rested her head on the pillow that my breasts made. That was when Bourne started to laugh.

“You win,” he said. “You both win.”

Codie giggled and let go. I took my time. When I did finally let him go, I said, “Your uncle told me to make something light for breakfast.”

Bourne narrowed his eyes. “That is mean.”

I grinned. “What would you suggest?”

“Pancakes,” he said instantly. “That’s why we’re here. Mom stayed the night because she got drunk with Darby. She told us to come over and eat with y’all this morning because she was taking the day off from life.”

“I didn’t get drunk,” Georgia said, shaking her head. “I’m pregnant. I can’t get drunk. If I did, then the baby would come out acting like you. And I’ve already learned my lesson.”