Rocky Waters (Lovers Lake)

“Well, I’ve got to get on checking this girl over here. She’s coming along to having that foal any day now,” she says, attempting to get away from our tender moment. I blush, realizing that we were starting to maul each other.

“Do you want to join us, Darcy?” Bennett asks me, taking my hand and bringing it to his lips.

My face must look pretty goofy because I’m so happy. “Sure. I’ve never seen a horse up close, especially a pregnant one.” After we finished our week in Colorado, he took me back to Chicago and we gathered my things. We only arrived in Texas late yesterday. As fast as this is moving, neither of us want to play that long distance game, so I jumped headfirst into this relationship. He’s even better than I fantasized.

“You’re in for a treat then. They’re a true beauty,” the vet says. Bennett holds me close as we watch Dr. Mary work. The horse gets a little agitated, so my darling man pulls me back. “This big girl is ready to have her baby soon.”

“How long do you think, Doc?” Bennett asks her, rubbing my belly and making me think about carrying his baby.

“I’d say in the next day or two.” She stands and takes off her gloves, tossing them into her bag. “I’ll be back to check on her tomorrow unless you call me sooner.”

“Okay. Great. Thanks.”

Bennett shakes her hand then she reaches for mine and says, “My pleasure. And it’s truly wonderful to meet you, Darcy.”

“Thank you, Dr. Mary.”

“See ya both later.” She walks off with her bag to her truck.

“So do you want to talk about that jealousy I saw?”

“Nope.” The blush stains my face, but I refuse to own up to it.

“Well let’s get this out of the way. There’s no one else for me, but you baby. Not before and certainly not after. I’ve waited a lifetime for you. Now I want to live a lifetime only with you and the family we create.” He kisses me hard and then pulls back. “Let’s give the girl some privacy. It’s time to show you around.”

We spend the rest of the afternoon around the ranch, showing me how many of the things work and what goes into a day of cattle ranching. I’m slightly afraid of the size of these things. I knew they would be massive, but I don’t know why I pictured them like calves in my head.

Once we arrive back at the house, we start on dinner and then nestle down to watch a movie. Not one of his movies yet. Although several of his books have been optioned. However they’re still working out the kinks in the projects. Mostly, it’s who is going to be playing his title character. I hope it gets worked out soon because I can’t wait to see it on the big screen.

****

I’ve been here a month and I have to say I love it and I love Bennett more. My heart does flips the second he walks through the door even before I actually see him. It’s as if I’ve become in tune with his presence. This has been a magical time for me.

We’re going out dancing tonight. Something both of us haven’t done before. I bought a dress in town yesterday that fits perfectly. It wraps tightly around my chest and waist and flares out to just above my knees. Bennett hasn’t seen it on me yet. So when I reach the bottom step he growls. “Oh hell. Wow. Darcy, you look…” He bites his bottom lip and runs his hands through his thick dark hair. “Sexy.”

“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.” He’s in a pair of blue jeans that all cowboys around these parts wear: the wonderful butt-hugging kind. Surprisingly, he’s got on a blue dress shirt that matches my dress. “Hey, did you peek at my outfit?”

“No, but the lady at the store recommended it,” he says with a blush. Oh that’s what he was doing when he went back inside for a minute. He said he’d forgotten his wallet on the counter. Sneaky bastard.

“Before we go. I need to do something. It’s been on my mind since the day we met and well, I have to say it. I love you, Darcy. You’re everything a man could want in life and I’m grateful that you let me carry you away.”

“I love you too, Bennett.” I bite my lip when I see him drop to one knee. My heart’s hammering erratically in my chest.

“Will you marry me?” The look in his eyes is full of fear, but I’m not sure why. The man carried me like he owned me from the first moment I met him and I stopped putting up a fight the second he kissed me. He has me completely.