Chapter 54
At Last – Etta James
Cassidy
The morning had started well, an orgasm courtesy of Gunner followed by Nash’s pancakes. They had become a weekend staple for me, seeing as I’d spent every one of them at The Last Creek Ranch since Summer break had started.
We were almost in August, and the Colorado weather wasn’t letting us down. It was hot but thankfully the humidity made it a whole lot easier. Naked sleeping was a must, but then when you slept next to Gunner Miller it was a must anyway.
And just like that, thinking about him manifested him as he wandered into the kitchen
“You ready, sweetheart?”
The sight of him almost had me spitting out my coffee. He was wearing chaps, gloves, his hat and his sleeves rolled back, revealing his deep veined forearms. I’d thought he’d looked hot and sexy peeking up at me from between my thighs earlier, but it was nothing compared to how he was looking now.
“Close your mouth,” he said with a smirk. “You’re drooling.”
“I’m not sure you should be allowed to walk around like that.” My thighs squeezed as heat pooled in my belly. Would I ever not want him?
“Just being my normal self. Admittedly, it’s a pretty awesome normal self but it’s just me.”
The ego I once found obnoxious now amused and turned me on in equal measures. I’d learned that it was often a barrier to his insecurity and his need to be liked. His desire to be loved. Seems it worked on me.
“Why are you dressed like that? As awesome as it is.” My eyes moved up and down his body, finally settling on the bulge between the worn, soft, brown leather.
“Some of us have been working while others sleep in.”
After waking me in his own special way, Gunner had, like he said, gone to help with the branding of a new herd of cattle they’d recently bought to replace some that had gone to the butcher.
I didn’t want to think too much about it, but that was the circle of life on a ranch, and I’d have to get used to it.
“Are you leaving them on for our ride?” I asked. “Because I wouldn’t be averse to it, cowboy.” Getting up from my perch at the kitchen island, I sauntered toward him, wondering whether we could get to the horses via the bedroom.
“Want me to?” His arm snaked around my waist as he slammed me against him, his hips pressing against me and the leather glove he wore warm against my back.
“Yeah, I think I like them.”
The way he looked at me made me heat up from the inside, not just because it was a look that said he wanted to devour me but because it was full of reverence and devotion. Love.
“Do you know how fucking beautiful you are?” he asked, running a gloved finger along the apple of my cheek. “Stunning.”
“I’m not wearing any make up, so I think I’ve looked better.” A swipe of mascara and a little lip gloss was all I’d bothered with knowing we were going riding.
“You’re always gorgeous,” Gunner replied on a swallow. “But like this, your hair up in that damn messy bun, smiling and satisfied is when you’re the most beautiful.”
His words, the honesty in his tone brought tears to my eyes. It brought a light to my soul.
“I love you,” I whispered.
His eyes searched mine for a second before he said, “I fucking love you, too, so much. I have no idea how I missed you for those three years.”
I shrugged. “Shit happens, baby, but we’re good now.”
An enormous smile full of sunshine filled the room. “Too fucking right, sweetheart. Now, get that sweet little ass of yours outside, I have somewhere I want us to go.”
“Where?”
He tapped my nose. “Wait and see. Now hurry.”
“I’ll be right there.” First I wanted to watch his sweet little ass as it left the room.
We’d taken a slow ride out to what Gunner had told me was the North side of their land.
It had taken over an hour to get there, pausing every so often for him to point out a bird, a plant, or a point of interest on the land.
We also stopped at the creek for the horses to drink, giving us time to sit and talk about the camp, our childhoods and our work.
The air was warm but with a hint of a breeze making the sun feel like a balm against the skin.
“Have we done a full circle?” I asked. “I recognize that tree.”
“Sure have. We came the real long way round; I just wanted to watch those hips roll on that horse for as long as I could.” Chuckling, he pulled Peanut, his horse, to a stop and dismounted. “You need help getting down, sweetheart?”
“I can do it.” I gave him a little side-eye which had him chuckling. “I’m not totally useless.”
“Oh, there is nothing useless about you, believe me.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Now get down so I can show you what I brought you out here for.”
With a little struggle, that Gunner kindly ignored and that made me realize I wasn’t as flexible as maybe I thought I was, I got down from Stevie handing her reins to him to tie with Peanut’s.
Turning three hundred and sixty degrees, I held my hands up.
“I don’t see anything other than lots of land and that beautiful old tree.
” To the East the main house, the stables and the barns weren’t too far in the distance, just under a mile maybe, but far enough that it felt like we were totally alone and free from anyone’s gaze.
Every other compass point, though, revealed nothing but wide open space, those rolling emerald waves that I loved.
“You know that Wild and I are having a house built in the future, once we get settled with the camp, the wedding barn and the development site?” He took a deep breath, looking down at the grass beneath his feet. “I picked a place near to the stables.”
“Seems logical.” I understood why he’d want to be near to the horses, especially after the fire.
“Yeah, a small two-bed with open plan living was what I was thinking.” He scratched the back of his neck and looked up at me through his lashes. “But I’ve changed my mind.”
“Is this why you wanted to show me here?” I asked, taking another turn. “Because I agree it’s the perfect spot. It’ll be beautiful, Gunner, and you can still see the stables and you’d be there in minutes.”
“I spoke to Nash and Wild and we’re going to continue the drive from the front of the house, around the back of the stables out to here.
” Gunner pointed where the drive would run, moving alongside me as he did.
“I mean I can walk or use the ATV, but I wouldn’t expect you to, especially in the winter. ”
I frowned. “Well, that’s a lovely thought, but don’t go to a lot of expense for a new track for my benefit.
When I visit I won’t mind a walk.” I felt a tickle at the back of my throat, that pessimism of always being the one left behind still lingering in my heart.
The truth was I didn’t want them to go to the expense when one day Gunner might decide I wasn’t who he still wanted.
“That’s the thing, sweetheart,” he said softly. “I don’t want you to just visit.” His hands lifted to cradle my face as his eyes bore into my soul sending a delightful shiver down my spine.
“W-what do you want?” I didn’t dare to think what his words, along with bringing me here might mean. My heart felt like it was beating outside my body as I watched Gunner looking completely at ease with whatever decision he’d made. What he was going to say to me next.
“I want you to live here with me.” His arm circled my waist, pulling me against the solid warmth of him. “This isn’t a proposal.” One finger lifted in playful warning, though his eyes remained serious. “Trust me, when that happens, it’ll make this horse ride look like a trip to the grocery store.”
My breath caught somewhere between a laugh and a sob.
“It would be beautiful.” The words came out whisper-soft, while something deep and fundamental shifted inside me.
After years of temporary—temporary homes, temporary relationships, temporary happiness—I’d found something that might actually last.
“Duly noted,” Gunner whispered, his mouth close to my ear.
“So, what do you say, Miss. Turner, how do you like the idea of living here? Laying down roots to match those of that huge tree because I’ve been thinking about this house.
” His voice softened, eyes fixed on the horizon as if he could already see walls rising from the earth.
“A wraparound porch facing west, perfect for watching the sunset paint those mountains. Built-in bookshelves next to a stone fireplace for your collection.” His fingers traced absent patterns against my back.
“That kitchen island you’ve mentioned, big enough to bake dozens of cinnamon rolls while I make coffee and try not to distract you.
” He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his voice growing softer.
“I’ve been thinking about a room facing east, where the morning light comes in perfect for your desk by the window.
You can grade papers or plan lessons for the camp kids there while watching the horses in the pasture.
And there’s this spot in the back perfect for that vegetable garden and the chickens you miss from your farm.
Maybe even that goat you keep talking about. ”
His thumb traced my cheekbone as he continued, “And upstairs...well, I’ve planned for at least three bedrooms besides ours. For our kids someday. I can already imagine them running down to the stables, learning to ride just like you did. Like we’d teach them together.”
He paused, swallowing hard. “I want to build a life with you, Cassidy. Morning coffee and evening rides. Christmases by that fireplace and summer nights on the porch. Fighting about whose turn it is to do the dishes and making up after. All of it. Everything. With you.”
I didn’t hesitate. Why would I, for something that sounded so perfect? “I would love it, more than anything. It would be magical.”
“Just what I thought,” he said before pulling me to him.