Chapter Twenty
It was already dark when June drove through the gates of The Weston Ranch on Wednesday evening. She was a tad hysterical and couldn’t decide whether she wanted to laugh or simply burst into tears.
The last few days had been crazy. The conversation with Barry had been difficult for her, mostly because she had no idea whether Dylan would even want her to be here permanently.
Barry, bless his romantic heart, was all teary-eyed when she’d told him about Dylan.
“Go get your cowboy,” was all he said when she’d finished explaining why she wanted to move to Marietta, even if it was only for a little while.
She’d put her apartment on the market, packed what she could in Fat Ruby, and hopped on a plane to go and see Dylan.
Only Abby knew she was on her way to The Weston Ranch. She’d thought about telling Ellie but in the end had decided against it. If one Weston knew something, the others would know about it in no time, and she’d wanted to surprise Dylan.
Fortunately, she’d been here before, so she easily found the turn off to his house.
The rental car swerved and tightening her hands around the wheel, she leaned forward trying to see better.
For the first time she understood why everyone who lived here drove a truck.
These roads were not made for ordinary cars.
Maybe it hadn’t been such a great idea to drive at night, to arrive in the dark. It probably would’ve made more sense if she’d stayed in Bozeman overnight.
Gritting her teeth, she swallowed. Well, here she was and whether Dylan was ready or not, she was going to see him soon. Bumping along, she tried to just keep her eyes on the dirt road.
Finally, after what felt like a very long time, she saw the light of Dylan’s house in front of her.
Exhaling slowly, she parked and switched off her car. Maybe Dylan wasn’t even here, maybe he was in town, having the time of his life with someone else, maybe he hadn’t meant what he’d said …
The door flew open. Barking excitedly, Daisy stormed out. Behind the dog in the doorway a silhouette appeared. June’s heart sighed. Dylan was here. As she opened the door, Daisy was there, yapping and wiggling, jumping up against June’s legs.
“Hello, sweetie, look at you!” Crouching down, she tried to pet the excited dog. “You’ve grown so much, you’re gorgeous.”
Licking her face, Daisy turned around and ran back to where Dylan was still standing in the doorway.
Slowly, June got up and walked closer. Dylan hadn’t moved. With his hands in his pockets, his eyes hooded, he just looked at her.
“Hey, cowboy.”
He still didn’t move. Okay, not quite how she’d pictured this scene.
“I … I spoke to Barry. About working remotely. He doesn’t have a problem if I move here.
That is …” She swallowed. Dylan hadn’t even blinked yet.
Well, she’d come all this way, she wasn’t leaving before she told him why she was here.
“I don’t want to do the long-distance thing with you because I’ll miss you too much.
I want to be with you. And I know you’re not interested in anything like marriage or forever and that’s also fine.
When you want me to go, I’ll go, no questions asked.
But I love you, more than I ever thought was possible and if it’s okay with you, I want to stay with you until … well, until you get tired of—”
She never finished her sentence. Two strong arms hauled her closer, and before she could catch her next breath, urgent, warm lips caught hers in a searing kiss. His hands were in her hair, then moved down her back as he pulled her even closer.
Lifting his head, his mouth roamed feverishly over her face.
“I thought I was dreaming when I opened the door and saw you, but you’re really here, I can see your freckles, I can actually touch you …
” His big hands slid underneath her T-shirt.
“Silk, I wasn’t sure whether I imagined it, but your skin is like silk,” he groaned before he picked her up.
“My things are in the car …”
“Later,” he said. “Right now, I need to be with you. I need … you. Daisy, stay.” Catching her lips with his again, he staggered the last few steps to his room.
*
Thank goodness, he’d put on clean sheets this morning, flashed through Dylan’s mind as he slowly slid June down his body.
The ache to become a part of her was so urgent, so desperate, he struggled to unbuckle his belt.
At the same time, her hands were urgently pulling at his shirt.
“Wait,” he gasped as he stepped back to get rid of his clothes.
By the time he’d pulled his shirt over his head, she was naked, too, lying on the bed, waiting for him.
Looking his fill, he slowly joined her there.
“Look at you …” he murmured, slowly moving a slightly unsteady hand over her body, remembering every line, every curve, every delicious inch of her soft skin.
Bending down, he kissed her again. Her mouth opened, welcomed him home, gave him access, their tongues met in a happy dance.
Steeped in her scent, her softness, he continued to nibble and savor as his mouth slid down her face, her neck, until he could finally close his mouth over a breast. As she trembled, he nearly lost it then and there, he’d been dreaming about this moment for so long.
Trying to keep a tight hold on the reins, he slid down lower and lower, reveling in her softness, whispering her name, caressing her until her hands slid in his hair egging him on, asking for more.
As he moved lower still, he knew she was ready for him, but he needed, wanted a taste of her first.
As his mouth closed over her heat, her body jerked, her back arched. “Dylan!” she cried out as she crested.
Hoisting himself above her, he waited until her eyes opened again. “That was beautiful, you’re beautiful. Am I dreaming?”
*
Holding out her arms, June struggled to catch her breath. “If it’s a dream, I’m also in it. Come, here.”
As he slid forward, she welcomed him home, pulling him closer still with her legs. Slowly, ever so slowly, he became a part of her. When he was finally home, he groaned. “I’ve been dreaming about it. I love you, June Kincaid. It’s not something that’s ever going to change.”
As he moved, his muscles flexed and fascinated, her hands slid over his shoulders. But his pace increased and eager to reach the pinnacle with him, she followed him up the steep mountain. It was a wild and breathtaking ride as she gave everything she had to show him how deeply she loved him.
When he finally cried out her name as they crested, she couldn’t keep the tears at bay and hugging him, she sobbed out his name.
Gasping, he stilled. “You’re crying!”
“I’ve missed you so much,” she gulped, trying to stop the tears, but they kept falling. “My body,” she managed, “is way too small for all the emotions.”
He rolled onto his side, taking her with him. Their breaths were still labored as they looked at each other.
Pushing her hair out of her face, he traced the outline of her lips. “I don’t know what I’ve ever done to deserve you, but I’m so glad you’re here.” Trailing his hand down her body, his eyes roamed over her face.
“I’ve never felt so loved.” Her hands were on his broad chest again. “Thank you for showing me what love really means.”
He grinned. One of those that had her knees shaking. “I hope to show you every day for the rest of our lives.”
“You don’t have to say that Dy—”
He put a finger on her lips to silence her. “I mean it. In fact, I have something to show you.”
As he moved to get up, though, she pinned him down. “Sorry, you’re not going anywhere, cowboy. I haven’t had my fill of you yet.” Smiling, she straddled him. “I’ve come a long way to be with you.”
Bending down, she kissed him.
*
June was still sleeping when Dylan got up around five. They hadn’t slept much, but he had so much energy, he’d nearly woken her up.
Last night, he’d fetched only what she needed for the night from her car, so this morning he’d brought in the rest of her things. Fat Ruby looked right at home in his room. He’d also cleaned out the second closet in the room for her.
Afterward, he joined the rest of the family for the early morning chores on horseback.
Carson glanced his way. “You look happy.”
Dylan grinned. “June is back.”
Cooper just smiled, but Becket and Hayden were clearly surprised.
“When did she arrive?” Becket asked.
“Late last night,” Dylan said. “I thought I was dreaming.”
“Is she back for good?” Becket asked.
Dylan couldn’t stop smiling. “Oh, yes, I’ll make sure of it.”
“So,” Hayden said with a big smile, “can we assume the spare part wasn’t the only thing you bought in Bozeman on Tuesday?”
Dylan laughed out loud. He was happy and didn’t mind that everyone knew it. “No, it wasn’t. I haven’t given it to her yet, she was still sleeping this morning and last night … we were otherwise busy.”
Becket took out his phone. “Well, breakfast is the perfect time to announce your engagement. There’s still some bubbly in the fridge if I’m not mistaken. I’ll talk to Ellie.”
Touched, Dylan swallowed. This family had taught him that everything, no matter how small, should be celebrated. He couldn’t think of anyone else he’d wanted to share his engagement to June with than with his family.
He still had to ask her, but she’d flown around seven hundred miles to be with him, he was feeling confident.