Chapter 15 Emily #2
We stayed like that for a while—us girls on the floor, talking about the babies, plus what they’d been up to lately with Noelle and Charlotte, their other two best friends.
Rowan was curled up at Gabbi’s feet, giving her big puppy dog eyes as she got plenty of pets.
Meanwhile, the guys were all piled on the couches, having their own conversation.
I looked over at the couch at my boyfriend.
That still felt weird to say. I caught Mason’s eyes fill with longing as he watched me hold Quinlan.
He was talking to Hunter and Ben, catching up, but he couldn’t look away from me.
He hadn’t brought up the idea of getting me pregnant again since the barn, but I knew he wanted kids.
There was a desire in his gaze that I didn’t think I was imagining.
Gabbi yawned, and then my oldest brother was off the couch, heaving his wife into his arms before scooping Quinlan up from me. “It was a long drive,” he told us. “I’m going to take my girls to bed. See you in the morning?”
I nodded. “Night, Hunt. Night, Gabs.” I blew Quinlan a kiss. “Night, baby Quinny.”
“We should go to bed, too,” Benjamin said, kneeling in front of his wife. “You got Z?”
She nodded, heaving Zachary up into her arms. I gave both twins a kiss on the forehead, and then Benjamin picked up Wesley.
“Night, you two,” my brother said, sliding his hand into Ang’s. The two of them each had a twin on their front, clinging to them like a koala. “Don’t stay up too late.”
I shook my head. “We won’t.” Honestly, I could already feel sleep pulling down my eyelids.
It was Mason’s turn to bend down, scooping me up into his arms. “I can walk, you know,” I protested. But honestly, as he carried me down the stairs, it felt so similar to those beginning days we’d spent here, all alone in our own world as the storm raged on outside.
“For old time’s sake,” he told me, kissing my cheek.
I gave a little sigh, but I didn’t protest any further. Not when this was the only place I wanted to be in the world.
Creeping up the stairs, I slipped into the living room, laid out a blanket and sat in front of the fireplace. The fire had long since burned out, leaving only the embers behind the screen, but no one had bothered to unplug the tree.
I hadn’t bothered. I loved the lights. Loved staring at the ornaments my family had collected over the years.
They all had sentimental value. My mom loved putting up a giant tree in the entryway—decked out beautifully, like it came straight from a magazine, but the one in the living room was always our family tree.
It had a reindeer made of popsicle sticks that I’d made in elementary school. Little clay Santas that were made of all three of our handprints. It was our life up there. Family vacations—the ones we’d taken, at least, since my parents had always been working.
When I was younger, this had been my tradition. I’d sneak downstairs, sit on the couch, staring at the tree as I waited for Santa. I’d fight to keep my eyes open as long as possible until I finally succumbed to sleep. And every time, without fail, I’d wake up to a tree full of presents.
Wrapping my arms around my legs, I watched as the lights flickered.
It was late—past midnight—which meant it was officially Christmas Day.
My brothers and their wives had long since gone to bed, both of them taking their old rooms. Sometime between then and now, a few dozen presents had appeared underneath the tree.
I couldn’t help but imagine my future like this. One where the kids toddling through the living room were mine. With dark hair and dark blue eyes and little cowboy hats.
My heart ached just thinking about Mason’s ex and how heartbroken he’d been, knowing she’d changed her mind about kids. There was nothing wrong with it, but I hated that he had ever had to go through that pain.
Still, I was grateful to her. Because she gave me him.
I’d left Mason in my bed, shirtless and ridiculously sexy. The perfect Christmas present. The only thing that would make it better is if I got to unwrap him in the morning. I smiled at the idea. On second thought, I could probably make that happen.
“Can’t sleep?” A deep voice called out. I turned to find my cowboy walking up the stairs, dressed in his ridiculous Christmas pajamas.
I shook my head as he squeezed my shoulder. “No. Just thinking.” About the future. About how much I cared about the man at my side. My feelings had grown so much, it was hard to hold them back.
“Good. I wanted to give you your present. Hold on.” He reached behind the tree, pulling out a fairly large box. I hadn’t even noticed it earlier.
“What is this?” My eyes were wide as he placed it in my lap. “When did you even have time to get me something?”
“Just…” he scratched the back of his head. “Just open it, please, baby?”
I couldn’t deny him anything, not when he asked me with that voice. I pulled at the paper, running my fingernail through the tape to pop it off, trying not to rip it.
He chuckled. “I have more paper if you’re worried about ruining it.”
“Oh. I just…” I shook my head, finally just tearing it off. After exposing the box underneath, I cut the tape—though I’d needed scissors this time—and gasped as I opened the box.
I pulled out a few sheets of tissue paper, but there was no mistaking it.
“You bought me a hat?”
He nodded. “Your very own cowgirl hat. Felt necessary if you’re gonna be a real workin’ cowgirl on the ranch. Y’know… if you want that.” He looked hopeful, and butterflies erupted in my chest.
I sniffled. “I love it.” I loved him. So much. My eyes watered, but I blinked the tears back.
Mason’s hand wrapped around my neck, bringing our lips together. He kissed me softly, his lips moving against mine in a way that had me melting against his body.
“And I do, I think. Want to help at the ranch. In case you didn’t know, I’m pretty good at social media. And I’ve always loved horses.” I’d never be a breeder or a trainer, but I was happy to do what I could.
He pinched my ass. “You’re hired.”
I giggled, and then straightened, turning to look at him fully.
I bit my lip. “So… does this position come with room and board? Cause I was thinking that maybe, it’s time for me to move out of my parent’s basement.
” I really didn’t want to turn thirty and still have to tell people around town that I lived with my parents. God, I hated the judgement.
And I might have wanted a bit of privacy, considering I had gotten used to having regular sex with the cowboy who seemed all too happy to satisfy my every need.
Mason stilled, his eyes scanning my face, like he was trying to decide if I was serious. “Really? You want to move in with me? Like… permanently?”
“Yes? God, is that crazy?” I shook my head. “Maybe we need to slow down. I don’t know.” I let out a weak laugh. “I’ve never done this before. But yeah. I want to. If you… want me to.”
He hauled me onto his lap, practically mauling me with more kisses. “Please move in,” he begged. “After spending the last two weeks sharing a bed with you, I don’t think I could sleep apart from you if I tried.”
“Are you sure?” My eyes were watery.
He nodded. “I was gonna ask, but I didn’t want to make a mess of things. God knows I fucked things up at the beginning. So I was trying to be patient. Wait at least a month or two.” Mason laughed, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.
“I don’t want to be apart from you,” I admitted.
“This Christmas was…” I didn’t even have words to describe how amazing it had been.
“It was more than I could have ever expected. More than I imagined. But even if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change anything.
” I loved our story. “Sure, it took a little snow to bring us together, but I like to think that was the universe—if not the good state of Montana—trying to get us together.”
“A little?” He laughed. “Same, darlin’. And now, all I want is to spend every Christmas with you from now on. Together. I know we haven’t talked about the future, but bein’ with you…” Mason cupped my cheek, stroking his thumb over my skin. “That’s all I want.”
“Mason…” I whispered.
“I love you,” he told me, cupping the back of my neck.
“And I know it’s fast, but I do. God help me, Emily, I do.
It hit me like a snowstorm, you know. But there you were—so beautiful and breathtaking and everything I’ve ever wanted.
So fucking perfect, and all I could do was want you.
But now I have you, and all I can think is that I never want to let you go.
That if there’s any chance that I can keep you, I have to take it.
” He leaned forward, pressing our foreheads together.
“I know I have some baggage, but if you’ll have me—”
“I love you too,” I said, no longer second-guessing if it was too soon.
So what if people thought we’d fallen in love fast?
I’d known him my entire life. He’d always been there.
I didn’t have to second-guess this decision.
Not when I’d spent the past two weeks falling in love with him. Watching him.
“I want that too,” I whispered. “All of it.”
He smiled against my lips. “Then it’s settled. You’re livin’ with me. Whatever you need, baby, whatever you want, I’ll give it to you. You want the moon? I’ll lasso it down for you.”
I laughed, a wet sound because I was crying, too. “What about a cow?”
He frowned. “You want a cow?”
“Have you seen those cute baby Highland cows? They’re adorable.”
“Alright. Guess we’re going to be cow parents,” he grumbled.
I laughed. “Just the hat is enough, Mase. I don’t need anything else. Just you.” I bit my lip. “At least, for now…” Looking up at him through my eyelashes, I gave him a small smile.
There was a chance I’d never seen Mason this happy before. Maybe the other day, when we’d ridden side by side on the backs of our horses through the Montana wilderness—that seemed pretty close. But this?
He took my breath away.
Mason rolled me onto my back, running his hand down my cheek. I widened my legs, allowing him to settle himself between them. “You know, earlier, I couldn’t help but notice how good you looked, holding a baby in your arms.”
“You like that, cowboy?” I couldn’t help but rub myself against him.
“Fuck,” he groaned. “Yes. I can’t stop thinking about it. Makes me want to give you my baby.”
I wrapped my legs around his waist, needing him closer. “I’m still on birth control, you know. Which is probably good, considering how much you’ve come inside of me.” I rubbed one of my feet up his back as I latched my lips onto his neck.
He let out a rough groan. “Em. I can’t fuck you here on the carpet with your brothers upstairs.”
I pouted at him. “Then take me to bed, Mason. We can try as much as we want now, you know.”
“But you want ‘em?”
“Kids?” I clarified.
My cowboy nodded. “Yes. You know how I feel. I’ve always wanted a few kids running around this place. And I just can’t help but hope…”
“I want kids too,” I told him, practically beaming. “Maybe a ring first, but we have time.”
“Fuck, woman,” he groaned. “I’d marry you tomorrow if you let me.”
“Baby steps, cowboy.” I kissed his cheek. “For now, you’ve got me.”
He climbed off of me and then pulled me into his arms, slowly swaying us back and forth against the carpet. “Merry Christmas, darlin’. You’re the best gift I could have ever asked for.”
“And just think, I didn’t even have to wrap myself up in a bow.” I grinned.
He pretended to think about it. “No… but after your brothers leave, I think you should show me… just in case.” Mason smirked.
I laughed. “Merry Christmas, Mason. I love you.”
And then… there weren’t any more words.
Not as we walked downstairs together—hand in hand. Not as we stripped out of our clothes, losing ourselves in each other.
No words as we made love to each other in the quiet darkness of the early morning.
We didn’t need them.
Because I loved him, and he loved me. Everything else was inconsequential.
We still had a lot of things to figure out. A lot of growing that we’d do together, because this was still new. But I knew that no matter what happened, no matter what life threw my way, I’d never stop wanting this cowboy to be mine.
And he was mine.
Perfectly, effortlessly, merrily mine.