Chapter Forty-two – Wi$hLi$t #2
I didn’t think my heart could feel any larger, and yet it did. The way the Wylees had opened their doors without question to my entire family.
“But I need a few minutes alone with you. Take a walk with me out to the barn?”
I nodded but shivered. He looked down at the thin jacket I’d picked up when I’d changed before Dawson and I had headed to Fresno.
“Why are you always without something warm?”
I smiled at him. “Maybe I’ve gotten used to someone bundling me up.”
He chuckled. “Stay here.” He went inside and came out with an old letterman jacket that had obviously seen better days. “It’s all I’ve got of mine here.” He helped me into it and pushed my hands out of the way so he could button it himself before leaning in and kissing me sweetly.
He tangled our fingers and then led me off the porch, around the house, and through the yard where a dozen snowmen stood guard, old scarves blowing in a gentle breeze.
The smell of hay and feed and horses greeted us as Cooper led me into the barn.
He’d barely swung the door shut behind us before he was pushing me up against it and taking my mouth with his.
Without breaking our kiss, he picked me up, carried me over to a stack of hay bales, and put me down, hands landing on either side of me as he stepped between my thighs.
Just like it always did when he touched me, time slipped away. I got lost in him. In the simple smell and taste and feel of him. Of us.
After what felt like an entire eternity spent with our lips declaring our devotion, he finally lifted his head. “I always have these great plans, and then I see you, and everything goes out the window except touching you, kissing you, feeling your heart beat against mine.”
I palmed his cheek before stealing his cowboy hat and putting it on my head.
His eyes flickered dark and possessive. “You know what they say about wearing a cowboy’s hat?”
“No, but I’m sure it’s close to what they used to say about wearing someone’s letterman jacket in high school.”
He grinned. “Not anything quite so innocent, baby.”
My hands slid down his front, finding the buckle on his belt. “Yeah? I think we can work out a deal, Sheriff.”
He grabbed my wrists and pulled back, shaking his head as if to clear his mind.
“Damnit. See, this is exactly what I’m talking about, Havoc. You’re one large distraction.”
I laughed.
“I wanted to do this somewhere fancier, but then I realized, neither you nor I need that because it isn’t who we are.
” He stopped and inhaled. My brows furrowed in confusion until he pulled something from his pocket and held it up for me to see.
“Last night, you proposed to me, and I said yes. But now it’s my turn. ”
My heart hammered against my chest.
“I want us to spend the rest of our lives together, Andie. I want to lather you in so much love you can’t move one inch without feeling it.
I want everyone around us to turn green with jealousy because when they see us, all they can see is how perfectly we fit.
How love shines through every pore. Marry me.
Marry me and let me spend the next hundred years showering you with all the devotion and caring you truly deserve. ”
That feeling of flying returned, my soul winging its way through bright skies.
“I want that, Cooper. I want you. I want it all. I’ll happily marry you. Happily and readily give you every breath, every moment, every dream.”
He took the ring and slid it on my finger. It was a little large, but not by much. It was an older ring, the band a weave of gold and platinum that cushioned a white diamond, surrounded on either side by rubies. It was stunning and perfect.
“This was my grandmother’s ring. My mom was keeping it for me until I found the right person to share it with. The person who fit into my life like she was made for it. She was keeping it until I found you.”
Emotions clogged my throat. But I wouldn’t cry. I was too happy to cry.
“I love it. I love you. All of you.”
A knock on the barn door was preceded by it sliding open. Akela rushed in just as Luca poked his head inside. “Did she say yes?”
Cooper blew out an exasperated breath, stepping out from between my legs. “Yes. Of course she did. Would have been nice to have ten minutes of privacy though.”
Luca shuffled in after Akela, who was already fighting to get between Cooper and me. The teen looked from his dad to me and grinned bashfully. “Sorry. Maybe I should come back?”
I shook my head, and Cooper grunted. I jumped down off the hay bale and held my arms out for him to join us. He did, dragging his feet and looking embarrassed. I pulled both men to me as Akela continued to push between us.
Somehow, I found my voice over the ball of emotion stuck in my throat. “Thank you for making me part of your family. Thank you for being the best gift I’ve ever been given.”
And that was how the Wylees found us, wrapped up in each other, holding on tight.
Lydia cried. Dale gave a little hoor-rah.
And then they joined our hug, turning us into a tangled mix of bodies and lives with love surrounding us.
I let the sweet reality of the moment wing its way into my heart and heal all the last bits that had still felt tender and raw.
I’d finally found my family.
I’d finally come home.