Dodge hurried after Boone into the kitchen and the two of them proceeded to goof off like teenagers.
Piper sighed. “I don’t know how we’re going to balance two bozos and a newborn.”
“Together,” Wyatt said firmly. “Look at it this way. At least with those two, we have built-in babysitters.”
Piper blinked slowly at her husband. “I would rather leave our baby with the cows.”
Laughter ensued, but nobody told Boone and Dodge that they were the punchline when they returned to the porch with beers in hand and goofy smiles on their faces.
About twenty minutes later, we all sat down to eat at Piper’s nicely set table. We passed around dinner rolls, corn on the cob, racks of ribs, potato salad, and assorted grilled vegetables. The warmth of the evening bled away as the sky darkened and the sun dipped over the horizon, painting the sky in deep shades of purple and pink.
Soon, the stars would emerge like a banner of glitter over our heads.
I put a hand on Max’s knee under the table as we ate. Boone and Dodge told jokes and ate more than Max and me combined. Piper giggled at their punchlines while Wyatt rolled his eyes. She’d always found the two ragtag ranch hands endearing, and I knew they had all become thick as thieves after that night of the fire.
Piper was one of them now.
This country life suited her better than New York City ever had. The purple skies, grassy hills, glasses of lemonade, and evenings on the porch were much more her speed than car horns and concrete.
As I sat there looking out at the darkening sky, I couldn’t help but think this was the perfect place to raise a family.
Max nudged me with his shoulder. “What are you thinking about?”
I smiled out at the first pair of stars that came to life in the north. “Our future.”
Max and I found ourselves brushing our teeth in our own bathroom of the ranch house close to two in the morning. The six of us had stayed up well into the night sipping drinks and telling stories. We only had so much time here before we had to fly home, and Piper and I wanted to enjoy every second we had before time once again slipped away from us.
No matter what, I was going to come here more often. I had to.
Max leaned over the sink, spat out his toothpaste, rinsed, and gargled some mouthwash. I followed suit.
“You miss her, don’t you?” he asked as he patted his face dry.
“All the time. I try not to think about how hard it will be to leave every time I’m here but I can’t help it. It’s hard to go from seeing someone every day to seeing them once a month if I’m lucky.”
He nodded knowingly. “This might be a nice place to retire one day.”
I smiled. “Oh?”
He shrugged. “Yeah. I’m not committed to Silicon Valley. And we both know I don’t need the money, so early retirement is a possibility.”
“Stop saying sweet things to me, Max. I don’t want to get my hopes up.”
He stepped toward me and held my face in his hands. His palms were cool. “Janie, my pretty girl, I won’t let you down. I’m going to be your husband. I want you to get your hopes up. If you see us ending up here, then so do I.”
I swallowed hard. “Really?”
He closed his eyes and kissed my forehead. “Really.”
I didn’t need more than that from him. Just the idea of a possibility that Piper and I might live in the same city again was enough for me to hold on to. We could grow into old little ladies together, ladies like Nana Ridley, and we could spend countless hours crocheting on Piper and Wyatt’s front porch.
Or drinking white wine and being our usually sassy selves. Who said old age and attitude didn’t go together?
Max took my hand and led me into the bedroom, where we snuggled into bed together. He lay on his back and I hooked a leg over his while I rested my cheek on his chest and closed my eyes.
“Max?”
He ran a hand up my back and over my shoulder. “Hmm?”
“I think I want to be a mom.”
His hand stilled on my shoulder.
I propped myself up and gazed up at him. “I mean it.”
“I thought we weren’t going to rush things? I thought we had steps to follow?”
I swung a leg over him and pulled myself up so I was straddling him. “Screw the steps. We’ve been all over the map since we first fell in love. We can get married later but we might not be able to have children later. And I want this.”
Max’s hands slid up my thighs.
I tucked my hair behind my ears. “And I know you want this too.”
His blue eyes searched mine. “Are you sure?”
I lowered myself so I could kiss him, gently at first, and more eagerly as the seconds passed and the bedroom faded into the background around us. “I’m positive,” I whispered. “Let’s make a baby.”
Max breathed me in, rolled me over, and trapped me beneath him. I gazed up at the man who had become my world and knew he would be the best father to our little one. He’d teach them to be strong. To never be afraid to show people you loved them. To take the high road. To trust themselves. To trust us.
“I love you,” I breathed.
He drew my leg up and kissed me like it was the last time. “I love you too.”
One thing was for sure. Our baby would be cherished. They would also have two crazy aunts, Piper and Holly, a cowboy Uncle Wyatt, and a badass Nana to show them that youth was eternal and age was no reason to lose one’s love of life or humor.
The thought of the love that would surround our child made me tear up as I clung to Max. He wiped my tears with one hand while he pulled himself free of his boxers with the other. I wrapped my legs around his waist and used my heels against his ass to encourage him. He pressed inside me and we rested our foreheads together and closed our eyes.
It was time to begin our next chapter.
The End
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The Casanovas.
Twelve of the world’s most eligible bachelors are personally invited to take a seat on this exclusive, private match-making club. (Piper: Sharing is caring?)
The purpose? To find the perfect wife. Ten women are considered, but only one is chosen. Each of these men are after one lucky girl’s heart. Vetting these ladies is a year long event. Contests. Forms. Interviews. Demonstrations. Galas. (Piper: All of which I missed. Darn.)
The prize? One million dollars or a ring from the bachelor of her choice after the yearlong multi-engagement period is over. Lady’s choice. (Piper: Show me the money.)
The problem? Me. I need cash more than anyone could possibly understand, and there’s no way in hell I’d ever be invited to woo twelve men for a chunk of change. (Piper: Good thing I know the coordinator.)
The promise? To save my family from losing their house, their business and their hope. All I need is a shot at the position. (Piper: Determination, haircare products and a strut like I own the place will do the rest.)
Piper: These boys are in for a treat. Maybe. Possibly. What did I just get myself into?