“Well, this is pretty much perfect,” Mark said, sneaking a hand onto her shoulder to squeeze lightly. “Thank you.”
“It’s your land,” she said. “You would have found it eventually.”
Dana laughed, a hand extended farther to the south. “Look.”
They joined her, and Laurel suddenly realized that the entire side of the hill to the south of where they stood was covered in bushes, some of them big enough to be called trees. “Are those all wild roses?”
Her mother-in-law nodded happily. “I adore wild roses.”
Dana wandered along a deer trail, happiness written all over her face as she examined the bushes. Sunshine danced over her, the gentle wind lifting her hair and making golden highlights dance.
Laurel was close enough to Uncle Mark to hear his sudden intake of breath.
She turned to him and spoke softly. “You okay?”
He’d been staring at Dana. He turned slowly back toward Laurel, his eyes full of longing, but he twisted his lips into a smile and nodded briskly. When he spoke, it was a secret, shared just with Laurel. “I would do anything to make her happy.”
His heart in the words. Truth. Laurel felt it to the core of her being.
Dana laughed again, and this time as she turned, her eyes met Mark’s and something new was there. Laurel felt less in the way and more honoured at having witnessed something so pure and sweet and right.
But continuing to eavesdrop wasn’t on her agenda. No lingering, not now. Fortunately, the perfect distraction had been offered right at hand. “I think I solved a problem,” Laurel announced boldly.
“The issue of where to build the house?” Mark offered.
She shook her head. “The issue of what to call Mark’s land. It’s obvious.” She held out a hand and gestured, pointing to the mass of greenery that would eventually be covered with pale-pink, fragrant flowers.
“Oh, yes. That’s perfect,” Dana said. She turned to Mark and grabbed his hands, eager and giddy and not even aware of how broad his smile went because she’d touched him. “Welcome to the Wild Rose ranch.”
If she hadn’t been there, Laurel bet that Uncle Mark would’ve kissed—
Well, that was a problem easily solved. Laurel deliberately turned her back and walked down the rise, as if eager to explore.
More eager to leave the two of them alone, at least briefly, because if she couldn’t see them, they couldn’t see her, and she was one hundred percent sure that Mark was capable of taking advantage of the presented opportunity.
In the quiet of their room that night, Laurel told Rafe about having given up their tryst spot.
His expression turned thoughtful as she shared witnessing the kiss—or at least the aftereffects of it, because Dana’s cheeks had glowed the entire trip back to the Angel homestead.
Rafe nodded slowly. “I need to adjust my brain. Mark seems to be a good man, and if anyone deserves to be happy, it’s Mom.”
Laurel agreed. She’d come to that conclusion a while ago. Now she cuddled in against his side. “I was feeling sad today,” she confessed.
Rafe curled his arm around her and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Anything I can do?”
She shook her head. “Thinking about kids. With all the cousins constantly popping out babies, the question keeps getting brought up. When do we plan to have some? Today Mom was asking how many rooms we’d want in a new house. You know, planning for the hoard of children we’ll raise.”
He hummed softly, rolling toward her until he’d pinned her in place with his strong body. “You still want to wait a little longer before we start trying, or have you changed your mind?”
“I’m not ready for kids, but part of me worries,” she admitted. “What if we can’t? What if things don’t work for us that way?”
Rafe stroked his cheek against hers, kissing her softly. “Then we’ll find a different way to build a family. I like kids, but I figure the raising of them is more important than the birthing. I’m a guy, though, so I could be missing the point.”
“I agree with you in principle.” She curled her arms around his neck and tugged until he came over her, a warm, secure weight guarding and keeping her safe. “Like I said, I was just feeling sad and wanted you to know why. You don’t need to try and fix it. Just love me.”
“Always.” His tone dropped a notch as he made a dirty offer. “Can I try and distract you?”
“I’m pretty focused right now,” Laurel teased. “You’ll have to try really hard.”
Which he did, thoroughly but quietly.
21
Kissing Dana had become an addiction.
Mark had known quick enough that every privilege she offered would mean no turning back. And while they’d only had a couple of official dates, he’d taken to stopping at the house in his free time and between work shifts with the Coleman clan.
Laurel’s suggested nickname for his parcel had caught on instantly with the rest of the family. Now to make sure that Wild Rose ranch was a new start in all the ways that Mark needed.
Although, getting to begin by kissing Dana while laughter shone in her eyes, the sunlight dancing around them on the spot where Mark intended to build their home—
Okay, that was jumping the gun a little, but he couldn’t help himself. Spending time with her had made it clear all his memories weren’t built up or unrealistic. Dana was sweet and gentle and giving, and he couldn’t wait to be able to give to her in return.
The warning that Laurel had issued, though, echoed loudly in Mark’s mind. That Ben had been changed so hard—
Mark couldn’t imagine what it did to a woman to have her trust in a man completely broken.
So he needed to be cautious, but at the same time, he kept being distracted by the kisses and the urge in his gut that told him to press forward faster than his head thought wise.
Yup. That kiss up on the ridge a week ago had been a whole lot of perfect.
Blake had given him the go-ahead, so when Mark heard from his building contact, the news was too exciting to wait to share.
He hurried to the Angel ranch, pausing on the main road before entering the driveway. Rafe was running the harrows over the gravel to remove the ruts caused by winter freeze and snow removal.
Rafe gave him a wave but kept on with his task as Mark parked then strode rapidly toward the ranch house.
Dana bolted upright in surprise when he marched through the door and into the living room. She had a load of laundry in a basket on the chair, neatly folded piles organized on the couch.
“Mark. Gabe said you were working with him this morning.”
“I am,” Mark said, sliding in close and breathing in her sweet scent. A familiar floral aroma wrapped around him and mixed with the comforting smells of food and fresh laundry that were the epitome of home. “Coffee break. Thought I’d come to see how you’re doing.”
She flushed. “That’s sweet.”
“Sweet enough to give me a kiss?” he teased.
When she instantly tipped her face toward him, his heart leapt. He cupped her chin, leaning in to enjoy the innocent brush of their lips together.
Then her tongue snuck out and stroked against his.