“One step at a time,” he reminded her with a wink. “I do love you, Ginny.”
Then he kissed her.
They’d had so many kisses over the years. Sweet and innocent. Wickedly hot, nearly spontaneous combustion. They’d had lazy kisses that rolled along until an energy-consuming spark ignited them.
But this kiss was about forever. About love and about being together for all the right reasons.
No regrets.
A shot of hot air blasted past her ear, and Tucker chuckled, his lips curling into a smile even as they stayed pressed to hers. “I think we’re being told to move along.”
Ginny glanced over her shoulder to discover one of the horses had come over to investigate what they were doing, sticking its nose past her cheek and between her and Tucker.
“I didn’t request a horse chaperone,” she said, glancing around to discover Luke grinning at them.
“Hey, you interrupted our foreman in the middle of a task. I can’t help it if you get interrupted when you’re in the middle of something as well.”
Tucker straightened, curling Ginny against his side. “I’d apologize, but after all these years, Ginny finally came to her senses and told me she loves me, so it was kind of important.”
Ginny pinched the bridge of her nose. “I do not believe you just said that.”
“She has this thing about privacy. I simply don’t get it,” Tucker said. “Very shy and retiring, our Ginny.”
“I noticed,” Luke said dryly. He waved a hand toward where the rest of the ranch hands had begun whistling and cheering. “We all noticed.”
Laughter floated up from somewhere around her toes and rose skyward. It was the contagious type, because Luke laughed as well, and Tucker stared at the ground and shook his head as if the two of them had lost their minds, but she knew he was amused.
He didn’t need to grin from ear to ear for her to know how he felt, what he thought.
How much he loved her.
Spring arrived. Tucker hovered between exhaustion and bliss, each day starting with early chores and often dragging late into the night.
But no matter what time he was done, his days also finished with him at the cottage with Ginny by his side, and he woke up wrapped around her. And that made it all worthwhile.
Alex came rushing into the office one morning. “It’s time.”
Tucker blinked for a second. “Damn, the way you’re buzzing, I’d have guessed you had a baby on the way.”
His friend grinned. “Nah, that’s Ryan and Madison.”
“Damn, they do not fool around—” Tucker stopped as Alex outright guffawed. “Okay, bad phrasing.”
“Sorry to laugh and run, but Dad is up for preliminary tests in two days. And Mom just messaged that her doctor says he suspects her appointment will be within the week.”
Wow. “Good news, although we’ll miss you while you’re gone,” Tucker shared honestly.
Alex held out his hand and shook Tucker’s firmly. “I’ll be back. There’s a lot I still need to accomplish.”
“Need me to look after anything while you’re gone?”
The other man’s smile turned sheepish. “Don’t think it’s a good idea to ask you to run interference if Yvette starts dating any of the hands, but I’m still tempted.”
Tucker patted him on the shoulder as he walked Alex to the door. “Sorry, can’t make any promises in that direction. But I will try to sing your praises as often as I can.”
“More than I could hope for.” Alex tipped his hat and left.
Changes were happening, although still not all the ones Tucker hoped for. His uncle, for example, was still tight-lipped and uncooperative when it came to his relationship situation. Or the seeming lack of it.
At least the woman had stopped making macramé before his rooms were buried in them.
But convincing a sixty-something to get his butt in gear was low on Tucker’s list when it came down to it. Since he appreciated not having his love life meddled with, he gave Ashton the same consideration.
The last weekend in April, the Stones held a joint birthday party for Caleb and Tamara, who happened to have birthdays only one day apart from each other. The entire family was invited, which included Tucker, a fact that tickled him silly.
Crossing the short distance between the cottage he now shared pretty much full time with Ginny and the main ranch house, he caught himself one second away from damn near skipping. Walking hand in hand with Ginny felt so right Tucker couldn’t believe he’d lasted so long without her being his.
The chaos of the meal and party were sheer joy.
After dinner, Ginny tugged him into the laundry room for some privacy. She tangled her arms around his waist and grinned up at him. “You’re smiling an awful lot there, superman. You’ll lose your fearsome reputation if you don’t watch out.”
He raised a brow. “Superman?”
Ginny covered her mouth and snickered harder. “You look so perturbed right now.”
Shrieks of laughter rang out from the main room, and Tucker leaned back to see what was going on.
Dustin sat on the couch in the living room, a niece on either side as he pointed out things in the old photo album in his lap. Sasha made all the noise.
Dustin offered her a mock-glare. “You take that back.”
“What are you tormenting your uncle about now?” Tamara demanded.
Everyone peered at Sasha who continued to grin hugely. “He’s a total write-off as a fashion statement, Mom. Look. He’s wearing a fuzzy sweatsuit. Uncle Luke looks terrible as well. I want to know if he kept any of his vests or acid-washed jeans, because I could wear them to school now and win all the retro-awards.”
“Ha, ha,” Dustin pretended to be grumbly, but he winked at Tamara. “I guess you’re right. I haven’t always been the hottest fashion plate in the family.”
“What’s acid wash?” Emma asked. Sasha reached over the album to point them out.
Meanwhile, Dustin continued to stare at the page, confusion twisting to outright glee. “Hey, Ginny. I think I have another clue to add to your puzzle.”
That got everyone’s attention.
Ginny rushed forward, Tucker following hard on her heels. “There’s something in the album?”
“Sort of,” Dustin said. “I thought about it the other day. Why didn’t I have a present in the box? You know, the one Tamara found that had things for everyone else, all wrapped in the same paper.”
Ginny paused. “Not sure.”
Her little brother grinned. “Because I’d already opened it.”
The room went silent.
His shoulders lifted in a gentle shrug. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think Mom was the type to do anything without a reason. If she gave Ginny a puzzle that involved gifts for all her kids, and they were all wrapped up at the same time, and we were supposed to work together to solve the puzzle, it makes sense that I should have gotten a gift as well.”
They all looked down at the photo album. “That’s your birthday party, yes?” Ginny asked.
Dustin nodded. “December, which means I opened one extra gift that was actually part of Ginny’s mystery package. Then Luke would open his in February, Walker in March, Caleb in April, and Ginny in June.”