He could feel her inner walls trembling and knew she was there. “Come for me, kitten,” he commanded, and she did, letting out a loud wail that shook the rafters. Alex followed her immediately, down into the depths of pleasure, loving the closeness of the moment, the intimacy of their shared climax.
Brenne lay there after, panting against his chest. Alex had never felt more content. The woman he loved was in his arms. And now all I have to do is keep her there.
As the pleasure subsided, reality returned. Although they’d just shared something magical, the truth was, Alex wasn’t sure if her heart belonged to him. He’d built a vison of his future with her by his side, but there was something standing in the way. Or a billion somethings, to put a finer point on it.
He knew he had to take a risk. He hadn’t come this far to turn chicken now. Alex rolled Brenne gently onto her side and pushed back the hair that had tumbled into her face. Her eyes were closed, on her face a look of sublime pleasure.
“Brenne,” he whispered gently, cupping her face. When her eyes flickered open, he couldn’t resist kissing her again. One thing led to another, and he could feel himself stiffening again with the need to take her once more. He pulled away, knowing that what he had to say was too important to wait.
Looking deep into her eyes, he told her his fondest wish. “Brenne, will you marry me?”
He held his breath. He’d told her how he felt, then showed her with the most powerful bout of lovemaking he’d ever experienced. But he still didn’t know how she felt about him. She’d confessed to loving him before, but with all they’d been through, Alex couldn’t be sure she still felt that way. All he knew was that his heart would shatter if she walked away now.
“Alex,” she said, surprised by his question. “Are you just asking me this because you think I’m going to marry Gavin Jeffries?”
“No,” he said, his tone full of sincerity. “I will admit, I’m a little rattled by the fact that he bought a farm for you both to live on here in Whiskey River, but this isn’t about jealousy. I know I acted like a possessive fool, and I won’t lie to you and say I don’t get jealous when I see you two together. The truth is, I’m in love with you, and if you don’t agree to spend the rest of your life with me, I’ll take a job as a hand on your ranch just so I can catch a glimpse of you every now and then.”
Brenne eyed him. “I’d make you muck out the stables.”
He chuckled. “You’re worth it. I’d do that and any other thing you asked, just to be near you. You’re the only woman I’ve ever felt this way about. I didn’t know I could feel this way about a woman, to be honest. That’s why I fought it so hard. But I’m done fighting. You win. I surrender my life to you, and I only hope that you go easy on me.”
“Never, Alex Parsons,” she whispered against his lips, then kissed him.
He asked again. “So will you break it off with Gavin Jeffries and marry me?”
“I’m not with Gavin. I told you before. You just didn’t believe me.”
“But the house. The decorator. The damn helicopter.”
She laughed. “We’re just friends and that’s all we’ll ever be.”
Relief washed over him, followed by a joy so pervasive, he felt like he could float away. Only one more thing was needed to make the moment perfect. Cupping her face, he asked her again the only question that mattered. “Brenne MacAllen, will you marry me or am I going to have to hogtie you to get an answer?”
“Three-time Junior Rodeo champion,” she said musingly, scratching her chin, then shook her head. “Nope. I still don’t think you can manage it.”
Alex growled playfully, burying his head in her neck and nipping at her. His fingers tickled her arms, making her let out a shout of laughter. “Woman, you are going to marry me if I have to bring the shotgun to the wedding myself.”
Brenne hugged him tight. “Alright, cowboy. I’ll marry you. On one condition.”
“Name it.”
“I keep all my horses.”
“Of course,” he said, chuckling. “Is that all?”
“And you don’t get to put a limit on the number of horses I have.”
Alex didn’t care if she was kidding or not. It was a small price to pay. “Deal. Even if I have to mortgage my clinics to pay for straw and feed.”
Brenne’s slow smile had him breathless, and the kiss that followed made him weak. “I love you,” he whispered again, and this time, she replied.
“I love you too. Always have. And it’s about time you got up the courage to claim me.”
“You know what, kitten? You’re right.” He kissed her again, then spent the rest of the night proving to her how right she was.
EPILOGUE
BRENNE
“Well, you’re definitely going to make an impression when you walk down the aisle.”
Lou’s eyes were twinkling as she helped Brenne adjust the veil that ran down her back and onto the floor. They were in Brenne’s bedroom, getting ready for the ceremony that would happen in less than an hour. “There. You’re perfect.”
Brenne moved over to the full-length mirror that hung on the back of her closet door to take herself in. She was attired in white, as befitted a bride, but instead of a lacy, poofy wedding skirt that billowed around her, she was wearing white jeans that she’d embroidered herself with thick silver thread. These she paired with a white corset top that cinched in her waist, white boots, and white cowboy hat with a veil.
She knew her take on a wedding gown wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste, but she didn’t care. It was her wedding after all, and she loved it. “How much longer do we have?” she asked, her stomach a knot of nerves.
A wet winter had transitioned to a warm spring, and they’d decided on an outside ceremony on the MacAllen ranch. Her father and brothers had built a trellis in the backyard, and her mother and sisters-in-law had worked hard to decorate it with freshly cut flowers. Rows of white chairs from a party rental company lined the grass, and a white silk aisle ran between them.
“Twenty minutes,” Lou replied. She squeezed into the space in front of the mirror. “Good choice on the denim dresses. It hides my baby bump.”
“I thought you were going to tell my mother on her birthday,” Brenne said.
“I thought so too, but then Johnnie got this idea to tell her on Easter by hiding a plastic egg with a baby inside and making her find it.” Lou shook her head. “I’m getting mighty tired of hiding this baby bump, but I can hold out two more weeks. Why does the holiday have to come so dang late this year?”
There was a gentle knock at the door. Lou went to open it, and Brenne turned to see Gavin enter. “Hey, Gavin,” she said in her usual friendly way. “What can I do you for?”
He paused in front of her, taking her in. “I knew you’d be wearing something unique. It suits you perfectly.”
“Thank you,” she said, preening. “So you just wanted to get a look at the bride before everyone else?”
Gavin chuckled. “You could say that. I also wanted to give you this.” He held out a card, which Brenne took. “Open it,” he instructed.