Page 118 of Country Contract

Fuck, that admission feels so good. She’s saying it so it’s known, not because there’s a chance she’s staying. It’s her desire to stay.

For me, that’s enough because we both knew going into this what it was. As much as I want her to leave behind everything she has in California, I don’t expect her to. We’ve only known each other for two months.

Dad said he knew.

Hunter knew.

Could I leave here?

For the first time in my life, I actually consider it. So many of my girlfriends wanted to leave this town and I didn’t. I had my heels dug deep into my family land, unwilling to change.Could I leave all this behind for her?

I know she wouldn’t want me to. How many cattle farms are there out in Cali? They probably don’t need more.

“I know,” I whisper.

Urgent kisses turn to more and we make our way to the bedroom where I give myself to her, both body and soul.

As I press into her, I know she can feel it. She knows how I feel about her. While I move with her, I tell her how fucking perfect she is, and how good it was for her to be mine while she was. She begs me to never stop. She kisses me deeply and basks in my praise.

When we finish, we stay connected, catching our breath. Harlow’s arms wrap around my neck, and she locks her eyes with mine.

“I’m never going to forget or regret a single minute I spent with you, kid.”

“Same, witch. If I could have broken this spell, I would have done it a long time ago.”

When we separate, I feel a loss. Like I left a piece of myself in her. I think about how that will be our last time . . . but I’m wrong.

We fuck.

We make love.

We hold each other.

It’s cathartic, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Chapter 45

Harlow

“Do you have names picked out for your future children?” I’m facing the window with Harrison’s naked body behind mine.

“What?” He nuzzles into my hair.

“Oh, come on. You have to have names that you like.”

“Okay, yes, I have names that I like. But if my wife doesn’t like them, I won’t be upset or anything.” He starts to draw lazy lines up and down my arm and shoulder with his fingertips. “I like Aurora and Lillith for a girl and Asher and Soren for a boy.”

I close my eyes and think about it. Soren Hill, taking Harrison’s or his father’s name in the middle. Just like him and his brother. It’s perfect. Aurora Hill. How are these names so fucking perfect, just like everything else Harrison conjures up?

“I think she’ll like them. They’re beautiful names.”

“What about you? Do you have names picked out?”

I don’t. I’ve thought more about kids in the last two months than my whole life, and I don’t have a single name in mind.

“Nope. As long as it doesn’t start with H. I hate H names. I have since Heidi was born. I begged my mom to pick something else for Hayleigh, but she obviously didn’t. I think I like the name Marie, because of Maria. But I think it’s a better middle name.”

Aurora Marie Hill.

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