Page 66 of Rancher's Heart

Elle stood and handed me the remote bed control. Slowly, I raised the head of the bed so I could look at her better. Blinking fast, she finally stopped spinning and I reached for her hand. “I don’t want you to make appointments, or handle things on your own. We’re in this together and there’s no one else I’ve ever wanted to have babies with.” I watched the fear in her eyes dissipate and the tightness of her body evaporate. Tears flowed down her cheeks, and letting go of her hand, I pressed my palm to her stomach. She was carrying our child, a piece of her and I. Something that would bind us together for all eternity.

“You’re sure?” She whispered.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” Ever so gently, she leaned over the bed and pressed her lips to mine. My hand still pressed against her abdomen, I felt like I was kissing her for the first time.

“Do you kiss all your patients Nurse Greggory?” I asked when we finally broke our kiss.

“Only the really special ones.” She grinned as she pulled her chair closer to the bed.

“Who else knows?” I asked as I let the information float around in my head.

“Only Jake and Doctor Theon since he ran the tests on me.” She shrugged and looked down at our hands laced together. “I almost told your parents, but I didn’t want everyone to know before you did. If things hadn’t gone as well as they have, I would have told them.” She smiled at me as I nodded.

“Guess I need to get better so I can look after you.”

“I think you’ve done enough looking after.” She laughed as she let her hand fall on her stomach.

“Just think how much more I can do now that you’re knocked up. No need to worry about it now.” I winked, and she laughed. Her laugh was genuine and easy. It was a sound I had gotten used to hearing, and I would make sure I never heard anything other than that for the rest of my life.

“Marry me.”

“I don’t think we need to be making any grand plans right this second,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Ask me again when you’re not hopped up on pain meds.”

“I didn’t ask Woman.”

“Maybe you should.” She let go of my hand and crossed her arms. She was so cute when she was trying to be mad at me. Her furrowed brows, narrowed gaze, but the lightness in her eyes gave it all away.

“I said marry me. Thinking about you not being my wife is making me itch. I want you to be the only woman in my bed for the rest of my life. You and I belong together, and there is no acceptable answer other than okay.”

“Okay.” She beamed, and I wished I could pull her down on top of me. To forget everything from the last five days, and go back home where I would have done this right.

CHAPTER 35

ELLE

“Okay, be careful.” I walked backwards as Ryder and Linc helped Griff into the house. “Guys, you have to be careful of his shoulder. Take him to his room, it’s all set up for him.” I ran back out to the truck to get the bags that I’d left in there.

“You know she’s not going to let you do anything,” Linc said as I stopped in the hallway to listen to them.

“I know.” Griff sighed. “But I’m going to milk this as long as possible.” They all laughed and I rolled my eyes.

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll try, big man, but I’m good at my job. I’m not a pushover. You’re going to wish for those nurses back in the hospital,” I said as I walked into the room and set the supplies on his dresser.

“What else can we do?” Ryder asked as they helped Griff get into bed. I turned and looked at the man I loved. He was pale, and the dark circles under his eyes had become more pronounced since we started moving him. He was fighting sleep.

“I think that’s all for today.” Shoving my hands in my pockets. I looked at Griff.

“All right, we’ll be here tomorrow,” Ryder said as he kissed my cheek on his way out. “Take care of him, and call if you need help,” he whispered, and I nodded.

“I will.” Smiling at him, I watched the two men leave the room and heard the door close as they left the house.

Griff looked out his window, and I climbed into bed beside him. “We’ll rebuild. Nash and Kipp are already looking for contractors, and they’ve got plans for you to look at. It won’t be what it was, but it will stand again.” His steady breathing made me turn to look at him. He’d fallen asleep, so I pulled a blanket over him and gently kissed his head. Turning to leave him to get some rest, he wrapped his hand around mine.

“I’ve spent over a week without you at my side. Lay down with me, please.” His tired voice pulled at my heartstrings.

“That’s where you’re wrong, cowboy. I was always at your side.”

“You weren’t in my bed.”

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