Page 65 of Red Hot Rancher

“Yes.”

He set her on the bed and covered her with his body. Nudging her legs part with his knee, he dropped his head to hers, licking his tongue along the seam of her mouth. She opened for him and spread her legs. There was no need for foreplay, no reason to wait.

Maybe one. “You’re still on the pill.”

“Yes, and no, we don’t need a condom.” Whatever happened now would be at the right time and it’d be with Caleb.

Dragging the head of his cock through her wetness, he paused only to position himself before he thrust inside. Her ragged gasp mingled with his raw groan. He thrust and stilled, and their gazes clashed. He took his time withdrawing and slamming in. Lifting her pelvis, she gave him as much access as she could. He rose to his arms, a slight quiver traveling through his body.

“I need…” He panted and rocked his hips. “I wanted to wait, but I want to marry you. I want a life with you. My ranch is your ranch and I want you at my side when we plan our home together.”

His arms shook as he strained to hold still. His coiled power between her legs was intoxicating and made it nearly impossible not to undulate under him, to stroke herself along his length.

“Yes, Caleb. I will marry you.”

A slow grin spread across his face. “Say it again.” He bucked his hips.

The burst of ecstasy robbed her of air, but she forced the words out. “Yes, Caleb, I will marry you.”

He lost himself and she went with him, each straining with the other, rapture building, until he threw his head back, his teeth clenched. Her body tightened as her orgasm hit. She clamped around him, milking his release. She wanted it all. To share his name, his home, his babies, his ranch. Her life was finally her own, and she chose to be with him.

Epilogue

As Brigit pulled the pickup into the parking lot of the farm and supply store, the inset diamond on her engagement ring winked in the light. The band was perfect and simple, and while she’d have to take it off to go shoulder-deep into the back end of a cow, she didn’t otherwise have to worry about it hindering her work. She’d insisted she didn’t need one, but Caleb was stubborn that way and had surprised her with a ring that was perfect for her.

They hadn’t gotten out of bed for hours after he’d presented her with it. That was two months ago.

She parked. It was the middle of August and she’d used the pickup more than Caleb, since she was running the ranch. He often drove the car Brock had given her—a cheap buy at a car auction that he refused to let her pay him back for. But she didn’t feel guilty. As much knowledge and experience as her cousins had running their operation, they’d consulted her several times, and not just for show. She was their personal consultant and she charged them nothing—because she was finally in a place to give back.

Plus, she offered free babysitting for all of them and none had failed to take her up on it. Caleb had the time of his life watching kids and they spent much of their time reminiscing about when they were younger. Then talk turned to starting their own family, but since their wedding was this weekend, neither was in a hurry to get started expanding. She wanted to oversee one calving season before she dealt with her own pregnancy status.

Caleb pointed to another familiar truck. “There’s Justin. He’s already here with your parents.”

“Great. They’ll just come home with us.” Justin had gotten them from the airport so she and Caleb could run a few more last-minute wedding errands. Mom and Dad would stay at their place for the night, but after the wedding, they’d be with Justin.

They wanted the full experience of the new house Caleb and Brigit had moved into a week ago. The place was done a month early. Unprecedented, the builder had said, but it wasn’t like she and Caleb could afford all the extras. It was still a nice two-story ranch home. The design was similar to the previous house, but a century more updated.

She climbed out. Caleb hooked his arm around her shoulders and they walked in. Teddy smiled and waved at her. She’d made sure there were no repeats of that first time, and she’d done the same at the auto parts store and the repair garage she took projects to that she couldn’t fix herself—and only if Jesse was too busy to be hired out.

Thanks to Farah, Brigit had a best friend she could talk to about both wedding plans and calving rates.

When she spotted her parents chatting with someone concealed behind a tower display of watering cans, she changed direction, Caleb moving with her.

She leaned over to whisper to Caleb. “Farah’s coming over to help make the birdseed sachets Mom insisted on.”

She would’ve been fine with a small wedding, or even a courthouse wedding, but she’d told Caleb that she didn’t want to fly under the radar marrying him. She wanted the world to know. It was going to happen, even on a budget. And birdseed was cheap enough.

Caleb snorted. “I’d say something like ‘I can’t wait to get a load of you two getting all crafty,’ but I know my ass is going to be stuck beside you getting them ready.”

Her laughter drew the attention of customers. The man her parents chatted up leaned around the watering cans.

“Look at that,” Brigit said under her breath. It was Oliver. He was dressed in what he usually wore to the office.

“Oh, Brigit. Caleb.” Mom stretched her arms out, and she wasn’t putting on a show. Mom loved Caleb, and while Caleb might have tried to maintain some distance out of fear of rejection, it hadn’t lasted long. He talked on the phone more to Mom than she did.

“Mama.” Caleb hugged her, lifting her feet off the ground.

“Oliver,” Brigit greeted coolly before shifting her attention to her dad. “How was the flight?”

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