Page 30 of Her Cowboy Santa
“Yeah, we had a little bit of spit up this morning and had to change twice,” he answers.
I push myself to a sitting up position, leaning back against the headboard. On the nightstand, there’s already a cup of coffee and some toast, along with an assortment of Nate’s jams. “You could have woken me.”
“I wasn’t going to wake you. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of our son,” he sounds affronted that I suggested he wake me for something as simple as some spit up.
My heart skips a beat at the way he uses that so casually. “Our son. I like the sound of that.”
“Me, too.”
I reach for Danny, pulling him into my lap. I try to smother him with kisses, but he instantly wants Nate back, reaching for him instead. “I think he likes you more than me. He loves the idea of you being his dad.”
Nate takes Danny back. “Morning cuddles are the best.”
“I agree,” I whisper as I lean back against my soon-to-be husband’s chest. Outside, it’s snowy and cold. But right here in our bed, there’s only the warmth of a loving family, which reminds me. “I got you something for Christmas.”
“But I haven’t given you my gift yet,” he says.
I hold my hand up and wiggle my fingers. “I think this big rock definitely counts.”
“It’s not that big,” he mutters.
I send him a look. “Mary agreed. It can be seen in outer space.”
“I wanted to go even bigger,” he admits with a sigh. “I suppose there’s always our anniversary.”
“You just want to make sure all the other cowboys know I’m taken,” I tease.
The possessive look on his face tells me I’m not far off with my teasing. But I don’t mind. I love the idea that he wants me all to himself and plans to warn off anyone who gets too close.
“Hang on,” I get out of bed and hear his sharp intake of breath. I’m only in my sleep shirt and a pair of granny panties. But you’d think I was dressed in the world’s sexiest negligée from the noise he makes.
“Not until after the gift,” I tell him. I swear, we’re both so insatiable for each other. I would think it will let up in time. But if Mary and Christopher are anything to go by, we’ll still be horny for each other for decades to come.
I grab the gift and hurry back to the bed, placing the large box on top of his lap. He has to maneuver Danny around who stares with wonder at the shiny, red package.
Nate opens the box carefully then freezes when he sees what it is. He’s quiet and still for so long that I start to wonder if I did something wrong.
He runs his hand gently along the frame. Inside the frame is a picture of us from the Tacky Light Show. We’re both smiling at the camera with Danny and Rudy, the four of us a happy family together.
“It was the first moment I thought maybe we could be a family,” I admit.
“It’s perfect,” he whispers and puts his arm around my shoulders. “We’re going to hang it above the fireplace at our ranch in Courage. We’ll add more photos with it, and eventually, we’ll have dozens of pictures. Family photo albums overflowing with precious memories.”
I can’t help smiling at the future he’s talking about. Our little family has so many beautiful Christmas holidays to look forward to and share together.
Epilogue
Callie
* * *
“Oh, it’s so pretty!” I gasp when Nate pulls into the driveway of his home. It’s a beautiful two-story farmhouse. The green roof is covered with snow but the vibrant color peeks through where the accumulation is thin.
The covered porch with the wicker furniture is straight out of a story book. I can already see the summer nights we’ll spend on it, watching the stars come out to play as we talk about our hopes and dreams.
It’s been two days since our Christmas celebration in Silver Bell Hollow. We flew back to Asheville today and have spent the last two or so hours in Nate’s truck.
I see the delight and pride that flickers across his face. He’s proud of his farm. He couldn’t stop pointing things out to me as we drove down the old dirt roads. He’s going to give me the full tour tomorrow. Right now, it’s dusk and we’re all four exhausted from traveling.
