Page 47 of The Rancher's Second-Choice Wife

Chapter Twenty

VALERIAN CALLED FOR a break in the conference room when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He missed his wife like crazy, but it was also for her safety that he insisted she fly back to New York the day after their wedding.

They had only been apart for ten days, but he could no longer remember what life was without her.

She was the first thing he thought about in the morning, the last thought he had before falling asleep. But when he told his wife this in one of their late-night FaceTime calls, her reaction had been unexpected, to say the least.

It’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me—

When you say it like that, I’m thinking I should take it back.

But please don’t be mad if I can’t say the same thing?

I’m officially taking it back. Also, are you saying you’re thinking of someone else before you think of me?

Yes?

What the hell, Poppy?

It’s not what you think, I swear! It’s just...the moment I wake up, I thank God for a good night’s sleep. I thank Him for the chance to live another day...and for you. I can’t thank Him enough for you, and it’s the same thing before I go to bed.

Poppy wasn’t the first girl he had dated who talked about God and faith. But his wife was definitely the first one to speak of God like He was a part of her everyday life. And then there were her daily texts of Bible verses, which even came with short funny reflections and always capped off by discussion questions like they were a two-member book club.

A wry smile tugged at his lips as he remembered this, and amusement still colored his voice as he answered her call.

“Good morning, wife.”

“Good morning, husband.” Her voice was a mixture of shyness and giddiness, and the sound still turned him on like no other. “You sound like you’re in a really good mood.”

“I’m always in a good mood when talking to you.”

“Why do I feel like you're secretly laughing at me again?”

“I’m not.”

“You promised you’d never lie to me.”

“And I’m not.”

“Oh.”

“Since I’m obviously laughing at you, not secretly.”

****

HEATHER JOINED HER sister-in-law for lunch and tried not to wince at what she saw. “Being in love does not suit you at all, Poppy.”

Unfortunately, the words only made the younger woman beam...and look even creepier in the process.

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