Page 83 of Long Hard Road

Madison had promised that she was coming back to me. My whole family had cheered when she reached the part of her acceptance speech where she said that she was coming home. Just an hour earlier, I’d been fuming at the sight of that prick kissing her when she clearly didn’t expect it. Her eyes flashed with anger as she struggled to keep the rest of her expression neutral. I didn’t buy it. I knew what Madison looked like when she wanted to be kissed.

She had looked so beautiful that night. Harper, Lily, and Emma had all swooned over her dress and hair. Chase had made a couple of comments about her curves that I knew were only intended to fuck with me. He wasn’t wrong though. She looked incredible in that dress. Almost as incredible as she looked when she wasn’t wearing anything at all.

It had been a week since Madison made that speech and I hadn’t heard a word from her since. I didn’t know if she’d changed her mind or was getting cold feet. Maybe my text had scared her. It had felt cowardly to tell her that I loved her in a text, but I had needed her to know. Even if she didn’t feel the same way.

Just as I was about to go inside for another beer, I heard tires on the dirt road. They weren’t as noisy as the ones from my brothers’ trucks. I set my beer bottle and the kitten on the porch and leaned forward in the chair. It was possible that Harper was stopping by again to check on me. She’d been by every day since Madison’s speech to see if she was back yet and her truck was smaller and sounded more like a car on these dirt roads.

The vehicle that came around the bend in the road did not belong to Harper, but it was a car that belonged to someone I loved. I wiped my palms against the denim on my thighs before I stood, heart in my throat.

Madison was back. She came home.

I descended the stairs two at a time while she turned off her engine and threw open her door. She came bounding out with a big smile on her face and raced toward me without even closing her car door. When she jumped into the air, I caught her and pulled her tight against my body. Her legs wrapped around my hips, arms locked around my neck. Her hair fell around me as I buried my face in the curve of her neck and breathed deeply.

“Hey, angel.” I pressed a kiss against her skin. “I missed you. Welcome home.”

Her fingers teased the hair on the back of my head and she kissed the shell of my ear. “I missed you, honey. It’s good to be home.”

She felt so right in my arms. This is where she was always meant to be. With me.

“Nate.” She pulled back a few inches without loosening her grip on me, waiting for me to lift my head. “I love you. I’ve loved you since our very first kiss and I’ll love you until my last breath.”

“I love you, too, angel. For the rest of my days.”

She kissed me hard enough that I rocked backward a step and chuckled against her lips. Apparently, she’d missed me just as much as I had missed her. I licked across her bottom lip until her mouth opened with a moan and then slid my tongue inside. She tasted like fresh mint with a hint of sweetness. She tasted like heaven.

“Do you want to see our new bedroom?” I asked with my lips still brushing hers.

“Not just the bedroom.” She nipped at my lower lip before sucking hard on it. My dick was hard and aching. “Maybe we should start by revisiting the kitchen island.”

“Fuck yes, babe.” I wanted her taste on my tongue, her thighs pressed to my ears.

“Madi!”

I groaned and let out a few curses that made Madison giggle. “We have company,” she said, looking over her shoulder. “You should probably put me down now.”

“Not sure that’s a great idea,” I mumbled nudging my erection against her core.

“Poor baby.” She gave me a soft kiss and then lowered herself.

Now that she was no longer monopolizing my senses, I saw the line of vehicles that had pulled in next to her car. My family was lined up, wearing big smiles as they waited to welcome Madison home. She gave me a hesitant look and I nodded. “Go on.”

A big smile lit up her face as she turned to greet everyone. They swept her up in hugs and congratulations. Dad was the first one to make his way toward me, pulling me into a backslapping embrace.

“She’s home,” he said gruffly. “I’m happy for you, son.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Even though I was annoyed at their timing, I was thrilled that my family was just as excited as I was for Madison to be back in Crestwood.

“Make sure she stays this time, okay?” Dad pulled back and winked at me. “Even if you have to tie her up.”

“Fuck, Dad.” I shook my head in utter disbelief at his inappropriateness. “I expect that kind of comment from Chase, not you.”

“I’m your dad. It’s required that I embarrass you.” He ruffled my hair for added emphasis.

“Hey, we’re going to run into town to pick up pizza and beer. Let’s bust out the cards for an epic game of War when we get back.” Ronan had one arm around a grinning Harper and the other around Madison.

“You’re leaving?” I asked Madison, trying not to sound too disappointed.

“I’ll be right back,” she promised, slipping away from Ronan to come kiss me on the cheek. “I came around the long way to get to the ranch and I want to see downtown. Catch up with Harper. We’ll be back in less than thirty minutes.”

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