Page 135 of Love in the Wild

Easy. You’ve waited all day. You can wait another minute.

Actually, he’d been waiting on Hadley his entire life. He just hadn’t realized it until recently.

He stood as she parked beside his truck. Two long strides off the porch led him to her side as she slipped out of the car. Her smile unfolded as she looked up at him, and every bit of his restraint flew out the window as he wrapped one arm around her waist and gently pulled her close, pressing his lips against hers.

She melted into his arms, sinking into the kiss the way she fell into the couch after a long day. Careful not to crush her bruised ribs, he held her up, tasting and drinking in every soft movement of her lips against his.

Reluctantly, he pulled away and asked, “How was your day?”

“Good. Busy, but better now. What about?—”

Gage swept her into his arms, cradling her against his chest as he strode toward the cabin. “My day was great. I have surprises for you.”

“What are you doing?” she asked as a joyful laugh rang in his ear.

“You’ve been a strong, independent woman all day. Now it’s time to come home and let me take care of you.”

Hadley rested her head on his shoulder as he stepped inside. “I’ll allow it.”

Gage lowered Hadley to the couch and tucked a pillow behind her head. “What do you want to drink?”

“Water, please. Oh, and I got you some Dr Pepper. It’s in the refrigerator.”

Gage shook his head as he headed for the kitchen. It amazed him every time he saw the evidence of her thoughtfulness. “Thanks, sunshine.”

“What’s my surprise?” she asked before he returned to the living room.

He grabbed Hadley’s favorite cup–a blue tumbler with a big white cross on it–and filled it with water. “Patience, baby.”

Counting through his breaths to ease his racing heart, he walked slowly back to Hadley and knelt beside her as he handed her the water. “You want to hear the good news or the good news first?”

“Good news,” she said, taking a big gulp of water.

“Mr. Benson offered me more hours. It’s still part time so I can keep working at Beau’s too.”

“That’s great!”

Hadley worked more than any woman he’d ever met, and her determination was one of the many things he loved about her. Even after a day of long hours, they still made time for each other.

“Yeah. He’s trying to really get the ranch up and running, but he needs more hands.”

Matthew hadn’t necessarily said to keep the rest of his story a secret, but Gage wouldn’t be sharing it anyway. He had more important things to talk about tonight.

He rested his arm on Hadley’s hip as she lay on her side. “How’s your mom?”

“She’s great. I took her some flowers this morning.”

It was cute how her mom called Hadley and Cheyenne her flowers. No wonder he’d thought of Hadley as his sunshine. She was all things colorful and bright.

He didn’t mention his own visit to see her mom today. That was part of the next surprise. “That’s good.”

“I know. She’s really thriving here. I’m so glad we moved here last year.”

“Me too. What would I do without you?”

It wasn’t a thought he liked to dwell on. The man he was before knowing her didn’t even exist anymore.

Hadley laughed and swatted his arm. “You wouldn’t know me, so you’d be fine.”

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