Page 76 of No Love Lost

He shoved the phone into his pocket so he could have two hands to frame her face. “No wonder I’m so in love with you. Your compassion humbles me.”

“Are you going to text them back?”

“Soon. I’ve got something more important to do at the moment.” He lowered his head and kissed her.

Addy sprawled across Heath’s body, sated and happy. “Future Christmas days will have a lot to live up to. This one was absolutely perfect.”

He chuckled beneath her. “You’re right. But I’ll be glad when we have more space separating us from Nina’s room.”

Addy laughed even as her cheeks flushed. “Me too. I still can’t believe you bought us our dream house.”

His fingers drew lazy circles over her lower back. “I saw how much your eyes lit up when we stopped there that day. When the condo sale went through, I thought it was a sign that I should jump on the property. I know I should have probably talked to you about it, but I wanted you to have a good surprise for a change.”

Because he knew how many bad surprises she’d had over her lifetime, and he wanted better for her. She kissed his chest. “You’re a pretty special man, Heath Wilcox. I’m so glad we had a baby together and so very happy we’re all together now.”

Before she could even blink, she was on her back, wearing her very own sexy man like a blanket. Her body revved right back up.

“I’m glad about all that, too. And extra glad you said yes.”

She brought her hand around so she could look at the pretty ring again. It was gorgeous, but it was the symbol of it all that made her happy. “Forever. Nothing can tear us apart this time.”

“Not a damn thing. I’m never letting go, Addy.”

“Good.”

“Now let’s get you crying out yes again. But quietly. Our daughter is next door.”

Bonus Scene

Garrett Briscoe

Garrett walked the paddock and talked with each of the horses, passing out apple slices and carrots. Christmas wasn’t a special day for the animals or for him, but they deserved a treat, anyway.

This ranch wasn’t the same as his grandparents’ ranch back in Oklahoma, but it was a good place. Folks in Tennessee treated their animals well and knew what they were doing with the training.

Garrett kept his eyes on the middle ground as he headed toward the lone mare on the edge of the paddock. While the Tennessee Horse Rescue & Training Centre mostly worked with animals bred to specific tasks, they also took in some rescues.

Those were the ones Garrett couldn’t ignore. He wished he could.

Every forlorn horse reminded him of Shaggy. Shaggy might have been a dog, but she’d been just as skittish as these horses when they’d first met.

They’d spent years together, with Shaggy turning into one of the best K-9s Garrett had ever seen. Smarter than most people and kinder, too.

But if it hadn’t been for her job, she’d still be alive.

All his fault.

Which meant he should ignore the mare. Leave her to heal on her own. What if he caused her death, too?

But the mare didn’t let anyone else approach her. As if she knew Garrett’s heart was as shredded as her own.

Eye contact would make her bolt, so he sidled his way through the crowd, edging closer. When there were no more horses between them, he started talking softly. Telling her what a beautiful girl she was.

A set of galloping hooves approached, and the mare took off for another corner. With a sigh, Garrett turned to see what his boss had to say.

Cecil Caputo was probably in his seventies, but the man sat on a horse with a ramrod straight back and keen eye. When CC slowed the gelding, he swung himself off like a man a third of his age. “Hey, Garrett.”

Garrett nodded, but concern started in his belly. The look in CC’s eye said something was off. Something big.

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