Page 21 of Stranded with a Very-Kissable Cowboy

Her mouth falls open, and she squeaks, “What?”

“While you were gone, everything fell apart. I saw your videos and saw how happy you were, and I knew that when you came, I needed to push you away. You needed to get as far from me as you could—”

“Why?” she asks, shaking her head in confusion.

“Because you deserve more than this,” I tell her, waving my hand around.

Her forehead creases. “What exactly do you mean, Dalton? Do I deserve more than a handsome, caring cowboy… or more than two of the cutest, sweetest boys I’ve ever been around? Or more than open skies, sweet kisses, knowing that I have someone in this world to spend my life with… what do I deserve more than because I don’t understand.”

“Ranching is hard, Gia. Some years are worse than others. There’s always something that breaks down on this ranch. Traveling is hard, I can’t remember the last vacation I went on. I have two boys that I have to think about, and—”

She pushes out of my arms. “And you think, what? That I just want to vacation, eat bon bons and—”

“No, I’m not saying that. I’m saying you deserve to live the life you want to live and—”

She cuts me off. “And when I left here, if someone had asked, I would have told them that this is my dream life. I’ve never felt like this about a man, his kids, and his ranch. I finally felt like I could possibly belong somewhere, and you pushed me away.”

“I don’t want to push you away. I want you to be happy.”

She reaches up, putting her hands on each side of my neck. “And what if you make me happy? What if being here with you makes me happy? Being with your boys, seeing their excited faces when I come home, spending time with them, makes me happy?”

I put my hands at her waist and let them slide around her, palming her ass and pulling her flush against my body. Her chin rests on my chest, and she looks up at me. “Do I make you happy, Gia?”

She laughs. “Yeah, when you’re not being a dense ass.”

I nod. “I deserve that. I’m sorry, Gia. I thought I was doing the right thing by you.”

“The right thing is asking me to stay here with you for the summer.”

My fingers dig into her ass. “Just the summer?”

“For starters, yes. We’ll see if you want to keep me after that.”

“I’m thinking forever won’t be long enough, Gia.”

She goes to her tiptoes and presses her lips to mine. “Forever sounds pretty good.”

I groan as she leans into me. “I’m sorry for hurting you, Gia.”

She pulls at the hem of my shirt. “That’s okay. I’m sure you can find a way to make it up to me.”

I stall her hands and pull out of her arms. “In my bed. I’ll make it up to you in my bed. And that’s where you’re going to stay from now on.”

“But the boys…” she starts, and I kiss her silent.

“The boys will be fine. We’ll talk to them. Don’t worry about anything. We’ll take it a day at a time.”

“Okay.”

I laugh as we walk up the stairs. “Okay? I expected more of a fight.”

She crowds against me and whispers, “I missed you, Dalton and we’re about to have make-up sex. I’m not going to argue with you right now.”

I chuckle, and when we get to the top of the stairs, I scoop her up in my arms. “Make-up sex? Sounds good to me.”

She laughs the rest of the way to my bedroom, and I love it when her laugh turns to moans. I’ll be happy if I spend the rest of my life listening to her.

EPILOGUE

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