Page 112 of Extreme Romancing in Idaho

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “There are several reasons why I bought this place for you.” He tapped his index finger. “One: you need a place to stay now that some jack-ass company bought your old one out from under you. Two: it’s a peaceful spot. Three—”

Still covering my mouth, I started laughing through my tears. He touched his second and third finger as he ticked off his list and paced in front of me, the puppy chasing at his heels.

“… Mae has plenty of room to roam. Once I fixed the fences, those were a mess. And four: the year-round creek on the property will make it easy to get water to the cows. Five: a puppy needs a quiet place in the country to live.”

“Remi—”

“Six …” He kept going as if I hadn’t spoken. “I love you so much.” He dropped his hands to his side.

“What about your dream? With you and Myles?”

“You are my new dream, Angie. Nothing else matters more to me than your happiness.” He started pacing again. “And working with my family for a while longer might give me an opportunity to improve my relationship with them. Seven …”

My cheeks lifted into a shaky smile. Only one reason mattered to me. I didn’t have to give up any part of myself, work my butt off, or become someone else to earn Remi’s love. I was enough. Boring, Idaho, and all.

Taking hold of his shirt, I yanked him to me and stopped his list with my mouth. His arms lifted to encircle me. He pressed me tightly to him. The feel of his heart matching rhythm with mine, the taste of him—fresh air, fall leaves, and spearmint—the way his hands spread warming tingles everywhere they touched—these all told me emphatically that I was home.

“Of course,” he whispered against my lips. “If you’ll be needing a farmhand, I know someone who comes highly recommended. Used to be a high-rolling playboy in Dallas. Then came to Idaho and fell in love.”

He kissed me again. Gripping the curve of my bottom, he lifted me off the ground. I wrapped my legs around his waist. Tilting my head, I continued to match the movement of his lips. He spun me in a circle, then, relaxing his hold on me, he let me slide down his body until my feet once again touched the ground.

“He’ll have to submit an application to HR.” I trailed kisses along his neck. “And agree to work for sex.”

Remi laughed and pushed me back, forcing me to look up at him. “You might not want to be so loose with those terms.”

“I can be as loose as I want with the man I love.”

“Who, Myles?” He widened his eyes in mocking shock. “Does he know about your feelings?”

I let out a hoot of laughter and slugged him on the shoulder.

He caught my hand and held it against his chest. The beat of his heart thudded softly against my fingertips.

“Say it again.” All joking left him. He dipped his forehead to mine.

“I love you, Remington James Cockrell the Third.” Some of the weight pressing me down, giving gravity more power over me, left. I’d found the man I’d been searching for. Someone who’d love me as much as Papa loved Mama.

“Then I believe,” he kissed my forehead, “Miss Angelina Johnson, we have a deal.”

Epilogue

Angie

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Remi checked the strap around my waist for the fiftieth time.

Cold steel steadied me. I gripped the railing and peered into the depths of the Snake River Canyon, cloaked in the glow of leftover spring rains and bathed in early sunlight. Waterfalls crashed over the edge of cliffs. The hem of my white gown flapped against my calves in rhythm with the edge of Papa’s red flannel jacket.

It still carried hints of wood smoke and lavender laundry detergent of fresh rain and soil. Wrapped in the warmth of his jacket, its worn fabric soft against my skin, and cocooned by his smell, Papa was here with me—not to walk me down the aisle but to take a leap with me.

“It looks a lot higher from up here,” I mumbled through gritted teeth. My toes curled in my white tennis shoes, tingling and growing numb. The only comfort I had was strapped to me.

Remi.

He’d BASE jumped hundreds of times and was certified to do the tandem jump we were about to attempt.

“One word from you, and I can tell all these people to go away,” Remi whispered against my ear.

My gaze strayed to the pavement where flashing lights blocked and rerouted traffic. All our guests sat in chairs draped in satin with white balloons tied to them. Pedro and his wife with their kids, Rex and Wendy, the entire staff of the farm store, and most of the town of Clear Springs crowded onto the asphalt. Lili, Blake, Maddie, and Renee sat next to Mama and Jared in the front row, Maddie clutching a leash that kept our energetic Roscoe from running off.

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