Page 33 of Spring Forward

“You mean it? You really mean it?”

I rock us gently, feeling the depth of my decision wrap around me and ground me. The first of our roots, even though they are small now, start to reach into the soil. They’ll grow. They’ll get stronger.

Home.

We’re home.

“I mean it,” my words are a vow. “We’re staying. I’m sorry it took so long for me to accept it.”

August pulls back from me, the sadness gone from his eyes and replaced with excitement and mirth. “Noel is going to faint when you tell him,” he teases.

I throw my head back and laugh and my brother joins me a heartbeat later. I don’t know if my man will faint, but I do know he’ll show me exactly how thrilled he is about my decision.

More than once, I’m sure.

CHAPTER 14

NOEL

I don’t know what August and Delaney were laughing about yesterday before lunch, but I’m going to find out. They’ve been acting like two little kids with a secret since their conversation. Every time they start whispering, I’ve tried to find out what they’re hiding, but they clam up the moment I get too close.

If they don’t tell me soon, I’m considering implementing tickle torture.

August will definitely crack then. The boy is ticklish beyond compare.

I’m just desperate enough to try it.

My woman stretches in bed next to me and a satisfied little sound comes from deep in her chest. The sun is going to be peeking over the horizon in minutes, but these early morning moments are ones I live for. I won’t skimp on them, and I don’t allow Delaney to either.

As I slide a hand down her side and soak up the softness of her skin, I contemplate what I’m planning next to show Delaney that staying is the right thing for her to do. I’ve been working on it for the last two weeks, ever since Fletcher and Eden’s wedding.

Maybe it’ll show her just how serious I am about this being her home.

I don’t think she’s caught on to the little questions I’ve asked her here and there, not only about the ranch house she grew up in, but about what she likes and doesn’t like in a house. I’ve been subtle about it.

At least, I thought I was being subtle until Huxley called me on my shit. I had joined him for the morning chores in the barn and he smirked at me the entire time. Once we were done mucking the stalls, I couldn’t take it anymore.

I snapped, “What is up with you? Why do you keep looking at me like that?”

His smirk only widened, and I rolled my eyes with a huff, ready to get back to work and ignore his weird ass. “Oh,” he drawled, “I don’t know, I’m just waiting for Delaney to figure out you’re planning to build her a house even though she hasn’t agreed to stay.”

My entire body froze, and I turned back toward my brother slowly with a menacing as fuck look on my face. I pointed at him, my voice dropping and telling him just how much danger he was in at the moment, “You won’t say a fucking word to her. You won’t tease her. You will keep your mouth shut.”

He held his hands up in surrender, but the smirk was still in place. “I promise I won’t say anything, big brother,” his words were teasing, “but you’re not being as subtle as you think. If she doesn’t figure it out soon, I’ll be shocked.”

“She’s not going to figure it out,” I grumbled knowing he was right. “At least not before the plans are complete and I can show them to her.”

“Noel,” my woman’s sleepy voice pulls me from my thoughts.

She stretches again and presses her perfect ass against my cock which is weeping pre-cum while wondering why the fuck its not buried inside her right now.

I know, buddy, I know.

As much as I’d love to be balls deep in my woman’s pussy, which I know will already be wet for me, I need to talk to her. It feels like time is running out and I’m ready to pull out all the stops to get her to agree to stay right here.

Where she belongs.

“Freckles,” my voice is still husky from sleep as I turn her gently until she’s facing me. “I love you,” I whisper as I kiss her forehead.

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