Page 111 of Shelter from the Storm

“Living in that cabin I mentioned. Sleeping together every night, waking up in each other’s arms, sharing breakfast, then walking to work, where I intend to slip into your office every hour or so to steal a kiss.”

“You do that now,” she reminded him, though it was clear she liked sneaking those kisses as much as he did.

“And I’ll still do it then,” he replied confidently.

Gretchen pressed her hands flat against his bare chest, her fingers toying with his nipples. “I have to admit, I like the sound of that.”

“Say the word and it’s ours.”

She bit her lower lip. “Maybe not yet. But…” She seemed to seriously consider what he was offering. “Yeah. I could see us there in a year.”

Theo kissed her slowly, deeply. “You make me so happy.”

Gretchen, not finished with their game, stroked his jaw, playing with his beard. “Where do you see us in five years?”

“We’ll still live in our cabin, but it’ll be bigger. My brothers and I will have put on an addition, doubled the size of it.”

Her eyes widened. “Why?”

“Because in five years, we’ll already have our first child, a precocious little three-year-old with your good looks and my outrageous personality, and the second baby will be on the way.”

“Two children?”

“Within the next five years.”

Gretchen tilted her head. “Does that mean you want more than two?”

Theo reached up, slipping her hair over her shoulder, baring it so he could place a kiss there. “Kitten, I want as many babies as you’ll give me.”

“Two,” she replied. “To start. Then…” She lifted her shoulder.

“Two sounds damn fine.”

Gretchen ran her hand over his cheek, cupping it. “I have to admit, I never saw myself as a mother until this moment.”

Theo was surprised. “Why not? You’ll be an amazing mother.”

“My biggest fear the past few years was that Briggs might one day decide he wanted children.”

Theo understood that fear. Understood that Gretchen would never want to bring a child into a violent home. However, for too many years, she’d been trapped, unable to get herself free, so her fear made sense.

“But you want kids?” he asked.

“With you? More than I can say.”

Theo swore his heart pulled a Grinch and grew three sizes.

“I don’t have a doubt you’ll be the world’s greatest dad,” Gretchen added.

“I hope that’s true. I was blessed with one hell of a role model.”

“Rex is awesome,” Gretchen agreed.

When Theo told him about Gretchen’s dad leaving when she was young, Dad appointed himself Gretchen’s “adopted” father, taking her under his wing this past month, teaching her things her own dad should have—like how to change a tire and check the oil in the car.

“So it’s settled. In five years, we’ll have two adorable children and a beautiful home with an incredible view of the farm.”

Gretchen’s eyes were glassy with happy tears. “That sounds wonderful. I’ve spent so much of my life simply going through the motions, taking everything day by day without a thought to the future, because I couldn’t see anything good on the horizon.”

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