Page 71 of Two Risks I'd Never Take Again

She circled her arms around my neck and kissed me more fervently.

After several minutes, I pulled back and brushed my thumb across her lips. “I’ve thought about kissing you multiple times a day, sometimes multiple times an hour, since not kissing you in the hot tub. And after New Year’s, I thought about it twice as often.”

“I can’t wait to kiss you in the hot tub.” She tugged me back to her and wrapped her legs around my waist. “And in the cabin.” She pressed a kiss to my stubble. “And by the barn.” Her lips brushed mine. “And on the hilltop with the amazing view.”

“There is so much of the ranch you haven’t seen. So much of it I want to show you.” I crushed her to my chest and held her, helped by the fact that her legs were wrapped around me.

“I remembered one other thing I needed to say. Later, I’m sure I’ll remember the other stuff.” She rested her forehead against mine.

“What’s the other thing?”

“I want to move into the cabin if it’s really okay.”

“Yes. It’s okay. More than okay.” All my dreams were coming true in this little doughnut shop in the middle of the night. Well, not all of them, but there was a perfect time for everything.

“Good. Because I want to be able to see you at the end of every day, laugh with you over dinner in the dining hall, and enjoy a more-than-friendly soak in the hot tub with you when you have time.”

“I love you, Tessa. I hope my actions have been clear about that. And I’m not asking for more right now. When I carry you to my bed, there will be a ring on your finger, and I don’t mean an engagement ring.”

She hugged me, her grin wide and tears glistening in her eyes. “I fell in love with you when we were only friends. Wait! Did you plan it that way?”

“We can talk about that tomorrow.” I didn’t want to mess up a good thing.

Her head wagged back and forth. “No. Seriously. Did you?”

“I knew you were afraid of dating and getting hurt. My hope was that you’d see that you could trust me. Love is a lot like friendship. It’s about spending time together, laughing together, and crying together. So, yeah, I was hoping to sneak into your heart through the friend zone.”

She kissed the scar just under my eye. “You knew exactly what I needed. You showed me that you’re...” She crinkled her nose, then teared up. “You’re perfect for me.”

“I want to be, Tessa.”

She teased her fingers through my hair. “Isn’t it funny that we’re saying we love each other in the same place where you asked me out the very first time?”

Her smile made it seem like she remembered that day fondly. My take on it was a bit different.

“Quite funny. Especially considering that you turned me down.” I kissed her again before setting her on her feet. “Let’s get you home and to bed.”

“I’m going to have a sugar crash very soon. I haven’t eaten anything but doughnuts since the wedding, and I haven’t slept a wink.”

“What do I need to do to get us out of here? I’ll come back later and help you clean.”

“Gosh. I sure made a mess. I’m usually not this messy in the kitchen.” She ran around behind the counter. “Put all those doughnuts in here.” She laid out flat boxes. “I forgot to tell you what they’re called. These are my after-school flavors. After-school snickerdoodle and after-school chocolate chip.”

She’d definitely be an after-school cookies kind of mom, but that was a conversation for another day.

I started packing doughnuts into boxes. In one of them, I mixed the flavors and labeled that one with my name. That particular box was headed to my cabin. The rest could go to the dining hall.

“I’m ready. Everything perishable is put away.” She covered a yawn.

I lifted the stack of boxes. “We’ll come back for your car.”

“Good idea.” She pushed open the door, then ran back to the counter for her purse. “I’m glad you love me.”

I’d spend the next hundred years thinking the same thing.

Before we madeit even halfway back to the ranch, Tessa was asleep. Her fingers were laced with mine, and her lips were curved into a smile.

Once we passed through the gate, I drove to the main house at a snail’s pace, relishing every moment. After gently sliding my hand out of hers, I ran the doughnuts into the dining hall before driving to the cabins.

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