Page 77 of More Than a Blind Date

Then we get to my favorite part. And I kiss my bride.

I wanteverything to be perfect for our first night together in my cabin. I’ve arranged a babysitter for Floofy. Thankfully, Aunt Tandy’s cats love the little guy. So there won’t be any little fuzzy trying to share the bed with us.

Tonight, Rose is all mine.

With her in my arms, I walk to my cabin door. “The keys are in my pocket. Do you think you can reach them?”

“You never lock it.” She stretches, shoves her hand into my pocket, and spends way too much time feeling around for the only thing in there.

I stare at her, trying not to seem amused. “What are you doing?”

She grins, that bottom lip between her teeth. “Enjoying myself.”

Kissing her is just the thing to get her back on task. She unlocks the door and pushes it open. Once inside, I twist the lock.

“What’s with the locked doors?”

“I locked it before because I didn’t want anyone sneaking in and short sheeting the bed or anything like that. I’m locking it now because I won’t chance anyone—human or otherwise—getting in unannounced.” I continue down the hall to the bedroom.

“Human or otherwise?”

“I’m starting to wonder if Dennis the goat can work doorknobs because two days ago, I found him inside Tandy’s house. Eating her plants. She was not happy about that.” I set Rose on her feet.

She trails a finger down my buttons. “He’s a mess, isn’t he?”

“He is, but in spite of all her fussing, she loves that silly goat.”

“Uh-huh.” Rose undoes a few buttons, then presses a kiss to my neck. “I used my discount at the lingerie store.”

“Did you?” My gaze slides down her dress, and I’m wishing I had X-ray vision.

She nods. “Do you remember the first night we shared this cabin?”

“Like it was yesterday.”

“You said that you were glad the guy with the rose had a change of heart, but the whole time, you were the guy with the rose.” Her focus shifts to my hip. “I want a better look at it.”

“That can be arranged.” I reach around her and slide down the zipper on the back of her wedding gown. “Do you know what I want?”

“To see what I bought in Delaney’s shop?”

I pull the decorative comb out of her hair, and her blonde strands fall around her shoulders. “You. I want you.”

EPILOGUE

DAPHNE

From the moment Dallas told me about the plan for the costume party, I was all in. And I knew who I wanted to dress as. Daphne Blake from Scooby-Doo. She finds trouble and solves crime without mussing her hair. The purple dress is a little short for my taste. And the reddish-orange wig makes me look ridiculous, but if I’m going to play the part, I need to do it well. Shoot, I considered borrowing a friend’s Great Dane for the evening but decided that was a bit much.

It’s dark, so I’m using my phone’s navigation to make sure I don’t miss a turn or anything. These back roads all look the same to me. But it’s not like I haven’t been to the ranch before. I drive out there often. I don’t know why I’m worried about getting lost. Maybe I’m nervous. But I don’t feel nervous.

Rose hasn’t even been married a full month, but her happiness is up to eleven these days. And I’m thrilled for her. She deserves nothing less. When Dallas mentioned wanting to have a party on the night of the big charity ball that Rose was missing for the first time, it only confirmed what I already knew. He’s perfect for her.

I want to be loved like that, but I have no clue where to find the right person.

You meet the perfect someone when you least expect it. I’ve heard that more times than I can count, but it’s not helpful. I feel like I’m always expecting. Or maybe I’m just hoping, and I need to parse the difference in the meaning of those words. Either way, I haven’t met the perfect guy. And I want to.

And, Cupid, if you take special orders, put me down for a cowboy.

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