“Thorn,” Shep whispered, pulling me closer. “Doesn’t matter if I spent every waking second with her since birth. There would still only be one person who knows me best. You.”
His words soothed a little more of my raw edges. Shep’s thumb ghosted over my bottom lip. “You saw parts of me I didn’t think I’d ever let anyone into. You saw all of me. Healed things I didn’t even know were still broken. And there’s only one woman I’ve ever loved. You.”
My breath hitched. “Do not make me cry, Shepard Colson.”
His lips twitched. “Baby, you full-name me like that, and you know I have to fuck you.”
I squealed as he hauled me up and over his shoulder. “Shep! Anson is here,” I hissed.
“Good thing there’s a barn.”
“I can’t believehow much they change the space. It’s incredible. Like we’re hovering over the fields out there.” My words were quiet, reverent as I stepped back, taking in the two massive windows I’d helped Shep and Anson install—after Shep’s and my detour to the barn.
Shep’s arm slid around my shoulder. “Can’t you just imagine sitting here and taking in all your amazing landscaping ideas?”
Warmth spread through me at how excited he was about my vision for the backyard. “Curling up with a book and a cup of tea,” I said, picturing it now. “God, it’s going to be breathtaking when it snows.”
“That house envy is rearing its ugly head, so I’m going to get back to the Victorian,” Anson muttered, heading for the door.
I glanced over my shoulder. “Tell Rho hi for me.”
“Will do.” Anson gave Shep a salute. “See you tomorrow, boss.”
“Later,” Shep called back.
I turned back to the view in front of me. You could seeeverythingthrough the massive windows. From Castle Rock to the Monarch Mountains. “I don’t think I’d ever leave this spot.”
Shep grinned out at the view. “Not even for the massive tub I ordered for the primary bedroom?”
“Okay, maybe for that.”
Shep’s grip on my shoulder tightened a fraction. “I don’t think I want to give this one up.”
I looked up at him in question.
“I’m keeping it.”
A smile tugged at my lips. Shep had been moving from flip to flip, never settling anywhere longer than a year at most. The moment things were done, he started getting twitchy to get on to the next one. “Are you sure?”
Shep kept staring out the windows. “There’s something special about this one. I felt it the moment I pulled up. And it’s the place where you first let me in. I can’t let it go, not to someone who won’t understand what it all means. Not to anyone. I can see myself building a life here.” His head dipped, gaze coming to me. “A family.”
My heart hammered against my ribs. “Love that idea.”
And I wanted to be a part of it. Wanted to paint myself into the picture. To tend the gardens and watch amber-eyed little ones chasing each other around the yard.
“I’m glad.” Shep lowered his lips to mine, kissing me softly and slowly. When he pulled back, there was a warmth in his eyes that spoke of love, and more than that, hope. “Let’s go home.”
“Sounds good to me.” My back muscles demanded a bath butnot before I tackled chores at home. “I need to water the plants in the greenhouse and the garden.”
“I’ll help,” Shep offered, leading me outside.
“Not going to argue with you there.”
That was another thing about falling in love with Shep. He was a true partner. I tackled nothing alone unless I wanted to. While he wasn’t the best cook, he always offered to help. He always cleaned up after. He threw my clothes in with his when he did laundry, and he always helped with the yardwork.
“Leave your car here. I’ll drive you to and from work tomorrow,” Shep suggested.
I sent a look his way. “You don’t have to?—”