Page 104 of Lead Me Knot

Herbs and flowers mixed in Mason jars. Twinkly lights trapped in smaller ones give a nice glow as the sun begins to set. Mom’s nice dishes set the table. I haven’t seen these in so long. I’m glad they’re finding new use.

With wine and beer flowing, toasts are given. Even Beckett raises a glass of sweet tea and tells us he’s readyfor us to have a boy cousin for him to play with. I catch Lauralee’s eyes when kids are mentioned throughout the evening. She even nudges at one point when she’s holding Julie Ann for a bit. “How do you feel about starting a family soon, stud?”

I wrap my arm around her and kiss her temple. “No time like the present.”

From across the table, my sister asks, “So I take it you’re staying for good this time?”

Holding Lauralee’s hand on my leg under the table, I glance at her, and reply, “Can’t get rid of me now.”

Chris raises a glass of water, and says, “To the happy couple. Welcome home to Peachtree Pass.”

EPILOGUE

Baylor

No more masks.

No more hiding behind my past misdeeds.

I own it all, and who I used to be, and Lauralee Greene still chose to love me, flaws and all. I’m smart enough to never keep anything from her again though, not through a lie or omission. Those were the hardest lessons learned, but we found our happily ever after in the end.

I slide up her slick body and kiss her on the mouth. She purrs for me, enticing me to do it again. When our mouths part and eyes open, she pushes my sweaty hair back from my forehead, the look of love engrained in her eyes like I’m the reward instead of the sex. I love this woman more than words could ever capture. She says, “I love when you do that.”

Always open to feedback, especially of the good kind, I ask, “When I do that thing with my tongue?”

“That, yes,” she says, squirming as if her body remembers how fucking good it was and can’t stop itself. “And when you kiss down there like you would my mouth.Gah!Incredible. Magical.”

“Don’t be shy. Go on.”

“Earth-shattering . . .”

“Earth-shattering? I think I’ve outdone myself.” Her laughter is my favorite sound in the world, that and hearing my name on the edge of her release. I’ve heard both in the past five minutes.It’s a good fucking day.

I kiss her again because if I could spend my life doing this, I’d make it my full-time job. Since I still don’t currently have one, I don’t bother fighting against my fate and lean into it, deepening the kiss this time. I swallow one of her moans, savoring every part of her, and then dip my hand between her legs. “How your body reacts to me is such a fucking turn-on. Why is our sex so good, baby?”

“Because it’s the first time you've ever involved your heart, my love.”

There was no hesitation in her response—like she knew all along—but it hits me like a ton of bricks. And now I see it so clearly. She’s right.

Lifting just enough to adjust, I position myself and then slowly push into her. Her warmth welcomes me, causing my head to dip in reaction. I force it up enough for our gazes to latch and watch as her body responds by parting her lips as her legs butterfly open and her breath catches when I thrust deeper.

Our lips brush in need before fastening together, our tongues tangling as we find our rhythm. When her heat becomes too much, I take a breath to slow things down, not wanting to rush the ending. Like a prayer, I whisper, “Lead meknotinto temptation.”

“I see what you did there.” Holding on tight to me, her smile is serene, but the words lift the heavy that was building. I like the balance we’ve struck in our relationship. Humor has gotten us through a few messes. Our love has given us strength. “I think Greene suits me better.” Tilting her head to the side to see my eyes, she asks, “What do you think?”

“I love it so fucking much.” I thrust in again, sending her head back into the pillow and exposing her neck. I trail kisses down the soft column, wanting to appreciate every inch of her before the day forces us out of bed to face it.

Running her hands over my shoulders, she holds tight with a fire lit in her eyes. “Show me how much you love it.”

“I’ll do you one better and show you how much I loveyou.”

I show her fast like how we fell in love, and then a second time, slower how our love will endure. There was never any denying our attraction. We worked on the rest to get where we are today. Our unbreakable bond is something I’ll always protect.

“I’m thinkingthe house should go back there,” she says, pointing at an opening among a grouping of trees. The wind is wild here in the clearing. Pulling her hair back with one hand, the skirt of her dress is whipped to the side of her body. She shadows her eyes with the other hand when she looks back at me. “That way, no one can see us from the main, but the house isn’t buried too far back on the property. What do you think?”

While she was admiring the land, I was appreciating her. Who knew something so small and feisty could shift my axis upside down? So glad she did. “I’m happy if you are.”

Cutting through the tall grass, she lifts on her sneakered toes and kisses my chin. “I’m happy. Blissfully because of you. You?”

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