Page 105 of Lead Me Knot

I turn her around to hold her from behind and pull her against me. Rubbing her shoulders and then lowering my arms around her waist, I never expected to find this kind of peace. “I’m happy I broke into your apartment that night.”

She bursts out laughing and turns around in my arms. Receiving a poke to the chest, I catch that finger just as she says, “I knew it all along.”

I kiss her finger and give her all the credit she wants. She likes to win. We’re a lot alike that way, though I never mind losing to her. Even if it comes to our story and how we got re-introduced, as she likes to call it. I know the truth. She was never supposed to be there, but that little mix-up changed everything. I should probably send a thank-you gift to my sister for telling me to stay there. If I hadn’t, look at the beautiful life I’d be missing.

I look down the road as two trucks carry the old house away from its original home to its new plot in Dover County. Shortcake donated it to a good cause, creating a home for people who don’t have one until they land on their feet again. She even launched a program partnering with local ranches for job placement. We’ve joined together to reinvigorate Peachtree Pass into a bustling town again. As her husband, I’m lucky enough to watch this woman chasing her goals and making a difference in other people’s lives like she did mine. I couldn’t be prouder of her.

“We should go,” she says, “my mom said she wants to eat at seven.”

We start back to the car, but I’m dragging my feet, not really wanting to do this tonight. “I never thought I’d be going on a double date with my dad.”

“I think it’s sweet.”

Stopping on either side of the car, I tilt my head and lean on the top edge of the windshield. “I’m tellingyou now, if they start kissing, I’m out. No one wants to see that.”

She pulls her door open and laughs. “Let them have a little fun, Baylor.”

When she tucks herself into the car, I mumble, “Yuck.”

One thing that’s not yuck is this sexy-as-fuck car. I take a moment to admire it in its glory—sun shining down on the fresh silver paint job, the matte black stripe down the middle, the sweet-as-hell rims, and the cherry on top is that she runs like a dream.

Though she’ll never let me live it down that she sat in that barn for months reading the instructions from books she ordered so I didn’t fuck it up. My words. Not hers. We made a good team all around and got the job done.

I run my fingertips along the side of the car, inspecting it like I do every time I see it. I never needed to own the ranch. Still, holding a 10 percent share is a great perk of being born a Greene. Who doesn’t love making money? But this car was the one thing I always wanted, even more so after my mom died. And every time we drive with the top down, I can imagine how much she would have loved it. I’ll love it for the both of us now.

I fold myself into the driver’s seat and start the car. With the fall sun hanging low in the sky, I flip my visor down to keep it out of my eyes. “Have you seen my sunglasses?”

Lauralee looks around. “No. Did you put them in the glovebox?”

“No.”

“Wanna bet?”

“This is the weirdest conversation.” Not sure what’s gotten into her. “Want me to reach over and check?”

“Yes.”

I’m confused if she’s having fun by making me work for this or if she wants me between her legs. I’m hoping for the latter, giving us an excuse to miss this dinner. The bonus, I’m between her legs again. I run my hand down her thigh and drag the skirt higher until her soft skin is revealed.

My hand is smacked just before getting to the good part. “You’re so easily distracted, Baylor. If we’re not careful, we’re going to be late.” I think she’s taking this a little too seriously. It’s grilled chicken with the folks, not visiting dignitaries.

“Fine,” I groan, popping the glovebox open to find my sunglasses that I didn’t know I put in there. I never do. As soon as I pull them out, I pause with my eyes locked on a white stick in the dark space. Sunglasses are now the least of my concerns. I flop back and look to her for answers to the question posed in the silent exchange.

It’s the littlest of shrugs raising her shoulders, and when they drop again, the sweetest smile shapes her lips. “We weren’t careful,” she says, this conversation now making a lot more sense.

I reach over to hold her hand, resting it on her lap. “We weren’t trying to be.”

Her gaze sharpens on mine with assurance housed inside, and a soft laugh escapes her. “No, we weren’t.”

Pivoting my gaze to the property where we’ll be raising our children, I realize one day is sooner than I thought. It’s arrived. I drop my head forward and try to wipe the moisture collecting in the corners of my eyes.

Lauralee rubs my back, and whispers, “Are you okay?”

Who am I kidding?She sees through the act. I choke down the emotions that want to overwhelm me and reach over to cup her face, kissing her and holding her to me. When we sit back, I take her hand and briefly eye the test in the glovebox again. “You’re pregnant?”

“Seems the hometown hero knocked me up.” As tears that shine with happiness glisten in her eyes, she laughs. “The whole town’s going to be gossiping when they find out.”

Chuckling, I reply, “Let ’em. I got the girl, the life, and the dream come true. I even got the car. They could only be so fortunate.” I lean over and kiss her forehead, lingering there a moment as my heart settles.

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