Page 83 of Montana Rain

“Really?” The hope in her eyes was too much to bear.

I kissed her. “Really. I don’t want to be anywhere else. The community there, and you, that’s what I want from my life. Not diving into danger or putting people in it.”

She turned and climbed over me, kissing me in a way that would not have us resting. “If this is some kind of joke, I can’t take it, Cole. This is real?”

Sliding one hand behind her neck, I pulled her down to me again. “It’s real, princess. I love you, and I’m not leaving. I’ll find a place to live that’s not the cabin. If you’re not ready to live with me, it’s okay. If you want to live in your house together, that’s okay too. If you want to burn it to the ground and build a new one, I’ll do it. It might take me a while, but I’ll do it.”

“I want to live with you,” she said. “I don’t know where—I don’t think I’ll know how I feel about the house until I get back to it. But I want to be with you. Preferably in a house that has both heat and power.”

“I agree. But I request wherever we live, we get both a very large bed and a very large bathtub.”

Her eyes lit up. “I like the sound of that.” Then her face softened. “I have something to tell you too. Given everything, I think I need to take a leave of absence. I don’t know what’s going to hit me or how, but I feel it lurking down there.”

I brushed some hair out of her face and turned us so she was beneath me on the bed. “It’s probably a good idea.”

“I feel like I’m letting everyone down. I have clients who need me.”

“Your clients need someone who’s sure of themselves and their practice. Taking a break to take care of yourself is doing them a favor.”

“Yeah.”

I kissed the tip of her nose. “The fact that you feel guilty about it is something you should probably work on.”

Rayne narrowed her eyes. “Trying to do my job for me?”

“Never. But you’ve helped a lot of people at Resting Warrior. Now it’s time for them to help you.”

Her eyes went glassy again, and she wrapped her arms around my neck. “You’re staying with me.”

“I’m staying with you, princess.”

There was no way to tell who kissed the other. We simply came together, consuming each other, and writing three words back and forth across our lips. I loved Rayne Westerfield, and I couldn’t wait to show her for the rest of our lives.

Epilogue

Rayne

One Month Later

Emma bounced Tyson on her hip, trying to get him to settle down. The poor thing was overtired and making it widely known.

She looked over at me. “I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?” I winked. “He’s fine.”

Cole’s arms wrapped around my waist, and he pressed a kiss to my neck before stepping around me toward Emma. “Will you let me try?”

Cole was still cautious around Emma. I understood why, but Emma and Daniel made it clear at every opportunity they had no problem with him.

“At this point?” Emma said, handing Tyson over. “Yes.”

It looked more natural than I imagined for Cole to hold the baby, turning him on his stomach over the length of one arm and rocking back and forth in a swooping motion. “This always worked for my brother.”

Like magic, Tyson quieted down, and we all stared at him. The entire Resting Warrior crew was here in the lodge for the first family dinner in a while.

Daniel clapped Cole on the back. “I’m going to use that, thank you.” He took his son from Cole’s arms and crossed to the playpen they’d set up in the much quieter security office, where Avery was already sleeping.

Cole and a baby… It wasn’t a thought I’d dwelled on before, but I liked it.

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