I blow out a frustrated, nervous breath, and head outside. But when Nash sees me, he looks just as surprised as I am to see him.
“Tessa,” my name comes out in a rough, ragged breath. “What are doing here?”
“I leased this place. What are you doing here?”
He frowns down at me. “I came to drop off a check for Pax.”
“Pax?” I frown back at him. This is not how I wanted to tell him I was back. And the way he’s looking at me, I swear I see betrayal and hurt in his eyes.
Shit.
“Pax owns the house there.” He nods to the small white bungalow beside my building, then looks back at me, his lips still tugging down.
“Ma’am.” The man with the goat approaches. “Are you Tessa James?”
“Yes.”
“I just need you to sign these papers before I release the goat to you.”
“You bought a goat?” Nash’s brows lift.
I bury my face in my hands. “Oh my God, this is so not how this was supposed to happen.”
“What?” Nash takes my wrists and pulls my hands away from my face.
“The goat is for you.”
His lips twitch up. “You bought me a goat?”
“I thought it would be funny. And cute. And that you’d...I am so bad at this stuff.”
He pulls me toward him. “What else was supposed to happen?”
“I was going to tell you that I’m moving here. That I’ve leased the building and am opening my own clinic. And then...”
“Then what?” He tilts his head, eyes sparkling now.
“Then I was going to tell you that I love you too and that I want to take a risk with you, and then—”
His lips crash down on mine, stealing my words and my breath. And just like that, I’m weightless, flying, free, and everything is right. I don’t know how he does it, how he takes away my fears, makes me believe in the impossible.
“I love you, Nash,” I tell him.
His grin is huge now. “About time you figured that out.”
“Ma’am? The goat,” the man says, breaking the moment.
“Right.” I sign the documents, then take the rope that’s attached to the goat, then hand it to Nash, and say sheepishly, “Surprise.”
He chuckles, shaking his head as he looks down at the creature that’s already chewing on the bottom of his jeans. “So tell me again why you bought me a goat?”
“Because you’re my greatest of all time,” I tell him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
He laughs, hard. “And what are we going to do with this guy?”
I shrug. “Maybe he can be our mascot.”
“I think I may have just come up with a good business name.”
“What’s that?’
“G.O.A.T. veterinary clinic.”
“Oh, that’s perfect. I love it.”
He nuzzles my ear. “And I love you, Tessa.”
“Good, because if you didn’t accept this gift, I was going to be the crazy lady in town leading a goat around.”
Nash kneels before the goat and takes a good look at the boy. “You know you’ll still be the crazy lady.”
I take the box of feed from the delivery man before he drives his truck away. “And why is that?”
Nash is on one knee and turns toward me, this time though, there is a black box in his hand. He opens it, revealing a shining diamond ring. “Because you’re gonna be the lady who got engaged in front of a goat.”
“Oh my God!”
“Is that a yes?”
“It’s glittery-er than my vajayjay.”
Nash grins. “That’s what I was going for, babe.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “But you didn’t even know I was going to be here.”
“I was headed to Boston tonight, to chase you down,” he explains. Tears fill my eyes and I wrap my arms around him. He takes my hand and slips the ring on my finger. “You really think I’d let the greatest woman of all time get away just like that?”
Epilogue I
Nash
One year later...
We learned pretty quickly that we’d need a bigger place now that we had a little one to take care of.
And by little one I mean our stout-bodied mammal with horns and cloven hooves. Our little guy, Billie is gruff, pun intended. But damn, he’s cute. And so we decided to ditch my loft and buy an old farmhouse on the edge of town, where Billie can graze happily with his new sister, Bo Peep, and brother Scape. As in Scape Goat. We think we’re hilarious.
In fact, we’re more than funny. We’re a little crazy. Because the house came with a cow, a llama, and three pigs. My buddies give me a hard time about it, but there is nothing better than being outside with the love of my life, taking care of our little brood.
I’m just finishing up feeding the pigs when Tessa comes up to me, wrapping an arm around my waist. I pull her to me.
“How is the bride to be?” I ask, kissing her.
“Ready to do the damn thing.”
“And what thing is that?” I tease. I know full well what she’s referring to. It’s our wedding day.
“Everyone is going to be here in a few hours. I just hope everything is ready.”
“Baby,” I say, pulling her to me. “Everything is taken care of. Caterers are already setting up. The tent is in the lower field. The florist is on her way.”
“I know, I just ... last time ... I want this time to be perfect.” She presses her lips together, remembering the pain of being betrayed by her fiancé and best friend.
“It will be.” I kiss her forehead. “Because this time, it’s you and I walking down the aisle.”
“I love you, Nash.”
“I love you more.” I take her hand and we begin walking back to our farmhouse. I feel her nervous energy. “Hey, is there something else?”
Tears fill her eyes and she looks up at me. “Oh Nash.”
“What is it?” I ask, cupping her face with my hand. My heart pounding as I take in the sight of the most beautiful woman in the world on the verge of melting down. “Whatever it is, we can get through it together.”
A tear slides down her cheek and I brush it away with my thumb. “You’ve already given me everything I wanted.” She looks around the property. “I mean, look at this place. The farm, the animals, I mean, you never asked for it. It was all my crazy ideas. And now...”
“Now what?”
“I’m pregnant.”
“Truly?” I pull her hands from her face, looking deep into her eyes. “We’re having a baby?”
She nods. “And I know we’ve been engaged for a year so I could get my clinic up and running, and I never expected this, so soon, and the house needs so much work and I just don’t know how we will do it all.”
She’s full-on crying now and I pick her up, into my arms and carry her into the house, up the stairs. Her wedding gown hangs on the closet door and my suit is beside it and yes, a wedding is happening today, but right now, in this moment, the love of my life needs to know her happiness is all that matters to me.
I sit her on the edge of the bed and kneel before her. “Tessa, I know we bit off a lot when we got this place. Both of us opening our own business. Hell, most people think we’re insane. But I don’t.”
“You don’t?”
I take her hands in mine. “No. We’re living life on our own terms. And having a baby together, that isn’t a risk. That’s a dream come true.”
“Oh, Nash, why are you so good to me?”
“Because I fucking love you, Tessa.”
She runs her hands through my hair, and I stand, pulling her back onto the bed. “You are seriously the best damn G.O.A.T. in the world,” she moans as I peel off her pants, her panties, her top.
I pull my cock from my jeans, it’s hard and thick for my bride and she knows it. Our guests will be here soon. All our family and friends for a party that will carry on through the night. But right now, it’s just her and I. And our baby.
“Me either. I took four tests to be sure.”
I run my hands over her skin, kissing every inch of her as my hand runs between her creamy thighs. “God, I hope it’s twins,” I tell her.
She laughs. “Don’t, I can hardly wrap my head around one.”
“You’re gonna be an amazing mother. The greatest of all time, in fact.”
“No pressure.” We laugh, and I press my cock inside of her, taking the woman who is not only my wife-to-be, but the mother of my child.
I make love to her the way she needs, the way she deserves. Slow and tender, both of our emotions heightened, and together we ride the wave of pleasure that can only be found on a wedding day, when two people who know they belong together, are joined as one, heart, mind, body, and soul.
Later, I stand with my buddies, Terrance, Luca, and Jacque, watching as Tessa walks down the aisle. Her dress is simple white lace, she’s barefoot, there are flowers in her hair. It isn’t fussy, forced or fake. It’s real. The smile on her face and the love in both our hearts.
When the officiant asks for the rings, I see Pax at the end of the aisle, urging our goat, Billy, to move down the aisle.
“What in the world?” I ask.
But Tessa just laughs as Billy meanders to her as if they practiced this a hundred times. She leans down and takes something tied to blue satin ribbon around Billy’s neck. “He’s our ring bearer,” she says, offering me a ring.
Everyone who is gathered here to celebrate us, laughs, and I take Tessa’s hand, slipping her wedding band right where it belongs.
Epilogue II
Tessa
Five years later...
I’m not what you would call a Nervous Nelly, but watching this is going to be the end of me. “Careful,” I say under my breath, not wanting to be a helicopter parent, but also wanting my son to be safe.
Nash looks back at me with a firm expression. He takes this seriously and it helps settle my nerves. “I got him, babe, it’s okay.”
I nod, knowing he’s right. Nash is an incredible rock climbing instructor and our four-year-old son, Ridge, couldn’t be in more capable hands. Our newborn daughter, Sierra, is tight against my chest in a sling, and I kiss her head, basking in her sweet baby scent. Having her nestled against me helps ease my anxiety.
Nash and his buddies have recently expanded Adrenaline Rush and now they have a kid-friendly tract so children can gain exposure to adventure activities in a safe and guided way.
When the guys first pitched the idea to their wives, I was the first to jump on board with the plan. Yes, it would mean more hours at work as they got it up and running, but I knew the community of Barley Ridge would be all over this. And considering we are all growing our families ... our kiddos can get even more quality time with their fathers this way. It’s a win-win.
Except that it is also really nerve-inducing. Ridge is a spunky and outgoing boy, but this indoor climbing wall is still new territory for him.
Jo, Luca’s wife, comes into the warehouse with her kids, Posie, who is five now, and Sky, who is one, sits in a stroller. She waves hello as Posie runs over to the indoor playground, her eyes on the big slide. She’s a fearless one.
“You guys coming over for the barbeque tomorrow?” I ask her.
“Of course, Posie is obsessed with your farm. She’s been talking about it for days.”
“Oh good, we have four little piglets right now. Born a week ago.”
“I saw that on Facebook. So adorable.” Jo reaches into the diaper bag for a biscuit for Sky, who takes it happily. “And how is business at the G.O.A.T. Animal Clinic?”
“Pretty good. I hired the most amazing girl to run the front desk. Joanne? She’s local. And a lifesaver. She has been a huge help since Sierra was born.”
“I still don’t know how you do it all.”
“I have a pretty good partner in crime,” I say, looking over at Nash. Ridge is halfway up the wall and I pull out my phone, wanting to get a few photos. Ridge scales it, and when he reaches the top, he turns around, giving me the most perfect grin.
“I did it, Mama!” he shouts. I step closer, Nash’s hands holding the rope so there is zero chance of Ridge falling.
“You’re so big!” I shout, tears pricking my eyes. “And so strong!”
My heart hammers with pride, knowing I’m the luckiest girl in the world. I look at Nash with nothing but devotion, so in love with the man who gave me the greatest life of all time.
Also by Frankie & C.M.
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About Frankie
Frankie Love writes filthy-sweet stories about bad boys and mountain men.
As a thirty-something mom to six who is ridiculously in love with her own bearded hottie, she believes in love-at-first-sight and happily-ever-afters.
She also believes in the power of a quickie.
Find Frankie here:
www.frankielove.net
About C.M.
C.M. Seabrook writes hot, steamy romances with possessive bad boys, and the passionate, fiery women who love them. Swoonworthy romances from the heart!
Find C.M. here:
www.cmseabrook.com
For something a little different, read Chantel Seabrook's Shifter, Reverse Harem, and Fantasy books here https://amzn.to/2MTiItI
G.O.A.T.: Get Some Series Page 5
