Then Nash was passed on to Shep and Emma before he stepped back and stared at his family. The whole lot of them. “Thank you for this.” He glanced from face to face, trying to make his head work to say . . . something. Emotion clawed at his chest. His throat tightened. “I don’t think you know . . .” He cleared his throat, giving up on finding the right words, hoping his expression said it all. “Thank you.”
“Great. Now I’m crying,” Emma gasped, wiping her face.
She wasn’t the only one. Megan, Harper, his ma . . . tears were flowing at the Blackshaw Cattle Ranch today. Nash stuffed his hands into his pockets and smiled. Because in all this, Nash could only think of his father now, feeling like he was there somehow watching them. And that he was finally proud. Of all of them.
When Nash glanced back to Megan, his world narrowed on her. This woman, she did all this. His woman. “If you all don’t mind”—he offered his hand to Megan—“I need to speak to Megan alone for a few minutes.”
Nash’s muscles quivered as he led her away toward the very cabin that was the spot where their lives changed forever. Emotion raged through him that he could not control. Only one thing fixed that. Her.
* * *
The moment Megan stepped through the cabin that was obviously not being used by any of the guests that week, she whirled around to Nash. “Are you not happy?” He looked . . . tense.
“Oh, I’m happy.” He shut the cabin door, making sure it was closed tight. When he turned back to her, the intensity in his expression—which he’d been hiding well—hit her like a heat wave, making her understand exactly why he’d brought her to the cabin. Alone.
She took a step back and held up her hands. “No way. There are guests out there. Your family is all out there too,” she reminded him.
“My family thinks we’re having a serious conversation,” he told her huskily, matching her steps. “They won’t interrupt us.”
She lifted her hand. “We . . . now just wait . . .”
Of course, she knew nothing would stop him, and she also knew she liked that about him too. She was in Nash’s arms a second later, and his mouth was on hers in the hottest way ever. Because all that intensity was currently fueling his passion, and she was going to reap those rewards.
Holy hell.
A low growl rumbled from his chest as he pressed on her hip gently, bringing her back against the wall. Then he was lowering to one knee and sliding his hands up her bare thighs until he had her sundress up at her waist. “Hold that for me, Freckles.”
She shivered at the heat in his eyes. The hunger there. She did as he asked and held the dress out of his way. He gently tucked his fingers into her panties and slid them down. When he dragged his knuckles over her sex, she moaned.
He stroked her again and again . . . and then glanced up at her. “You went to Chase and asked him to build us a new home?”
She nodded, biting her lip.
He arched a brow. “All to make me happy, Megan, is that, right?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
He slowly looked between her thighs again, staring at her boldly as he dragged his fingers up and down over her. Sometimes pressing a little bit harder in the right place to make her shiver. Warmth and wetness touched her intimately, heady weight pooling low in her round belly.
Only when she moaned again did he break the silence. “Every time I think that you can’t possibly make me happier, you do.” He slid his finger in his mouth, running his touch gently over her clit before looking at her again.
She quivered, breathing deep, her head falling back with the pleasure. “Nash.” Her fingers found their way through his soft hair.
“You want me, Freckles?”
“Always.”
The grin he gave was his sexiest yet. Because that smile was all for her. No one would ever see that pure masculine grin because it belonged to her now.
She held her breath as he licked her with the flat of his tongue. Slow. Perfect. She moaned, shutting her eyes, embracing the pleasure, while he played. He circled her clit until her legs trembled, and then he sucked on the bud, making everything so intense. She wanted to watch him, to see him tasting her, but she simply couldn’t. His tongue licked, his mouth nibbled, and she tumbled into where he took her, with her body under his control.
Then his mouth was gone at the peak of her pleasure, and his lips were on hers. He smelled of her, and she lost herself in the perfection of how their mouths fit together. His throaty moan brushed across her as he cupped her face and tilted her head, nuzzling her neck. Needing him, more than ever, she reached between them and unbuttoned his jeans. She pushed those and his boxer briefs down to below his butt. His thick cock sprung free, and she stroked him. He groaned, low and deep, then his heated gaze returned to hers. She stared at him, stroking the hardened skin, loving the way the pleasure dilated his pupils. He threaded his fingers into her hair and groaned again when she tickled the tip.
“I’m so damn lucky,” he murmured.
Before she even had a chance of responding, his hands were gone from her hair. He grabbed the base of his cock, and she rose on her tiptoes as he poised himself at her entrance. He entered the tip and she shivered, desperate for him to plunge in deep.
“Not yet,” he murmured against her lips.
He hooked her leg on his arm, widening her, and angled his body away from her growing belly. Then he drove inside her, all the way to the hilt. She gasped and lost herself in the pleasure, shutting her eyes, hanging on his strong arms.
“Tell me what I want to hear,” he demanded.
She forced her eyes open, seeing exactly what he needed from her. When he’d asked her that line before, she had come to understand that he did so to make her admit the truth. Hell, even to help her learn how to trust him. That all she needed to do was believe in him. And she did believe in him now. “I love you.”
“Ah, and there it is.” He slowly withdrew and then slowly entered her again. “And God knows I love you.”
She lost herself in him then.
Every hard thrust drove her higher on her toes. He kissed her neck, her mouth. He squeezed her breast. Once. Then twice. His fingers began to dig harder into her hips. His expression intensified, brows drawn over powerful eyes. She felt the hard tremble in his body before she felt it in hers. The sound that rumbled from his chest was inherently male and clenched her sex tighter against him. He thrust harder. Faster. And harder yet. She hung over the edge, fighting against the moans she was desperate to unleash, yet somehow holding them in only made her hotter. Because this was wild and reckless, and for the first time ever in her life she felt free.
He pumped into her, his eyes widening. And then it all became too much. She no longer dangled on the edge, she freefell over the edge, and he followed her.
Then there were just the two of them, fitting together perfectly, knowing each other wholly, and loving each other completely.
And there was pleasure.
Nash’s hard-riding pleasure.
Chapter 20
Later that evening, Megan grabbed a jar of salsa from the fridge, emptying the contents into a large bowl in Nash’s kitchen. She was no Harper when it came to her cooking skills. And she also had no time to prepare for the unexpected party tonight. Especially considering her nerves were shot since Nash had invited her parents over tonight to attend a Blackshaw family dinner.
For the past couple weeks, they’d done okay with her going over to her parents’ house without Nash. She went for lunch when he was working. Stuff like that. While that understanding had kept the peace, Nash was adamant that her parents were coming over tonight. To Blackshaw land. For dinner with the Blackshaw family.
Dear God.
Megan heaved a long sigh and moved to the kitchen table, emptying the tortilla chips into another bowl.
“All ready?”
She smiled, turning to Nash. He leaned against the doorframe, looking gorgeous in his Stetson and Levi’s. “Yup. Ready,” she repl
ied, moving to grab the bowl.
“I’ve got that.” He rushed in to snatch up the bowl.
She moved to grab the salsa.
“I’ve got that too.” He grinned.
She sighed again and gave him a look. “I’m four months pregnant, not injured. I think I can carry a bowl of chips and salsa.”
“Not when I’m around.” He turned, right as Gus barked at the front door. “I didn’t hear a knock.”
“Me neither.”
Nash shrugged. “Probably Gus being Gus.” Holding the chip bowl with his arm and the salsa bowl in his hand, he moved to the front door then opened it.
Megan was certainly glad she wasn’t holding the dishes. They would’ve broken all over the floor. Standing on the porch, totally unaware they had an audience, Jenny and the doctor were kissing. Not just any kissing. Like, kissing. Megan slapped a hand over her mouth, not to laugh. Oh, yeah, Jenny was saucy!
Nash apparently wasn’t as amused and cleared his throat.
Jenny broke away with a gasp. “Oh, Nash, I’m . . . I’m . . .”
“Making out like a teenager?” A blush crept over Jenny’s face. Nash gestured behind him. “Everyone is out back.”
Jenny rushed forward, not even looking Megan in the eye.
Clay on the other hand was cool and calm, offering his hand to Nash. “Thanks for the invite. I’m sure glad to be here.”
Nash returned the handshake, equally as cool and calm. “To kiss my mother?”
Clay smiled. “Yes, I do like to kiss your mother.” He held Nash’s stare the entire time and then strode by, not in any hurry to get anywhere.
When the back door closed behind him, Megan grinned at Nash. “That man has as much charm as you do.”
Nash snorted and closed the front door. He moved in front of Megan and frowned. “Take that back. Right now.”
Megan laughed. “Fine, you’re the only charming one around here.”
“Good.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “Regardless that he’s not as charming, I like him.”
Nash went to stride away, but Megan grabbed his arm, stopping him. “Wait. The world stopped turning for a second there and I thought I heard you say you like him?”
Nash shrugged. “He’s got balls. He can protect her.”
“Well, well, look at you being all grown-up.” Megan rose up on her toes, planting a good, long kiss on his lips for that. “I like him too. She seems happy.”
“She does.” Nash gestured at the back door. “Come on, Freckles, everyone is waiting for us.”
Megan followed him out, with Gus bursting out the door ahead of them. She immediately spotted the normal gang: Shep and Emma, Chase and Harper, and their puppy, Houdini, next to them, sipping drinks by the campfire. The moment Houdini spotted Gus, they were off playing together. Jenny’s face was still red, and she was drinking wine impressively fast, with Clay looking comfortable next to her. Megan moved to Harper and Emma, giving them both a hug. “Okay, so my food won’t be nearly as good as yours,” she told Harper.
Harper smiled. “There is a time and place for store-bought salsa and chips.”
Megan grinned at Emma. “She’s so good at making us feel better that we suck at cooking.”
Emma laughed. “I know, right?”
Harper’s grin suddenly faded, and she breathed, “Here we go.”
Confused, Megan turned around but then understood fully. Her parents walked toward them. Her mom carried a tray of cookies and tarts. Dad strode in next to her, his shoulders relaxed, his smile aimed in her direction. Mom went to Jenny, who made her way over to the food table with Clay. They smiled and chatted, while Dad ventured over.
Heat suddenly slid across her, raising goose bumps along her flesh. Nash. From behind, he wrapped his arm around her. Holding her close, he offered one of his hands to her father. “Clint.”
Dad hesitated for a split second. “You’ve got a gorgeous place here.” He returned the handshake. “Shame you’re selling it.”
Megan started breathing again.
“Change is good,” Nash said. “Next time we’re out at your place, I’ll bring the plans along for the new farm.”
Dad nodded. “I’d like that.”
Megan looked between them, waiting for the yelling to start. It never happened. Unbeknownst to her, they had obviously talked again and found some way to make peace. Truth was, she didn’t care how or when that happened.
Nash was there. Dad was there.
“Clint, honey, come and meet Clay,” Mom called, giving Megan a smile and wave.
Megan returned the smile, while Dad headed their way.
Harper spoke first. “Did we just enter The Twilight Zone?”
“Yeah, no kidding.” Emma glanced between Nash and Megan, her eyes huge. “You were friendly to each other. Friendly!”
“You know, ladies,” Nash said, placing his chin on Megan’s shoulder, “you don’t need to have all the answers all the time.”
Harper and Emma exchanged a long look, then they said in unison, “Yes, we do.”
Nash laughed and shook his head. “We found a middle ground.”
Megan piped up, then. “You found a middle ground?”
“Mm-hmm,” Nash said. “It turns out we have something in common.”
Megan’s heart was so full, she felt like it could burst right out of her chest. She turned in his arms, staring up into the strength of his gaze. “What’s that?”
“Making you happy.” He dropped a kiss on her lips.
Right as he went to deepen the kiss, Chase yelled, “Shit. The food!”
Nash was out of her arms a second later, running after Gus who beelined toward the food table. “Goddamn it!” he roared. “No, Gus. Noooooooo!”
Megan stood in a flurry of people running toward the table. This wasn’t the first time Gus had attacked the food table like a starving animal. The same thing had happened at Harper and Chase’s rehearsal for the wedding, where Gus destroyed the food she’d made by nosediving into the table.
Megan laughed a little, then, being the only calm one in the bunch, she stuck her fingers into her mouth and whistled. “Down!” she yelled.
Gus stopped and lay down, sending Nash rushing by him to slide along the ground.
Megan stared at the shocked expressions around her and burst out laughing. “You should see your faces right now.”
Shep started clapping. “I don’t believe that just happened.”
Everyone else joined in.
Jenny nodded, clapping super-fast. “She trained the untrainable dog.”
Nash looked utterly dumbfounded sitting on the grass.
Dad turned to Mom. “I don’t get what in the hell is going on.”
“You don’t have to,” Mom said. “Clap, Clint.”
He listened.
Megan smiled, tears in her eyes, knowing right here, right now, she’d found her perfect safe place for their baby.
Epilogue
Eighteen months later . . .
“Son, no!” Nash darted forward, scooping Ricky up as Gus was pulling on his diaper, trying to keep him out of the creek. “I turn away for one second, and you go straight for the water.” Ricky giggled as Nash brought his son up to his face. “Dangerous things are not good, no matter that you keep thinking they are.”
“He’s your son,” Megan said from behind him. “Do you really expect anything different from him?”
Nash turned, holding Ricky like a football, discovering Megan approaching. Christ, her beauty never stopped stunning him. She looked as beautiful now as she had when she walked down the aisle at their new house to marry him. They’d exchanged vows at sunset, and the reception had been under a tent at Irish Creek Ranch.
Nash sighed, meeting her halfway. “He doesn’t . . .”
Her smile was warm, extending to both him and Ricky. “Listen?”
Again, Nash sighed. “You’re right. He’s all me.”
Megan laughed softly and placed a kiss on
Nash’s lips before taking Ricky into her arms. “Beckett needs you.”
“Yeah, all right.” Nash tickled Ricky until he burst out laughing. “The creek is bad news, buddy. Off limits. That’s what the pool is for, and only when we’re with you.”
“Bad. Bad. Bad,” Ricky quipped.
Warmth filled Nash as he watched Megan stride away toward Emma and Harper, who sat in chairs in front of the porch, their feet in Ricky’s kiddie pool. They both had been suffering over the last month. Emma was eight months’ pregnant and Harper was six, and there had been no break in the heat.
Nash glanced down at Gus, giving him a pat. “Owe you for that one. Good boy.”
Gus panted with his tongue wagging out.
When Nash strode toward the sand ring, Gus ran into the kiddie pool, splashing the women, where Houdini also lay, surviving the heat.
“Gus,” Megan yelled.
Emma and Harper screamed.
Ricky laughed, splashing in the water too.
Nash chuckled and strode past the cat house. Not that the cats used it anymore. While Nash thought the cats were better off at the guest ranch, he’d ended up missing the little fluffballs since he wasn’t at the ranch much anymore. To fix that, he brought them all home. Now, the cats lounged around his farm with Nash during the day and came in the house at night. Gus seemed the happiest about that.
The sun blasted down on Nash’s shoulders as he headed for the sand ring across from the driveway. Chase had kept to his word, and they had been able to afford the build on the new two-story log house with three bedrooms, and the barn off to the left side. They’d run out of money after they bought the fencing for the paddocks and sand ring. Every single person that Nash knew came out to help install the fencing after Shep put some calls out. And they even got the ground in the sand ring ready for work.
Now Blackshaw Training was into its second month of operation. It had come as a total surprise to Nash that he’d gotten busy enough in the first month that hiring Beckett and Hayes had been possible.
As he glanced back over his shoulder at his mother sitting on the porch with Loretta, Clay, and Clint—who had upheld his deal and made the necessary payments—Nash knew that without his mother, none of this would have happened. She had been right—people trusted Nash with their horses. He’d had everything come in from horses that needed breaking to green horses to horses with trust issues to horses with simply bad attitudes.
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