The corners of her mouth rose. “You are a charmer, Mr. Myers.”
“I try.”
“This is all so delicious. I was thinking we might have to have beer and pretzels for dinner since we only bought lunch stuff and snacks.”
“Nope. I’ve got dinner for tonight and tomorrow night planned out. I figured we wouldn’t want to leave, so I’m having tomorrow night’s meal delivered, too.”
She gave me a sweet grin. “I think this is my new favorite way to camp.”
“Mine too,” I agreed with a slight chuckle.
Dinner was filled with the two of us talking about our lives. Chloe told me about how excited she was to be working with her dad. I told her about a project I was working with Jonathon on an old historical building in Johnson City.
Chloe talked about Patches. She missed him and that broke my heart. When she was about to get upset, she immediately changed the subject. “So, are you excited about the farmhouse?”
I paused for a moment, wondering if I should tell her what I did. Without her permission. “Um yeah, I am,” I replied. “Are you?”
With a tilt of her head, she pulled in a deep breath and exhaled. “Rip, you’re keeping something from me. Tell me what it is.”
My eyes lifted to meet hers. “It’s supposed to be a surprise, but I’m starting to wonder if I should give you a heads up. Your daddy warned me about you Parker women.”
Her jaw dropped in shock before she giggled and threw a napkin at me.
I quickly batted it away but met her intense stare.
“I, um, you see… I told the title company your name was to be listed as one of the owners.”
She kept staring at me. Not saying a word.
“I did, after all, promise you that I would buy you the house. I’m just hoping you’ll want to share it with me.”
Chloe swallowed hard, stood, then quickly walked to the railing that overlooked the dark countryside.
“Chloe? Are you angry with me?” I asked. The glow from the tent’s inner lights lit her up.
She turned to face me, a look of disbelief on her face. “Angry? How could I be angry with you for doing something so…so sweet.” Her voice cracked, and I knew she was trying not to cry.
“I planned on doing it the moment I found out it was for sale. That house is yours.”
She shook her head and wrapped her arms around her body. My heart dropped to the floor.
“No, Rip. That house is ours. The place where I want to build our future. I’m just…”
I placed my hand on the side of her face. “You’re what, princess?”
Her eyes lifted to meet mine. “I’m so happy. I never dreamed I could ever be this happy. You’re making all my dreams come true, and I haven’t done anything to deserve any of this.”
My stomach lurched at her words. “What do you mean?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I told another man I would marry him while you were planning on buying me a house. You didn’t give up on us, and for a time I did give up. I don’t deserve—”
I pressed my finger to her lips. “Chloe, look at me.”
Her blue eyes sparkled from the flickering candles as she gazed up at me.
“Look deep, because you’ll see right into my heart and know that you mean the world to me. Don’t you see it?”
She nodded as I wiped her tears away with my thumbs.
“I would give up everything if it means making you happy. If you’re not by my side in this life, I’m lost. I’ve been lost for far too long and I’m never looking back. We’re on this journey together, and someday I’m going to marry you.”
A sob slipped from her mouth, and she pressed her lips tightly together.
“I’m going to make every single dream of yours come true. Every one of them.”
Her chin trembled as she placed her hands over mine. “Rip.”
Leaning down, I captured her mouth with mine. The kiss was soft and slow. Dropping my hands from her face, I picked her up, carrying her into the house. We spent the rest of the night learning every single inch of each other’s bodies.
Saturday, we spent the morning hiking, then took a dip in the river. The afternoon was spent back in bed until we needed to get up and dressed before dinner came.
“That was some of the best brisket I think I’ve ever had,” Chloe said.
“You must have forgotten what my dad’s brisket tastes like.”
She crinkled her nose and giggled. “It’s been so long since I had his!”
“Speaking of my parents, they want you to come over for dinner this week.”
“I’d love to.”
“It won’t be weird, will it? Mom is probably going to cry. You know how she is.”
Chloe wore a wide grin. “I don’t think it will be weird. When you picked me up for the dance, and I kissed you in front of my folks, it felt so natural. This all feels so perfect.”
“I’m sorry about the gossips in town.”
With a heavy sigh, she waved her hands as if to brush it all off. “They’ll be on to the next prayer chain drama in a day or so. Besides, who cares what they think?”
“Not me,” I stated.
She smiled. “Me either.”
“I think we need to make use of that hot tub tonight.”
Chloe looked out over the dark hill country and then up at the star-filled sky. When she faced me again, she winked. “Looks like nighttime to me.”
Chloe
A MONTH HAD passed since that weekend in Wimberley. We had closed on the house and moved in enough furniture that was handed down from our folks to sleep, sit, and eat on. Rip and I tore things apart at night. During the day, I worked at the ranch full-time, and he worked part-time with Jonathon and part time at the ranch. My father was against us moving in together right away since we had just started dating. It didn’t take me long to change his mind. Rip and I had always been inseparable. Now that we were a couple, it only made sense. Plus, we owned a house together.
A house.
I smiled as I thought about the farmhouse.
“Do I want to know what is making you smile like that?” My father’s voice caused me to look up at him. “I know it’s not the new marketing plan you’re coming up with.”
I leaned back in my office chair and tilted my head as I regarded him. “It just might be. I do love my job, Daddy.”
“Right. I’ve seen that look before, and that is not an I-love-my-job dreamy look.”
“Really? What sort of look is it?” I asked as he sat down in the chair before my desk.
“It’s more like I’m-in-love-and-can’t-stop-thinking-about-my-man look. I’ve seen it before on your mother’s face.”
I smiled. My parents were madly in love with each other. So much so that I would often catch the two of them staring when the other wasn’t looking. It was a sweet, long-lasting love. One that I knew I had with Rip.
“I am in love with him, Daddy.”
He nodded. “I know you are, sweetheart. You have been for some time. I have to give you credit for realizing that before you made a mistake with Easton.”
“It wasn’t just loving Rip that made me say no to Easton. It was you, the ranch, Momma, Gage, Grammy, and Grandpa. I couldn’t leave all of this. Not for a man I didn’t love the way he needed me to love him.”
Daddy pulled in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “How is the house coming along?”
I could feel myself beaming at that question.
“Good. We’ve gotten the entire kitchen gutted. I told Rip I wanted to start in there. Mike is already working on the cabinets.”
“What have you gone with?” he asked.
“Knotty alder. Glass doors, I think.”
“I like the sound of that.” His phone rang, and when he took it out, I saw Rip’s name on the screen. “Excuse me, darlin’. I need to take this.”
I nodded.
“This is Steed.”
Dad’s eyes met mine. “I’m sitting in m
y daughter’s office.” He pulled the phone away while rolling his eyes but smiled. “He told me to tell you he loves you.”
I could feel the soreness of my cheeks from smiling so hard. “Tell him I love him more.”
“She said back at ya.”
“Daddy!” I said with a laugh.
“Yes, I did hear from them. It’s all been filed and taken care of. You’re welcome, son. It was my pleasure.”
I tilted my head, wondering what they were talking about. I decided to let it go while I looked back down at the marketing plan I had been working on. I had a meeting with Trevor, Mitchell, and my father to discuss my ideas about getting our ranch name out there on the horse breeding side of things. Yes, we were a cattle company, but Mitchell and Daddy had been toying around with breeding horses the last few years and had done a good job of it. It was an area I really felt like we could expand on. Uncle Trevor mainly dealt with the cattle, but ever since his daughter Aurora started to show an interest in horses, specifically raising and breeding them, Trevor started to pay more attention to that side of the business. If he thought he could rustle his little girl into the family ranch, he was going to do it.
“That could be a challenge, but I think we can handle it.”
I looked up at him again.
“I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry. Talk soon.”
He hung up and I asked, “What will be a challenge?”
Rubbing the back of his neck, he replied, “Mitchell thinks we need another barn, one near the south pasture. Rip’s been looking over the financials.”
“Is it not in the budget?”
“No, it is. I just want the boy to figure out how to do it. If he’s going to be doing the books for this ranch, he needs to show me he’s got what it takes.”
“I have faith in him,” I said, pride clearly in my voice.
“So do I, Chloe Cat. The boy has a good head on his shoulders. I guess if you were going to end up with someone, I’m glad it’s him and not douchebag Easton.”
“Dad!” I wanted to laugh, but somehow managed to hold it in.
“I’ll let you get back to work, Chloe Cat. Just wanted to come in and say hi.”
When he stood to walk out, I stood as well. “Dad?”
He stopped and faced me. “What’s wrong?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
Smiling, I said, “For letting me find the right path.”
“Oh Chloe, it was so touch and go there for a bit. I almost had to kick the little asshole’s ass, but I knew you’d find your way.”
I tossed a pencil at him. “You never did like him.”
“I didn’t. Neither did your brother. As a matter of fact, the first time you brought him home and he got so sick, I’m almost positive Gage put something in his tea.”
My mouth dropped open. “What!”
He winked and headed out of my office. I smiled and got back to work.
Later that evening, I stood in the middle of the farmhouse bedroom, stunned by what I was looking at.
“So? What do you think?”
My mouth opened, then shut. Then opened again. I couldn’t seem to find any words.
“Do you not like it?” Rip asked, clearly concerned.
“It’s…beautiful.”
“I found it at an old antique shop in Johnson City. Jonathon brought it back to his shop, and I sanded it down and then repainted it white.”
The old iron bedframe sat in the middle of the freshly painted master bedroom we had finished painting grey yesterday. It wasn’t a dark grey, but a beautiful light grey with a touch of blue mixed in.
“It’s perfect, Rip.”
He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my neck, causing goosebumps to erupt across my body.
“Want to break it in?” he asked, his breath hot against my skin.
When his hands slipped under my shirt, I sucked in a breath. Slowly he worked his way up, cupping each breast while he laid soft kisses on my neck.
“Chloe,” he whispered, pinching my nipples through my bra. My head dropped back against his chest, and I moaned in pleasure.
His other hand unclasped my bra before I could register what was happening. He turned me around and lifted my shirt over my head, tossing it to the floor.
My pulse raced in my ears when he took one nipple into his mouth. I needed more of him. Needed to feel his skin on mine.
I worked at getting his pants unbuttoned. When I finally gained access, I slipped my hand into his jeans. He was hard and ready, exactly how I wanted him. My body instantly heated with the need for him.
“God, your touch drives me mad with desire,” Rip breathed out.
“I feel the same.”
We quickly shed our remaining clothes and soon found ourselves in our new king-size bed. Rip rolled over so that I was straddling him. The heat of his hard dick pressed against me, teasing me as I moved to feel him.
Rip’s hands went to my hips. He lifted me, and I positioned myself over him, slowly sinking onto him until I was fully seated.
“God, Chloe.”
My head dropped back as I rested my hands on his chest. I moved slowly at first until I couldn’t take it. My orgasm was so close. I rode him hard and fast. Feeling him under me was thrilling, the sense of power even more of a turn on. Each time Rip and I were together it felt more amazing than the last. I couldn’t help but wonder if it would always be this way. We came together, and I dropped onto his chest.
Rip’s fingers moved lightly up and down my arm as we stared out the window that overlooked our property.
Our property.
The thought that he had bought this farmhouse for us still made my stomach fill with butterflies. I loved this man so much. Life felt so perfect that it almost scared me. I was waiting for the floor to be ripped out from under us any day.
“How long do you want to wait before we have a baby?”
His question stunned me, and my body froze.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have asked that out loud.” He stared at me, gauging my reaction.
I sat up, pulling the sheet up and sitting with my legs crossed as I looked down at him. He had one arm behind his head, propping it up. His brown hair was messy, and I longed to run my fingers through it. Those soft brown eyes were staring up at me, concern clearly etched in them.
“A baby?”
He shrugged. “I mean, we don’t have to do anything right now. We’ve only been together two months.”
I laughed. “You do realize you’re doing almost everything backwards, Rip Myers.”
Rip sat up and put a pillow behind him. He gazed out the window. “I don’t ever want to rush you on anything,” he said. “I want to enjoy days like this where we can lie in bed and not do anything. Spending time with you the last couple of months has been like living in heaven.”
Smiling, I took his hand. “I feel the same way. I would be lying if I said I hadn’t already picked out what our kids’ names would be.”
A wide grin appeared on his face. “When did you first have the names picked out?”
Lifting my eyes as if in deep thought, I replied, “I’d say when I was about thirteen or so.”
Rip laughed. “Tell me their names.”
I could feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment. “Well, if we have a little boy, I wouldn’t mind naming him Brady.”
“Brady!”
“Yes! What is wrong with that name?” I asked, poking him in the side.
“I was thinking Cayden.”
My brows lifted. “When did you come up with names?”
It was his turn to blush. “Sixteen, I think.”
Oh my. My heart melted, and I wanted to kiss him. “Sixteen?”
He nodded. “You and I were sitting at a party outside on the edge of the pool talking. Hell, I don’t even remember what we were talking about, but you mentioned something about when you had kids someday. I wondered if we would have a boy or a girl. Maybe both. Maybe even twins
’cause of your dad and Uncle Mitchell being twins.”
I must have opened and closed my mouth six times before I spoke. “You thought about us having kids?”
“Yeah. Looking back now, I don’t know why we didn’t just tell each other how we felt. It was pretty damn obvious we were in love with each other, even then.”
Tilting my head, I asked, “What was the girl’s name?”
“You first.”
“Let’s say it at the same time!” I giggled.
“Okay. One, two, three.”
“Emma.”
My eyes widened in shock. “Did you say Emma?”
He nodded. “Yep.”
“How did you know?”
Rip lifted a brow and gave me a look that said I should know the answer.
“I’ve said it before?”
“Yep. Prom night our senior year. We were dancing, and you mentioned you liked the name Emma. That if you ever had a little girl, you were naming her Emma.”
Tears pricked in my eyes. “Do you remember everything I’ve ever said?”
He let out a soft chuckle. “No. Only the important things that mattered to you.”
His words left me breathless.
“When I think I cannot possibly love you more, you say something like that and I fall even deeper.”
Rip looked back out the window, lost in a moment of thought. “Will you go on a picnic with me tomorrow?”
“Yes! I’d go anywhere with you. Where did you want to go?”
“Let’s explore our little piece of heaven here.”
“I love that idea,” I replied.
He turned his head and caught my gaze. “I love you, Chloe.”
I couldn’t help but wonder where he had gone off to in those few short moments. Wherever it was, I saw something on his face. Fear? Worry? Something had him uneasy, and I didn’t want him to ever doubt our love, our future, any of it.
“I love you too, Rip.”
He motioned for me to come closer to him, so I did. Snuggled up to his side, I watched as the sun began its journey lower in the sky. The sound of Rip’s heart beating in his chest relaxed me to the point where I was fighting to keep my eyes open. I’d never felt so loved or so safe in my entire life.
Love at First Sight Page 19
