“She really needs to be reassured that we are all staying at the ranch together now and that she won’t have to go back to her mom. While you’re there, can you run up to my apartment and pack more of my clothes? There’s a suitcase on the closet floor and an overnight bag. Just grab the stuff out of my dresser and in the bathroom, and that should be fine until I can pack up the rest.”
He loved the matter-of-fact way she made it clear they were sticking together now. “Sure, sweetheart, no problem.”
Drake grinned beside him. “So you guys are moving in together.”
“I’m keeping him,” Trinity said for Drake’s benefit, and smiled at Jon from the phone.
“Cough if you’re being held hostage,” Drake teased.
“Hell no. My ribs hurt too much as it is. I sneezed earlier and thought my head might actually explode.” Trinity closed her eyes, then opened them again. “Besides, I don’t need to be rescued. I just need Jon to come home.”
“On my way, sweetheart.” And he couldn’t wait to get there.
“By the way, Tate and Liz got Razzle back. She’s here, in her cage, on the porch. I thought you could be Emmy’s hero like you were mine today taking down Nathan, and return her to Emmy when you come in.”
“What about the other two?”
“She seems to be the most attached to Razzle. The other two found a good home, but if Emmy wants them back, we can deal with that tomorrow.”
“She’ll probably be happy with Razzle. She complains about the other two. Steph didn’t treat them well, but Razzle always seemed to be the sweetest.”
“You look exhausted, Jon. Are you sure you’re okay to drive?”
“I think I have just enough left in me to get home, kiss you, and fall asleep.”
“Grab something to eat on your way. That will help keep you awake, and it’s probably been forever since you had a decent meal.”
He loved that she wanted to take care of him. “I will. Now say goodbye because you’re supposed to limit your screen time.”
“You called me.” She glared at him, but it turned into another grin. “See you soon.” And then she disconnected.
“You sure you want to keep her?” Drake teased, but there was a serious question in there about wanting to know Jon’s intentions.
“Definitely. Forever if she’ll let me.”
Drake gave him an approving nod, and Jon stopped worrying that her family didn’t accept him. Family meant everything to Trinity. And he liked the idea of having so many people to count on and trust to have your back. He didn’t have any siblings. He hoped Emmy did one day. Until then, she’d have a lot of uncles and aunts and cousins from Trinity’s side of the family.
Now that all the drama with Steph and Almost Homemade had been handled, he could focus on him and Trinity and building the life they wanted. He got her to move in. Now he needed to make it permanent and ask her to marry him.
Maybe it was too fast, too soon, but he didn’t want to wait.
He wanted her to be his wife and partner. He wanted Emmy to have the mother she deserved. He wanted to have more kids and make a million happy memories that spanned the next however many decades they were given.
And he wanted it all to start now.
“Go pack her stuff upstairs. I’ll get you something to eat and a cup of coffee for the road.” Drake smacked him on the back and walked out into the kitchen.
Jon trudged upstairs and into Trinity’s apartment. He liked her place and imagined moving her things and incorporating them in their home.
It took him only ten minutes to fill the suitcase and bag with her clothes and bathroom stuff. He found Drake waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs with a bag of food and a takeout coffee cup.
“Adria has all the shifts covered at all three stores. Stay home with Trinity for a few days, make sure she’s taking it easy. We’ll see you at the rehearsal dinner Thursday night.”
Right. He’d almost forgotten Declan and Skye were getting married.
That would give him time to come up with the perfect proposal and not steal any of the spotlight from them.
“Thanks for all your help, Drake. If I need any security work done at my businesses, I’m calling you.”
Drake smacked him on the back again. “Be sure you do. We like to keep things in the family.”
Jon stared after Drake as he walked out the back door to go home. It took Jon a second to follow him outside after that comment and absorb that Drake, and hopefully everyone else, considered him part of the family.
Trinity was a part of his.
He loved her. Emmy did, too, and she needed Trinity in her life.
Steph wasn’t out of the picture, but she had been sidelined for a good long time.
But he still needed to deal with her.
That was a problem for tomorrow.
Tonight, he had a beautiful, kind woman waiting at home for him, and he couldn’t wait to get to her.
Chapter Thirty-One
Trinity sat with her head resting on the back of the sofa, eyes closed, trying to think of nothing and just be calm and quiet. Emmy had her head on Trinity’s thigh. Trinity brushed her fingers through Emmy’s hair while she watched Sesame Street.
“Big Bird is too big,” she announced out of the blue.
“I really like his flouncy feathers.”
“When will Daddy be home?” She asked about every ten minutes.
“Soon.” She hoped.
Tate left an hour ago with her assurance that she could handle Emmy for a little while alone. They’d already had dinner. Emmy had put on her pj’s. It was still early, but Emmy seemed as tired as her.
Organ music played on the TV. Emmy counted with Count, the vampire, to find out the number of the day.
“One bat, two bats, three bats. Ah, ah-ah.” She mimicked the Count’s vampire laugh.
Trinity couldn’t help but smile. “Very good, sweetheart.”
“Three is the number of the day. I can draw a three.”
“You are excellent at numbers.”
The front door opened and Emmy scrambled to get up.
Trinity opened her eyes and watched Emmy launch herself into her dad’s legs as he held up the cat carrier so she didn’t bang her head on it.
Jon rubbed his hand over Emmy’s head. “Hey, sweetheart, how are you?”
“You were gone so long.” Emmy looked up at him with a scolding frown.
“I’m sorry. I had to take care of some business for Trinity, but look who I have . . .” He brought the carrier down to Emmy’s level and Razzle head-bumped the cage door and meowed.
“Razzle!”
Jon unlatched the door and let Razzle jump into Emmy’s arms. The cat accepted the fierce hug from Emmy and nuzzled her head into the little girl’s cheek.
“You got her. Thank you, Daddy. Thank you.” Emmy leaned into Jon, unable to hug him properly with her hands filled with cat.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
Trinity stood back, watching the sweet scene. “Honey, Puff and Dot found a home with a nice woman who lived close to your mom’s place. Is it okay with you if they stay with her?”
“Do they like it there?” she asked.
“Yes. And the woman lives alone and really wanted to take care of them.”
“Okay.” Emmy took Razzle and headed for the hallway. “Come see our new room, Razzle. We get to stay here now. No more Mommy’s house.”
Jon’s eyes filled with anguish. “She’s really upset about her mom.”
“At her mom. Not you. She feels safe here. And you brought back her kitty. I have a feeling that will make all the difference in the world to her. Plus Tate is bringing the horses tomorrow.”
Jon’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t know if I’m up for that. I’m so damn tired.”
“One of the guys from Cedar Top will come by in the morning and at night to care for them for as long as we need him. He’s got a young family and could use the extra cash.”
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“Done.”
“Also, Tate said you’re going to run cattle for Almost Homemade.”
“He mentioned it to me, and while I intended to make this a working ranch again, I—”
Trinity touched her fingers to his lips to stop him. “All Tate needed to hear was that you want to be a rancher again, so he’s already got a plan in place. He’ll fill you in. But since you’ve got your hands full with Steph, Tate thought the guy he’s sending is a hard worker and has earned a better position and can be your ranch foreman.”
“Done. He can have the job as long as he wants it.”
Trinity smiled. “I knew you’d say that.”
“Yeah?”
She slipped her hands up his chest and around his neck. “You’re a good man. My man.”
He leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers. “Yes, I am. For as long as you want me.”
“I’ll take forever if it’s on the table.”
“Done.” Then he kissed her like he hadn’t seen her in forever. He held her gently in his arms because he remembered her cracked ribs, and it was the sweetest thing to know he kissed her with a desperation she felt, too, but restrained the rest of himself to protect her from further pain. “I really wish I could have spent the day with you and Emmy.”
“Thank you for working with Drake to take down Nathan. I really enjoyed watching Nathan get what was coming to him. Maybe a little too much.”
“Revel in it. He’d have enjoyed taking your business and rubbing your nose in it.” Jon sighed. “About my proposal . . .”
She touched her fingers to his lips. “I completely understand what you wanted now.”
“You do?” His eyes narrowed.
“Yes. And I think it’s worth revisiting soon, but right now you’re exhausted.”
“Give me a few minutes to bring everything in off the porch. We definitely need to set up the litter box and Razzle’s food and water. You can unpack your stuff in a couple of days when you’re feeling up to it.”
“You do that, then get in the shower. I’ll read to Emmy and we can call it a night.”
“You’re not supposed to overtax your eyes and brain.”
“I think I can manage a couple of books.”
Jon stepped back, but kept his hands at her waist. “You took a shower and changed. The doctor said I was supposed to watch you in case you got dizzy.”
“Are you upset, or disappointed you missed it?” She gave him a teasing smile.
He sighed out his mock devastation. “Mostly disappointed.” The sexy grin and light in his eyes did her heart good.
“Tate sat outside the cracked door and played a game on his phone with Emmy while I took a very short shower.”
Jon brushed his hand over her hair. “I just can’t bear for anything else to happen to you.”
“Then help me stop worrying about you so my brain can shut down and we can both get the sleep we desperately need.”
“All I want to do is hold you and crash.”
“I’ll meet you in bed.”
“I’d like to hear that every day for the rest of my life, please.”
“Done,” she mimicked him, and gave him a sexy grin as she slipped out of his light embrace and went to Emmy’s room.
Her heart fluttered with anticipation after hearing Jon so easily talk about them being together forever. She couldn’t wait to see his face when she carried out her plan to make that happen.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jon woke up with Trinity plastered to his side, one leg thrown over his, her long hair draped over his arm. Heaven. Pure and sweet and perfect.
He stretched to look at the clock and she snuggled in closer. He hadn’t slept that well in a long time.
He’d like to make love to her. Slow and easy, taking his time. But she was in no condition for that with her ribs, head still in a fog, and the dizzy spells that came over her. So he settled for turning on his side and gently pulling her close.
She wrapped herself around him and kissed his neck. “Feeling better?”
Of course she’d ask him that, when she was the one seriously injured. “I woke up with you. I can’t possibly be any better.”
She leaned back and smiled at him. “You’re sweet in the morning.”
“I’m sweet to you all the time.”
“True.” She dipped her head back under his chin and hugged him closer.
He slipped his fingers into her silky hair, avoiding the long line of stitches. “How is your head this morning?”
“Slow. Like yesterday, but once I’m awake a little longer, it gets better. There are things floating in my eyes.”
“Do you still have a headache?”
“It’s not so bad this morning.”
He gently rolled her to her back and slipped his hand up under the T-shirt he found her in last night. His shirt. And God, it looked good on her.
He checked out the bruising on her side. “Did you ice this yesterday?”
“On and off every couple of hours.” She put her hand over his. “Jon. I’m okay.”
“I know. It’s just . . .” He lightly traced his fingers over the bruises. “I think of what could have happened.”
“It didn’t. I’m fine. And we are moving on with our life together with Emmy, and for now, Steph is out of the picture.”
He wished for good. Except for Emmy’s sake. He’d endure Steph’s presence in their lives when necessary. “I think I’ll go deal with her apartment today.”
“You don’t have to do that. I rented a storage locker and hired a cleaning crew and movers to go there and empty the apartment a week from Monday. All of Emmy’s things will be delivered here that evening.”
He stared down at her, even though she still had her eyes closed. “You were supposed to rest yesterday and not stress about anything.”
“You took care of my business. I took care of yours. Well, your personal business.”
“Sweetheart—”
“We both know you didn’t want to deal with it. Unfortunately, you have the unpleasant task of going to see Steph. If I were you, I wouldn’t put it off. Her lawyer left you three messages at the house. I can’t imagine how many times he called your cell.”
“I ignored all six calls. She wants me to pay her bail so she can be out while she fights the charges. For the first time, her family, especially her father, has refused to clean up her mess. So far anyway.” He couldn’t believe her dad refused to get her out of jail.
Trinity’s eyes opened. “Are you going to pay her bail?”
“No fucking way.” He reined in his temper, and Trinity relaxed beside him because he wasn’t going to come to Steph’s rescue again. “I’ve given her every chance to be a good mother. She can’t even manage being a decent person.”
“Then let the court handle it and let it go.”
“If she’s smart, she’ll make a deal and serve her time.”
Trinity gave him a look that clearly said she didn’t think Steph was ever smart about anything.
Fair enough. He just wanted to drop the subject, but conceded, “I should go see her just so she knows where I stand on Emmy.”
“You need the closure.” Right again.
She read him so well.
“Tate is going to be here in an hour with the horses. I’m going to get some coffee and make Emmy breakfast so she’s ready for her big surprise. Are you coming? Or do you need more time to relax and let your eyes adjust to the light?” He’d kept the drapes closed in here and where he could in the rest of the house so she wasn’t bombarded by bright lights.
“I’m coming. I think I’ll sit up for a few minutes and get my balance before I try standing.”
“I’ll come check on you in a few and help you up, so you don’t fall.”
“I think I’ll be okay. I’m going to do what the doctor said and take it slow.”
“No horseback riding for you today,” he teased, knowing full well she wasn’t allowed up on a horse in h
er condition.
“I can’t wait to see Emmy’s face.”
He kissed her softly. “I love looking at yours and having you here with me.”
“So sweet in the morning. Remind me to stay in bed with you as long as possible.”
“My pleasure.” He kissed her again, then made himself get out of bed before things got too hot between them and he possibly set back her recovery.
He pulled on a T-shirt and sweats to cover the boxer briefs he’d slept in and headed down the hall. He stopped in Emmy’s doorway and found her in nearly the identical position he’d seen her in last night when he kissed her good-night, even though she’d already fallen asleep. Razzle lay by Emmy’s side, her arm draped over the cat.
Razzle spotted him, slipped free, ran off the bed, past him, and into the bathroom across the hall and straight into the litter box. “Good girl.”
He liked the cat. She looked like a masked superhero kitty with the orange fur around her eyes and spreading over her ears and the back of her head, like a cap. The rest of her was pure white.
He left Razzle to do her business, went to the kitchen, thanked God someone had made the coffee and set the timer, found two mugs in the cupboard, and poured for himself and Trinity.
Razzle raced in and immediately found the dry food feeding container and water bowl. She chowed down.
Emmy came in rubbing her eyes. “Hi, Daddy.”
“Hi, sleepyhead.”
Razzle ran over to Emmy, brushed her body against Emmy’s legs, then ran back to her bowl.
Emmy giggled. “She’s happy here.”
And so was his little girl.
“Let’s have some breakfast.”
“Peanut butter toast.” Emmy loved melted peanut butter.
“Take a seat.” He got out two pieces of bread and popped them in the toaster.
Emmy climbed onto the stool at the breakfast bar.
Trinity walked in wearing his shirt and a pair of black leggings and squinted at the bright light coming in the front window.
“Sorry, sweetheart, no window covering in here.”
True Love Cowboy Page 28
