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  “Well, at least you’d know that upfront, wouldn’t you? And you’d know it before you get any more involved with him. Ask him. The worst thing he can say is no, and then, depending on his reasons, you’ll know where you stand with him.”

  “True.”

  They continued chatting a bit, before Saffron brought the call to an end. Finally taking her advice that he needed a day off, Rory was visiting with the Carson brothers today, Sunday, but he’d promised to be back for dinner. As she started cooking, she tossed around the idea of asking him to move in more. Encouraged by Tansy’s opinion, she wanted to ask him, but was still uncertain she should. Zoë was coming over tomorrow to give her a hand with the gardens, and she decided she’d elicit Zoë’s opinion before making up her mind. Ethan and Zoë had begun a relationship that led to her moving in with him rather quickly, and Saffron wanted her friend’s advice.

  The next afternoon, Saffron knelt before a flower bed, Zoë at her side, the pair weeding in preparation of the planting Saffron wanted to do, before the last of spring passed. The beds in front of the house would look sensational in full-bloom on the ranch’s opening day. She wished she had the money to fill the huge areas in back of the house, but just didn’t. Much of what she still had in the bank had been set aside for the rest of the materials needed to complete the barn before winter, and for anything she’d need for opening day. Unsure what exactly she wanted to do that day, she wanted to have enough money to follow through on whatever marketing idea she came up with.

  Rory had finished work early, and, while normally he’d have gone to work building stalls in the barn, he’d decided to visit Zandra for a bit. It always felt a little odd whenever Rory wasn’t around, but Saffron ignored the feeling as she concentrated on weeding, and the thoughts that had been consuming her. While she and Zoë worked, she outlined her reasons for wanting to live with Rory, and then asked Zoë if she was rushing things

  “Nope,” Zoë replied as she yanked on a thistle. “Yeah, it’s fast, but when you know, you know. You wouldn’t be thinking about it if you didn’t know he was right for you.” She met Saffron’s eyes. “Did that help?”

  “Yes, actually. Tansy told me to go for it, but I wanted to ask you because you and Ethan moved in together so quickly. I just wanted to know if you thought that was a good thing to do, or not.”

  “Well, it certainly worked for Ethan and me. Sure, it was fast, but we both felt it. Hell, I’d been sleeping in his bed every night since the first night we hooked up. That alone should’ve told me something.”

  “Rory’s been in my bed every night except for one.”

  Zoë grinned brightly. “There you go then.”

  They both turned when Rory’s pickup came up the drive. A tarp was pulled over odd shapes in the bed of his truck, and Saffron wondered what he’d picked up. Rory jumped down from the cab, and then, after lowering the tailgate, pulled a large box from under the tarp. The position of the truck didn’t allow her a view under the tarp, but there was an awful lot of stuff there still. As he passed them, Saffron saw light strings bundled at the top of the open box.

  “Hey, Zoë,” Rory called, and then smiled warmly at Saffron.

  “Hi, Rory,” Zoë replied. “Whatcha got there?”

  “Something for Saffron,” he replied. He lifted the box higher as his eyes met Saffron’s. “No peeking until I set it up.”

  He passed them, and entered the house. What was he up to? She wondered if he’d sourced some furniture for the house that was still mostly empty, but couldn’t figure out what he might do with the strings of lights.

  Zoë turned to Saffron with both brows raised. “Well, unless he’s decorating for Christmas really early, I do believe he’s planned a surprise for you.”

  “With Christmas lights?”

  “Who knows? I guess you’ll find out soon enough.” She got to her feet then, pulled off the gardening gloves, and handed them to Saffron who also stood. “Okay, I’m outta here. It’s almost time to get the men their supper. Heaven forbid I serve it late. My boss is a real hard-ass.”

  She winked, and Saffron laughed. They said their goodbyes, and then Zoë climbed into her truck and left. The thought her and Rory’s relationship mirrored Zoë and Ethan’s struck her. While she supposed Ethan and Zoë were now more partners at the ranch than anything, they’d started their relationship when Ethan hired Zoë as a cook for his ranch. Saffron had hired Rory. It was strange how things worked out sometimes.

  After putting away the gardening tools, she entered the house. As she neared the living room, Rory sprang into the entrance, and threw his arms out to grab the doorframe, his body blocking her sightline into the room.

  “No peeking, Saffron.”

  “What are you doing in there?” She was more curious now, wondering what on earth he might be up to in the still-empty living room.

  “It’s a surprise for after dinner. Promise me you won’t peek in here. I’ll show you what it is later.”

  “Okay,” she agreed, and then continued on to the kitchen to prepare dinner. As she worked on the meal, she heard the front door open and close repeatedly, and her curiosity over what Rory was doing grew.

  After dinner, and after the pair washed dishes together, their normal routine, Rory walked her to the living room. Just before they arrived at the room, he slid behind her, covered her eyes with his hands, and then gently guided her forward with his body.

  “Okay, stop.”

  She did and, as he removed his hands, she let out a surprised gasp. He’d built a blanket fort in the living room, using chairs she’d never seen, only their legs visible to her. They must have been in the back of his truck, under the tarp. The blankets covering the chairs had been pulled back and pinned, like the opening to a tent, allowing her to see inside. He’d strung the lights there, illuminating the inside of the fort, and the floor lined with sheet-topped cushions. She could hardly believe he’d done all that. It sure was a surprise.

  “You’re so quiet,” he said as he moved to stand beside her. “You think it’s dorky, don’t you?”

  “No, I love it.” Eager to assure him, she grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “I just can’t believe you did this for me, that’s all. It’s so romantic, and fun. You’re amazing.”

  She embraced him, smiling when his arms wrapped around her. Relief spread across his face. He’d been worried she wouldn’t like his surprise, and her heart cracked a little, wishing he’d known she would love it. She hated seeing the uncertainty he still showed upon occasion.

  “Ha. You’re the amazing one.” He planted a sweet kiss on her forehead. “Okay, strip and get in there.” She raised a brow. Smiling, he pulled a small bottle from just inside the open flap of the fort, and held it up for her to see. “Massage oil. I’m going to pamper you something fierce.”

  Unable to resist that offer, she undressed, smiling when he did too, knowing exactly what the massage would lead to. As always, his eyes roved hungrily over her body. No longer timid about being naked in front of him, she wished she could tell him how much he’d improved her self-esteem but couldn’t, not without relating the entire story of how damaging her relationship with Doug had been to her. She would tell him, someday, but wanted to focus on building his esteem first. Besides, right now, all she wanted to do was be with him, enjoy the massage, and ask him an important question.

  They crawled into the fort. He instructed her to lie on her back, and then he massaged her foot. As his fingers found tight muscles, she moaned contentedly.

  “Oh Lord, that feels amazing. I’m going to have to return the favour. You spend just as much time on your feet as me, if not more.”

  “No way, at least not tonight,” he returned. “Tonight is just for you.”

  Planning on reciprocating the treatment at some point, she closed her eyes, and let out another happy moan. As he worked on her feet, and then her lower legs, they chatted. He revealed he’d gotten the chairs from Boone’s house, an old dining set that had been
in the house when Boone bought it. Zandra had found it too old-fashioned and, when Boone purchased a new set, the old one had gone into storage. Boone was more than happy to part with it and so, Saffron now had a dining table, complete with six chairs, although the table was still in the bed of Rory’s truck, along with an old couch he’d taken the cushions from to build the fort.

  “Oh, that’s great, I’ll have to thank Boone.”

  “It’s a not a big deal. Boone didn’t want any of it. He told me he wasn’t even sure why it went in storage, but he was glad you could make use of it.” He shrugged. “You might not even like the table, when you see it set up. And you’re probably gonna hate the couch. It’s really old, and more than a little worn.”

  “Rory, it doesn’t matter to me that any of it is old. I just love that you thought of it, and that Boone agreed. I really appreciate it. Besides, it’ll be nice to have some furniture in the house. It’s still pretty bare.”

  “Well, really we only use the kitchen, and the bedroom.” He winked. “Okay, flip over.”

  She did, and he straddled her. His pelvis nestled against her butt, his erection enticingly cushioned by her cheeks. As he massaged her shoulders, she bucked up a bit under him.

  “Stop that,” he said. “I’m trying to massage you.”

  “But it all feels so good,” she protested, and lifted her hips again.

  “Sweetheart, if you don’t stop, I won’t be able to finish the massage. C’mon, there’s plenty of time for fun later. Let me do this. You deserve the pampering, and I know you could use a good massage.”

  Relenting, she relaxed her hips, and then let out a groan when he worked her stiff upper back muscles. Had she ever felt this content? Being pampered by Rory was wonderful, but then again every moment spent with him was, regardless of what they did. Mucking pens was a pleasure if she did it with him. He’d done more than raise her self-esteem. Her life, all aspects of it, were better with him around.

  “Rory, I want you to move in with me. Officially.” His hands stilled. “I know you already spend all your time here, but I want you to move your things in here. I want to live with you.”

  As his hands slowly began to move again, he answered her, his voice soft. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I want you to. It feels right, and, if it feels right to you, then say yes.”

  “Yes.” His covered her body with his, his hands gliding up her arms to entwine his fingers through hers. “There isn’t anywhere else I’d rather be,” he whispered in her ear, and then kissed it lightly. “Thank you, for everything. You’ve made me happier than you could ever imagine.”

  She could imagine though, for he’d made her as happy. No, not happy, joyous. He nestled his face against hers as he ran his stiffness along the cleft of her ass.

  “I love you, Saffron.”

  Tears pricked her eyes. “I love you, Rory, so much.”

  After squeezing her hands, he released them and then slid his body down hers, trailing kisses down her spine. He kneaded her ass cheeks, pausing now and then to lightly bite one, causing her to wriggle. Then, he snaked a hand under her to lift her until her butt was in the air, her upper body against the cushions still. The first pass of his tongue over her sex had her gasping. Taking his time, he licked gently, dipped his tongue inside, worked her clitoris, and then repeated his motions, altering their order, driving her wild. Moaning in pleasure, she rolled her hips, and then gasped when his finger entered her.

  “I wish I could take you bareback.” The rasp in his voice had her panting. “I want to feel all of you, with all of me.”

  So aroused she was almost incapable of speech, she managed to answer him. “I’m on the pill. It’s been years since I had unprotected sex, so I’m sure you’re safe.”

  “I’ve never had unprotected sex.”

  Propping herself up on her elbows, she looked over her shoulder. “Really?” She might have turned fully to see him better, but he was gently caressing her, and she didn’t want him to stop.

  “The offer was made a few times, but I never wanted to. I wanted to save the intimacy of that for someone special.” He kissed her butt cheek again. “You’re that special someone.”

  He nestled behind her, covering her back with his chest, his hands on the cushions, his arms on either side of her shoulders. His erection poked at her, and she pushed back against him, wanting him to enter her. His hot breath warmed her neck, then he kissed her just under her ear, before whispering into it.

  “Tell me to take you like that.”

  She bit her lip. No one had ever turned her on as he could. “Take me, Rory, with nothing between us.”

  The feel of him entering her, skin on skin, nothing between them, was almost too much to bear, and her deep moan was echoed by him. After a few slow strokes, the weight of him was gone from her back, and his hands grasped her ass tightly.

  “Arch your back more, sweetheart, take me deep.”

  Complying, she arched her back dramatically, her breasts pressed against the cushions, along with her cheek. His next thrust was so deep, she gripped the sheet tightly as she cried out. He took her hard, and she thrust back in rhythm with him, loving each close-to-devastating impalement he delivered. Twisting the sheet in her tightly clenched fists, she savoured his roughness, unusual for him, and the unmistakeable passion behind it. For it matched hers, overwhelmed by his admission of loving her, his agreement to move in with her.

  Sweating with her movements, she could smell his sweat, the interior of the fort concentrating the scents of their union, intoxicatingly, driving her to thrust harder, hearing Rory’s resulting groan. He wouldn’t last long at this speed, and she didn’t care. She was riding the edge of an incredible orgasm, and was certain they’d climax together. His hand gripped her shoulder strongly, and he grunted each time he drove into her. Trembling, she was so, so close.

  “I love you,” she cried out.

  Growing erratic, his thrusts were also harder, and triggered her orgasm. As she screamed with the intensity of it, he stilled as he cried out. Her body jerked in the throes of her unleashed passion, and his arms pushed under her to pull her back against his chest. Embedded in her still, he held her closely. “I love you, so much,” he said softly, and then kissed her cheek tenderly.

  Reaching over her head to run her fingers through his damp hair, her body still trembling in his embrace, she had it all. A loving, passionate, supportive man, and her dream ranch. Although never believing it ever would be, her life was perfect.

  Chapter 36

  With twin grunts, Ethan and Rory slid the new range into its place in the kitchen. Well, new old range actually. When Saffron had mentioned her ailing stove to Zoë, his darling girlfriend had asked Ethan about the one that used to be in their kitchen, the one Zoë had hated on sight. Last month, he’d bought her a gas range, and had put the electric one in storage. He’d told Zoë that Saffron was more than welcome to it. Saffron had offered to buy it, but Ethan wouldn’t hear of it, and today he’d found time to bring it over.

  When the men stepped back, Saffron moved forward to get a better look at it. The stove was in much better condition than the one they’d just pulled out of the space, and, smiling, she turned to Ethan.

  “Thank you again, Ethan, it’s great.”

  “You’re welcome,” he replied. “It’s just been sitting in the shed since Zoë got her new stove. I figured someone could use it at some point, and then she mentioned yours was on the fritz.”

  “It’s perfect for me. I know Zoë prefers gas stoves, but they kinda scare me. I saw the one you bought her, it’s beautiful.”

  “It’s a monstrosity. Six burners, a flat top grill, and two ovens.” He shook his head slightly, and then grinned. “But she wanted it, so she got it. Still, she could feed an army with that thing, I’m sure of it. I also bought her a salamander. That’s a broiler, by the way. I looked at her right strangely when she asked for one, thinking she wanted a damn lizard in the house.”


  Both she and Rory laughed, and Ethan joined in. Then he tilted his head at Rory. “We’ll take the old one out in a bit. Right now, though, can you please grab the box in my truck? It’s got the elements and knobs for the stove in it.”

  “Sure thing,” Rory said.

  He left the kitchen, and Ethan turned a serious look on Saffron. She seemed a little alarmed by the change in his mood, and he was uncomfortable voicing his thoughts, but he only had a couple of minutes to say what he wanted to before Rory was back.

  “Saffron, I need to say something to you. I’m not one to pry in the lives of others, but, well, I’m going to. Your relationship with Rory is moving real fast, and I won’t comment on that, considering how quickly my relationship with Zoë progressed, but I have to tell you I haven’t seen Rory this happy since before all that trouble crashed down on him. I just hope you’re as committed to him as he is to you. The last thing that man needs is a broken heart.”

  Her mouth fell open slightly, and he thought she looked offended, but he didn’t care. “I won’t see Rory hurt. He deserves happiness. He’s apparently found it with you, and that’s great, provided you feel the same.”

  Before she could answer, the bang of the front door signalled Rory’s return. Ethan looked away from Saffron, lest Rory detect something when he re-entered the kitchen. He felt odd for voicing what he had, but had felt a need to do so, especially after receiving a concerned phone call from Boone. His friend had expressed worry that Rory and Saffron were moving too fast. Sure, Boone had had the same fears with Ethan and Zoë at first, but Ethan could understand Boone’s concern when it came to Rory. He’d been through enough in his years, and was due for something good. Maybe it was Saffron, and Ethan wished her and Rory well if they were both in love. If she wasn’t committed to Rory though, Ethan hoped he’d made himself clear. There’d be hell to pay if she broke Rory’s heart.

  Chapter 37

  Awakening to the sound of a loud thump, Rory bolted into a sitting position, awakening Saffron beside him.