Rugged Hearts (31 page)
“I’m glad you brought that up.” He ushered her inside, shut the door, and locked it. “Rein, Dalton,” he called to the two still seated at the table with their desserts. “You two get kitchen duty. Aimee and I need to talk.”
Aimee raised her brow.
“You’re right.” He nodded and called over his shoulder. “You two clean up. I’m going to have now with my fiancé.”
A loud round of groans followed Wyatt as he scooped Aimee into his arms and carried her down the hall.
Chapter Seventeen
Wyatt watched the soft light of dawn play across Aimee’s face as she slept. He didn’t want to wake her and spoil the moment, yet in just a few days, he’d have this miraculous opportunity every day. His heart was filled with gratitude that she’d persisted in seeing more in him than he’d seen in himself. She stirred and with a sigh, snuggled close under his arm. He pulled her to his side, a truly happy man to have her soft, warm body curled against his.
“I can’t believe I’m going to have a sister-in-law,” she murmured quietly.
They’d talked about it, among other things during a very late night. He gently touched her satin skin, familiar now with every curve, every freckle. She seemed more accepting of the news of Liberty than any of them had.
“She didn’t really give me much choice. It really sounded like she was desperate.”
Aimee rose to her elbow to look at him. “Do you think she might be in trouble?”
Wyatt lifted his brow. “Dalton thinks maybe she is. He’s not overly happy with the whole idea of welcoming her here.”
“And what about Rein?” She lazily traced her fingertip over his brow.
He shrugged and tried to keep track of the conversation. “Rein.” He thought of his laid-back brother. Very little flustered Rein MacKenzie. He was about as straight and narrow as they came and when he had a project, his focus became microscopic. “He thinks that having her stay in one of the cabins and putting her to work on the ranch might be a good test run to see if the vision my dad had will work. Besides, it sounds like she has nowhere else to go.”
She laid her head on his shoulder, and threaded her fingers through his. “I know it’s a big surprise,” she said softly.
“More like a nightmare,” Wyatt responded with a snort. “Aimee, she laughed and I swore it was Eloise on the other end of the line. What if she’s like her? I don’t know how benevolent I can be around that.”
Aimee tapped his chest. “She’s not your mom. Even her name implies she’s probably independent. Wouldn’t she have to be to contact family she’d never met to ask for help? Things like this happen for a reason. It’ll be fine, you’ll see.” She pressed her lips to his shoulder.
He turned her beneath him and kissed her. “My eternal optimist. Where would I be without you?” His hunger for her built, as it always did with each kiss.
She locked her arms around his neck. “Despondent and moping in your bed alone on this fine spring morning.” Her gaze darted to his with a look of alarm. “Jeez, my parents…. you don’t suppose…. Omigod, what will my neighbors think?”
He chuckled. “They might want to take notes?” He smiled. “Or better yet, how about whoever is making such a ruckus must really be in love.”
Her gaze softened. “I do remember thinking that one time, but mostly, I found it annoying.”
“Only because it wasn’t you.” He kissed her lightly, going back for a second and third, never able to get enough of her mouth. Her body relaxed, and she opened surrendering to him with a seductive smile.
She sighed as he sank into her. “Will you be this amorous when we’re old and gray?” She ran her heels down the back of his calves and looked at him with her beautiful eyes.
Emotions, deeper than he’d allowed himself to feel in eons surfaced, and fueled his desire to please her. He moved slowly, deepening each thrust, and for a moment relished in her body wrapped around him. He captured her mouth in a fiery kiss and then looked down, brushing away an errant wisp of hair from her forehead. She’d been growing her hair out. “I love you.” There’d been a time when he thought he’d never say that to someone again. Now it seemed there weren’t enough hours in the day to tell this amazing woman how he felt.
She hooked her arms around his neck and grinned. “I think I’m going to like being married to you, Wyatt Kinnison, but I’m pretty sure your brothers are going to get tired of this.”
Her soft moans urged him once more, frantic, delicious. They rocked together, pushing each other to near delirium until Aimee threw her head back with unbridled laughter and screamed. “Yes, omigod, bingo!”
Sadie’s urgent barking started from the living room. It was barely dawn. A pounding on the wall came from Dalton’s room.
“Was I too loud, again? They’ll still like me, right?”
He rolled to his side and drew her close. “After they get past the envy part.” He kissed her temple. “There’s one thing I want you to know, Aimee. If anything ever happened to me, I know they would take care of you.”
She rose on her elbow and looked down with concern etched on her face.
He touched her cheek. “Sweetheart, I’m fine. But this whole idea of getting married has made me think about some of these things. I’ve already you included in my living trust.”
Her eyes brimmed and she sniffled. She cupped his face. “I don’t know what I’d do if something ever happened to you, so could you just make damn sure you live to be ninety or so and wake up every day next to me like this, okay?”
He kissed her. She’d suffered enough loss for one lifetime. They both had. It was time to start living. “I’m in this for the long haul, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere.
“You’re such a good man. How’d I get so lucky?” She gave him a wobbly smile.
“You didn’t give up on the guy they said had a heart of stone. I guess you saw something no one else did.”
She shook her head. “I saw a man with a rugged heart, but definitely not one made of stone. I love you, Wyatt Kinnison.”
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Whenever you embark on anything creative, it is the passion that gives spark to the flame of determination. My passion is in taking the ordinary and creating something extraordinary. It is what has fueled my life in many ways from an office career to motherhood, being a newspaper columnist and stepping into writing fiction. My love for penning “character-driven” stories-many of them romance- allows me to explore the potential and possibility that lives deep inside each of us.
Referred to by reviewer as a “true artist in the writing realm” I am humbled and also challenged to stay fresh, be unique to my voice, and listen to my readers.
I am honored to be published internationally, in audio, in E-book and in print. I currently write steamy contemporary and historical romance.
Amanda loves to hear from readers at:
Visit her website at
www.amandamcintyresbooks.com
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