a mock glare. “Looks like I need to hire someone fast. You’re going to be no good to me with those cracked ribs.”
Tate put his hand over them and winced when he tried to take a deeper breath. “We all know you’ve been dragging your heels on that because you can’t stand to give up control.”
“Na-uh.” Declan refused to admit what everyone could see.
“Uh, yeah,” Drake agreed with Tate. “It’s not complicated. Hire a couple guys with experience and put them to work.”
“It’s not that simple. I need to train them to do things the way I want. Besides, I haven’t had time to find anyone because I’m always putting out a fire at the ranch.” More excuses.
And the mention of the word fire, Declan frowned at her. “Sorry about your place.”
“I’m insured.” She’d use the money to buy whatever furniture they’d need at the cabin once they renovated it. Everything else she lost . . . well, she couldn’t get it back. And nothing was more important than the fact she and Tate were still alive. And together.
Tate caught Declan’s eye again. “Hire some people. I’m getting married and taking Liz on a honeymoon. Somewhere with a beach.” Tate looked at her. “I told your mom I’d give you a few months to plan the wedding of your dreams. Can you whittle that down to . . . I don’t know, next week.”
That shocked her. “Tate, we can take our time. There’s no rush.”
“You’ve had from kindergarten to now to figure out what kind of wedding you want.”
“You’re serious.”
He eyed her, dead serious. “As a heart attack.”
“Well, if you’re going to have one, this is the place to do it,” Drake teased.
Liz brushed her hand over his shoulder. “We’ll talk about the wedding when you’re home.”
Tate held her gaze. “We’ll stop at the courthouse and get the paperwork on the way home.”
Liz shook her head. “You’re relentless.”
“Like you said, you’ve been waiting on me a long time. I’m ready.” He pulled her hand so she’d lean over him. “We don’t know what’s going to happen, or how long we have. Anything can happen. I want to marry you. Now. So we can live every day we have together as husband and wife.” Tate pointed at Drake. “Look how happy that grump is.”
Drake smiled at Adria walking in the door carrying a duffel bag.
“They’re ridiculously happy together.” Tate held Liz’s gaze. “Let’s be that happily married.”
Tate wanted to put all this Clint stuff behind them and move on with their lives.
And what better way to start than by embracing the love they’d found and getting married with their family and friends surrounding them. That’s all they really needed.
Liz couldn’t contain her smile. “I’d marry you anytime, anywhere.” She’d break it to her mother gently. The two of them, with Trinity and Adria’s help, could put together a beautiful wedding and reception in no time. She didn’t need anything extravagant.
She just needed Tate.
“And if you want to actually be standing at the altar, you need to get some rest so you can go home.”
“So we can go home.” Tate settled into the bed as his eyes drooped. “Don’t go.” He held her hand so she couldn’t get up.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“The rest of us are headed home to check on things while you get better,” Declan said.
“If you hired some help, you could take some time off, too.” Tate didn’t open his eyes while he delivered that statement, which meant he missed Declan flipping him off. The smirk on Tate’s face said he knew his brother had done it anyway.
“I need to check in at the shop.” Trinity leaned over and kissed Tate on the head. “I’ll be back.”
Adria dropped the duffel bag next to the table beside Tate’s bed and patted Liz on the leg. “I brought you a change of clothes and some basic toiletries. I thought you might want to clean up in the shower here.”
Tate opened his eyes again. “You must be tired, Liz. If you want to go home . . .”
She shook her head. “I’m staying.” She touched Adria’s arm. “Thanks for thinking of me.”
“Of course. We’re family.”
They all made her feel that way.
Everyone said their goodbyes to her and Tate and left together. Her mom and dad poked their heads in for just a second to say goodbye, and then finally she was alone with Tate again.
She stood and stared down at him. “I don’t know what I would have done if I lost