The boys had hung on Mason’s every word and off his arms and back as they tried to wrestle him to the ground while the burgers cooked.
Mason brushed his fingers across her lips. “I love it when you smile.”
“You always knew how to make me smile. Now, you do it for the boys.”
“They’re little monkeys.” He stretched his back, pretending he was sore. “I’m getting old.”
She tapped him in the gut, her hand hitting rock-hard muscle. The ranch kept him in great shape. “Whatever you say, grandpa.”
He locked his hands at her back and pulled her close. “I’m not too old to sweep a pretty girl off her feet.” He did just that, grabbing her waist and picking her right up.
She giggled and clasped her arms around his neck. “Put me down.”
He hugged her tighter. “You don’t mean that.”
In fact, she held on and leaned in close, her mouth an inch from his, their eyes locked. “I want you to hold on to me this time.”
The mirth in Mason’s eyes turned to sincerity. “I won’t ever let you go.” He kissed her softly, then broke the kiss and stared at her again. “I won’t ever give you a reason to leave. I promise, Sierra, you’re all I want or will ever need.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. She hadn’t known how much she needed to hear that until Mason gave her the words. “How can my heart be broken and battered and so full of love all at the same time?”
“Because you care. About me, the boys, your family, and even David and Heather. If you didn’t care, it wouldn’t hurt so much. And because you use your whole heart in everything you do, including the way you love me. I feel it, sweetheart. I’m humbled by it. I want more of it. I can’t wait for you to move in and for us to be a family.”
She pressed her forehead to his. “Soon. I promise. I don’t want to wait, either.”
He kissed her one last time, keeping things relatively tame because they had eyes on them. He set her on her feet, opened the door for her, waited for her to climb in before he looked into the back seat. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
“Night, Mason.” Danny waved.
“Bye.” Oliver yawned.
“I better get them to bed. It’s back to school tomorrow. Don’t work too hard.”
Mason remembered the case files he’d brought home and hadn’t touched this weekend. “I won’t.” If she wasn’t staying with him, then he’d spend the next couple hours in his office, alone with his files instead of her. “Call me if you need me.”
She smiled. “I will. Promise.”
When she was home, alone, in the quiet, that’s when it was the hardest to shut off the thoughts. He knew something about that, because though he’d get his work done, the rest of the night he’d be thinking about her, them, and what he wanted their life to look like for their future.
He closed her door, waited for her to turn the car toward the main road, and waved good-bye before heading in for the night.
Drawn to the brilliant stars overhead, he looked up and stared in wonder at the sheer number of them. He picked one that seemed to wink at him.
I wish for a long and happy life with Sierra by my side. I want to watch those boys grow up into good men and find someone to love who loves them the way I love Sierra and she loves me. I want all of us to be happy.
More than anything, he wanted Sierra to find peace here on the ranch with him.
* * *
Sierra walked in the front door behind the boys and spotted her mom cleaning up the toys the boys left out. “Mom, I’ll do that.”
“I’m almost done.” Her mother tossed toy cars into the bin and pulled apart the racetrack.
Sierra helped the boys out of their zip-up hoodies and hung them on the coatrack. “Go upstairs and brush your teeth. Change into your pj’s and I’ll be up in a few minutes to read books.”
Her mom finished pulling apart the last piece of the track and tossed the two plastic pieces into the bin. “Lord, it’s been a long time since I had to pick up after kids.” She put the toy bin next to the other two the boys had brought down from upstairs.
“You won’t have to do it much longer.”
Her mother gave her a knowing smile. “Is that man of yours