Jax rests his hand on my thigh as he turns the truck onto the dirt road that leads to his ranch. The only light are the headlights of the truck and the half moon overhead. His Aunt Molly and his father, Harvey, run the place, and the locals don’t even know it belongs to him. It’s been in his father’s family for years, and when Harvey almost lost it ten years ago, Jax bought it back.
Jax doesn’t have a great relationship with dad and even refused to invite him to our wedding. I kind of like him though, and his dog, Blue, who is the cutest and most well behaved mutt I’ve ever met.
I’ve only been to this ranch once before, but somehow it feels like home. It was seven months ago, when Jackson brought me here to keep me safe. This is also the place where he finally admitted his feelings for me, and then he told me that no man would ever touch me again.
The memory of that night makes me smile. I turn to look at him and he’s staring at me. It makes a blush creep over my cheeks. I will never get used to the way that man looks at me.
I pop an eyebrow at him. “Shouldn’t you be watching the road, cowboy?”
“No traffic here, angel,” he replies with a wink before fixing his attention back on the track in front of us.
“No, but Blue might be running around.”
“That dog is too old to run this far from the house,” he chuckles. “Besides, he would never stray so far from Harvey’s side.”
“No, I suppose not,” I agree. “He is devoted.”
“Hmm,” he murmurs and suddenly the atmosphere in the truck grows a little tense.
“I’m looking forward to getting to bed,” I yawn, lacing my fingers through his.
“It’s been a long day,” he agrees, but he’s distant, lost in thoughts of his father, no doubt.
“It’s been a perfect day, though?” It sounds like a statement but it’s a question and I don’t know what I’ll do if he doesn’t answer me.
He lifts my hand to his lips, brushing them over my knuckles. “Better than perfect, baby,” he whispers and I smile.
I slide across the bench seat in the old truck, until I can rest my head on his shoulder.
“Almost there. I’ll have you in bed before you know it,” he says as we approach the house.
“Can’t wait,” I sigh as I wrap my arms around his huge bicep.
Instead of stopping outside it when we get there, Jax drives straight past the main house.
“Where are we going?” I ask, craning my neck to see the house getting smaller behind us.
He winks at me. “You think I’d spend our honeymoon anywhere where I couldn’t let you scream at the top of your lungs without anyone hearing?”
I stare at him in surprise. It was me who suggested the ranch for our honeymoon. I think Jax had an exotic beach, where I’d wear nothing but string bikinis, in mind, but I love it here. “So, where are we staying?”
“Not far, angel,” he whispers and then he nods his head, indicating me to look out of the windshield.
I peer into the distance until I see faint, twinkling lights. “Is that the old barn?” I squeal as I lean forward in my seat, trying to get a better view.
“It sure is.”
I saw the barn on our last visit. It’s a beautiful old building, with oak beams and high ceilings. I told Jax what a crime it was it was sitting empty. He asked me what I’d do with the place and I jokingly said I’d turn it into a little house for us, so that we could visit with Matthias whenever we wanted and not be a burden on his aunt. For the past six months, since he proposed to me, he’s been asking questions about what it would look like — letting me ramble on about my dream hideaway in the country.
Tears prick at my eyes as the building comes into view. There is a porch and a balcony now, where there was once just a huge door and a hayloft. It has giant sliding French doors so the front of the house looks like it’s made entirely of glass — just like I described. Fairy lights are strung up around the outside, making the place seem even more magical. There’s even a huge rocking chair on the porch like in my dream house too.
“Jax,” I gasp. “How did you do all this?”
He rolls the truck to a stop. “I didn’t,” he says as he opens the door.
He holds out his hand and I scoot along the seat and allow him to help me out. Wrapping an arm around my waist, he stares up at the house too, and I realize this must be the first time he’s seen it as well as me.
“Then who did?” I whisper. “Because it’s exactly how I described it to you.”
Suddenly, a cold, wet nose, is nudging at my leg, making me jump in surprise. I look down to see Blue, wagging his tail and looking up at me with his huge dark eyes.
Dropping into a crouching position, I scratch behind his ears. “Hello, boy,” I giggle. “I’ve missed you.”
“I hope it’s what you wanted?” Harvey says as he comes into view. “I followed all of your instructions to the letter.”
I stand again and Blue rubs his head on my legs. “You did this, Harvey?” I blink at him.
“No,” he shakes his head softly. “I just told the expensive contractors that Jax paid for what to do, is all.”
“Go see it, baby,” Jax whispers, giving me a gentle nudge in the direction of the house. “It’s all yours.”
I smile at him before I walk a few steps ahead and step up onto the porch. The huge double doors lead to an open plan living area, with the biggest couch I have ever seen in my life. It’s full of pale pink and gray cushions — just like I talked about.
I spin on my heel and run back to Jax, throwing my arms around his neck and burying my face there. “This is the best thing anyone… I can’t believe…” I choke out the words as the emotion of the whole day overwhelms me. Every second of it has been entirely perfect, but this has completely blown me away.
He brushes his lips over my ear. “Anything for you, baby. Go sit on the porch and wait for me, okay?”
I step back from him and stare at his face, but he’s unreadable right now. His jaw ticks as he tries to keep a lid on his emotions. Eager to explore further inside, I turn around to do as he asks, but not before I walk over to Harvey and throw my arms around him too.
“Thank you, Harvey. You took Jax’s instructions and turned my dream house into a reality.”
He pats my back gently and cautiously and my heart breaks for him. I know that he’s trying not to be overly familiar because Jax is glaring at him right now, and he has warned him before that Matthias and I are off limits. I wish that we weren’t though. I know that Harvey let Jax down badly, but I see how desperately he wants to make up for that and be a part of his son’s life.
“It was the least I could do,” Harvey says softly.
I kiss his cheek before I look back at Jax and then walk to the house. Taking a seat on the huge rocking chair, I watch my husband and his father intently.
Jax gives Blue a scratch on the head before he walks over to his father and I strain to hear their conversation. It’s not eavesdropping if they’re only standing a few yards away, right?
“I didn’t expect it to look like this,” Jax says.
“I followed your instructions to the letter.”
“I know,” Jax nods. “It’s just…” He rubs a hand over his jaw.
“Is it not what you wanted?” Harvey asks. “If I got something wrong, I can call the contractors back and have them fix it. Out of my own pocket, of course.”
I brush away a tear as it rolls down my cheek. Harvey doesn’t have any money — well not a lot. He drank it all away. I will my stubborn husband to give his father something as he stands there waiting for some validation.
“It’s… perfect.” Jax finally admits and the way Harvey’s face lights up makes my heart swell in my chest. “Thank you.”
“It was my absolute pleasure,” Harvey says, his voice cracking with emotion.
Jax stuffs his hands into his pockets and they both stand in awkward silence for a few seconds until Harvey clears his throat. “I’d better get back to the house and leave you and your new wife be.”
“Yeah,” Jax agrees and Harvey turns away.
“Molly will be back tomorrow afternoon,” Jax says, stopping his father in his tracks. I did offer his aunt a ride with us, but she insisted on flying back coach, although I know that Jax bumped her up to first class. “Lucia and I might come to the house for dinner. If you’re around?”
“I’ll look forward to it,” he says with a soft smile before he calls Blue and the two of them walk back to the house, disappearing into the darkness.
Jax’s boots make a satisfying clunking sound on the wooden porch as he climbs the two small steps and makes his way over to me. We both changed from our wedding outfits on the plane and now he’s dressed in jeans, a flannel shirt and boots — my LA cowboy. I smile at him. I’m so proud of him for allowing Harvey in a little, because I know how much it cost him.
“Hey, cowboy,” I purr, kicking off my sandals onto the porch.
“Hello, Mrs. Decker,” he growls, bending down and scooping me into his arms.
I giggle as I snake one arm around his neck, fingering the buttons of his shirt with the other as he carries me over the threshold. Once we’re inside, he sets me on my feet.
“I love this house, Jax,” I whisper. “It’s the best surprise ever.”
He presses a soft kiss on my forehead. “I’m glad you love it, Luce.”
“Does this mean we can visit the ranch more often?”
“Yep. It’s got three bedrooms too,” he says with a wicked grin.
I pop one eyebrow at him. “Three? One for guests?”
“No, guests can stay at the main house,” he slides his hands over my hips and onto my ass. “One for us.” He kisses my neck. “One for Matthias.” Kiss. “And a nursery.”
“A nursery?” I giggle as he goes on kissing my neck. “You’re being a little premature, aren’t you, cowboy?”
“No,” he murmurs, grazing his teeth over my skin. “I can’t wait to put my baby inside you.”
Heat sears between my thighs. We’ve discussed more kids, but I didn’t realize he wanted them so soon. “Maybe we should just enjoy being married for a little while first?” I suggest.
“We’ll see,” he laughs softly.
“Where is our bedroom?” I purr into his ear, as his kissing and ass grabbing ignites the spark of desire that is always flickering when he’s around me.
“Upstairs and at the front of the house. I’ll grab our bags and lock up. You go on up,” he says as he smacks my ass.
“You sure you don’t need any help?”
“Nope. Go relax, baby, and I’ll be up to take care of you soon.”
I kiss his beautiful lips and then head up the stairs to explore the second floor.
