Page 46 of In Love with a Ranger
“No pillows here, soldier.”
“I’m not a soldier anymore…”
“Then let’s go home where we do have pillows, husband…”
“To talk?”
“I was thinking more about that infamous Becking and Necking…”
“Dannnng, you are smart,” he smiled, kissing her gently once more. “I love you.”
“Get your clothes on,” she laughed softly. “They are going to wonder what is taking so long.”
“Sweetheart, there are stirrups on this table. Are you interested?”
“Oh my gosh…”
“What?” he whispered innocently. “I mean, we’re here, and my pants are already off. You know I make this paper gown look sexy.”
“Gideon,” she chuckled. “Get dressed.”
“Well, you’re no fun.”
“I’m no fun here…” she said deftly, stepping back and smiling at him. “But home is a different matter.”
He hopped off the table in a split second, wincing as he felt his knee give slightly on his now-healed leg that was weaker than the other one. He held out his hand for his pants and looked at her, twirling his hand before him.
“Turn around. I’m shy,” he smirked.
“Whatever,” she retorted – and turned around as he jerked on his jeans quickly, before wrapping his arms around her from behind and kissing her neck. “What are you doing?”
“Misbehaving…” he whispered against her throat, reaching for the button of her jeans – only to have her pry his hands away, laughing nervously. She turned and looked at him, her eyes dancing merrily at his antics.
“Don’t make me go wait in the waiting room,” she threatened softly – only to hear a knock on the examination room door.
“Mr. Beck, is everything all right?”
Christina arched an eyebrow at him pointedly as if to say silently, ‘See?’.
“Yup. I’m coming out now,” he replied loudly and leaned forward to kiss his beloved wife once more. “You win this time, but we are both getting out of our britches when we get home.”
“You promise?” she whispered huskily – and he nearly shouted with joy.
“Heck yeah, I promise. We’re going straight to the cabin, wife.”
“Yeah, we are, husband.”
The look Christina gave him was hotter than the surface of the sun. Sometimes, he felt like the words ‘I love you’ didn’t convey the amount of emotions within him, but it was all he had to offer. Words failed him when she gave him this look, pulled this sort of response from his very soul, and she’d had this ability since the first time he laid eyes on her – without even knowing what it was. This woman was his life, his joy, his world, and his dreams for the future.
“Christina…” he choked out in a whisper, needing to tell her something, anything, because she meant that much to him – only to have her touch his cheek and look in his eyes, soft and full of warmth.
“I know – and me too.”
He grabbed her wrist and kissed her palm, closing his eyes and nodding silently.
Things were falling into place for them. Christina had submitted her thesis paper online with the approval from her instructor, allowing them to stay there in Wyoming, but that brought up other questions in his own mind. He knew she wanted her doctorate but had no clue where she wanted to practice. His mother had texted and called a couple of times just to ‘check’ on them – which was an unspoken hint that she wanted him to visit.
Anything Christina asked, he would give without hesitation – and suddenly understood so much more about his parents’ and siblings’ own relationships. He knew why his mother wanted him to find someone, so he had these moments to experience on his own, and he wanted to show off Christina more than ever to his family. As they got to the truck to head back to the ranch, he paused and looked at her, hesitating because he didn’t want to make her nervous or pressure her.
