Page 24 of Naughty Professor

“What if it’s a Jack?”

“I can have him gelded, Mama. Or bring him home and trade for someone else from your herd. You’ll have plenty of Jennys born this year,” I say, grinning as I walk out toward the back pasture. Reba follows me, demanding treats and head scratches. I oblige to both demands, pulling out a peppermint as I scratch between her ears.

“She’s like a big dog.” Mama huffs out a laugh.

“I’m neither confirming nor denying that.”

“Hey, what’s going on out here?”

I turn to Dean’s voice. He moves to engulf me, but I hold out my hand. “Gentle, I’m carrying eggs.”

“Don’t want a repeat of last week?” His eyes squint. Laughter fills the space around us.

“No, that was not a good end to a productive egg day.”

“Hey, we’ve all had those days. Remember when you and…was it Jeremy or Ian—oh, anyway, it doesn’t matter. They came running into the kitchen, the back door caught the bucket of eggs I’d just walked in with, and they spent an hour scrubbing the eggs off my floor and cabinets.”

My face flames as he gives me a knowing look. That egg accident last week had ended with me naked, in the shower, bent over the bench seat. He’d made me forget all about the eggs. I’m sure I’d forgotten my own name there for a while.

“To answer your question…” I reach up and pull him down to my mouth. We keep the kiss PG since Mama is right here beside us. “Dad and the others are putting up the outbuildings. If they don’t finish today, we will tomorrow.”

“It won’t be finished today, baby girl,” Uncle Jake calls, coming up to grab a bottle of water out of the big cooler.

“That’s okay,” I reply.

“The cement needs a couple of hours to dry. We will get the frames up, and then we can come in tomorrow with the rest of the crew to finish up.” He motions to the bigger of the pastures. “We’ll leave this to dry while we get the other two set into the cement. Then move back here to frame once the cement is for sure dry.”

“Sounds great. I’m going to get the food on the grill. By the time you get the next one done, it’ll be ready.”

“If you want some help, just let me get changed. I can follow directions.”

“Then you’ll be one step ahead of my boys.”

“Thank you all for doing so much to help us get this farm off the ground.”

Dean is all smiles as he speaks. I squeeze his hand as we stand facing my family. Their smiles match ours. Today has been a long one, but oh so productive.

“When I made a choice to do something big, I bought this property. It was after I graduated college, and I bought it from the person who’d taught me what it’s like to be a man. Without him, I’d not be the stable, caring person I am today. He always said, ‘if you want to put your stake on something to do it, take the leap,’ and I did. I became a teacher, started in a high school then moved to the college. If that hadn’t been my path, I’d never have met the woman who makes me truly happy. I found someone to love, to cherish. And tonight,” he turns slightly and drops to one knee, a ring box on one extended hand, “I want to ask, Vanessa Conrad, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I promise before your family to always do what I can for you. To make you happy, to keep you safe, to be yours completely.”

My eyes start leaking the second he drops to a knee. My heart is racing so loud, I’m sure they can hear it in the next county.

“Yes. God, yes!” I sob as he slides the ring on my finger. He’s up and has me in his arms before I can do more than wrap my arms around his neck. His mouth captures mine, the kiss full of love and emotions we can’t express with just words.

“I love you,” he says, taking a deep breath.

“I love you, too.” My voice is thick with emotion.

“Congratulations, baby girl.”

He sets me on my feet so I can hug my mama.

“Sam, Jaimie, thank you for allowing me to steal your only daughter away.”

“You’re not stealing when she goes willingly. Just remember what I told you son, I?—”

“Yes, sir. I know. You can make me disappear. I never plan to give you a reason to go through with that threat.”

“Dad. I can take care of myself. And trust me, this is where I will always want to be. With Dean.”

We share another, quicker kiss.

I had no idea my life could get any better. We’d always said, once I moved in, that we’d get married when we were ready. There was no rush. We had a genuinely happy, stable relationship.

Ring or no ring, he’s destined to be mine until I take my last breath. And I know he feels the same.

But with this ring, everyone will know he’s taken. He will always be mine, all mine, forever and ever. Amen.