Page 58 of Melting His Grumpy Heart

For a moment, they stayed joined, both catching their breath, before Jake withdrew. He turned Ru in his arms, pulling him close for a soft and lingering kiss.

“I love you, Ru Parker.” Something deep in Jake’s heart fluttered. It’d taken time to find the courage to say what had been in his heart, but once he had, a day didn’t go past without the words he meant with every part of his soul falling from his lips.

Ru’s smile was soft, his eyes still dazed with pleasure. “And I love you, Jake Whitby.”

They cleaned up as best they could, both laughing at the improvised nature of it all. As shirts were buttoned, and trousers zipped up, Jake’s eyes narrowed at the satisfied flush staining Ru’s pale skin.

“What?” Ru asked, catching his gaze.

Jake smiled. “Just thinking that I’m a lucky man.”

Ru stepped closer, pressing a kiss to Jake’s jaw. “We’re both lucky.”

By the time they got back to the farmhouse, the summer heat was building fast, and the sun high in a cloudless sky promised a scorching afternoon.

Jake unlocked the door and Monty bounded out to greet them, his entire body wriggling with excitement as if they’d been gone for days rather than hours.

“Yes, yes, we missed you too, but we’re home now.” Ru laughed, kneeling to accept the dog’s enthusiastic welcome.

Deep inside his chest, Jake’s heart clenched hard.

We’re home.

As Jake closed the door behind them, he was struck by the simple truth of Ru’s words. The farmhouse was no longer just a building, no longer the cold and lonely place it had been. It was now a home, their home, full of warmth, and light, and love.

As he followed Ru through to the kitchen, Jake couldn’t keep himself from smiling at Ru’s light and joy filled laughter, at Monty’s antics and excited barking. This was the life he and Ru were building together, and it was the only life Jake wanted.

The wheel had turned, winter to summer, darkness to light. And Jake, who had once believed his life would never thaw and his heart never melt, found himself standing in the full warmth of the sun.