Page 106 of Heartstrings & Horseshoes

She gives the cutest wiggle, and I have to will my dick to mind its fucking business.

“Well, in my perfect world, in the perfect life, I’d have you by my side.” I pinch her ass to say, obviously.

“My mom would be healthy, and we’d have a good relationship—Izzy too—and my dad would come back and apologize for ever leaving us and make it up to us by being a better man.”

My heart aches for my fallen angel. Of all the things I’d kill myself to give her, fixing her parents isn’t in the realm of possibilities. The wistfulness on her face guts me, because I desperately wish her parents loved her and Iz the way they deserve. The stars fade from her eyes as she comes back to reality.

“We’d live in the white house with the blue door—you know, the one by the library?” she asks. Of course I know, and it’s killing me keeping so many secrets from her.

“It’d always have a crisp coat of paint on it and the blue door would never peel. We’d fix the picket fence and sit on the front porch drinking your mom’s lemonade, watching the patrons enjoy the library.”

She’s so pure of heart. I must’ve done something right in a past life to deserve her.

I can’t remember the last time mom made lemonade—not since Dad’s condition worsened. Did Quincy ever make it for Sam?

“What else?” I ask, hoping she’ll continue.

“I’d love my job as an equine therapist and build a renowned program at Lucky Spurs Ranch that would make Reid and his family proud. You’d be a sought-after farrier, and we’d spend our days working at the ranch, nuzzling the horses and eating lunch together under the big shady trees.

“I’d see Izzy and Livy most days, since the ranch is the place that brings us all together. We’d have Sunday dinner with the Andersens and watch Harper grow up. Hope—the paint horse Reid rescued—would be mine.”

That’s news to me. I knew she loved the damn thing, not that she wanted it for her own. I’ll be having a chat with Reid as soon as we get home to make that happen for my wife.

I rub my hands up and down her thighs, covered in goosebumps from the slight chill.

“Harper’s a sweetheart,” I say. “How do you feel about kids? In all these years, I don’t think we’ve ever talked about it.”

“It’s not something I ever allowed myself to want. Growing up like me and Izzy did doesn’t exactly make me want to bring kids into this world—even if I’d never treat a child the way we were treated. I would’ve only wanted to have kids with you, and I never thought I’d get to have you,” she admits.

“You’ve got me, doll. Forever and ever.”

“What about you?” she deflects.

“I’ve never specifically wanted kids for the sake of having kids. But I guess I’ve always imagined my life with the house and the dog and the kids. Like you, I only ever wanted to do this life with you—so I only want to have kids if you want to have kids.”

Uncomfortable, she twiddles with the ties on my athletic shorts.

“What if I never want to have kids?” she asks, not meeting my eyes. I lift her chin to force her to look at me.

“Then we don’t have kids. It’s that simple. You are my dream, baby. So long as I have you, I don’t need anything else. We’re a family, you and me. We don’t need anyone or anything else to be complete.” Tears shine in her diamond eyes, and she gives me a soft smile.

“What does your dream life look like?” Delilah asks.

Little does she know my dream life is exactly this. Pizza in bed with my soulmate.

“My dream life is yours, baby. I’m only happy if you’re happy,” I answer honestly.

“Come on, that’s a cop out.” Delilah smacks my chest playfully.

I chuckle. “Alright, fine. My dream life looks like yours. We live together in the house of our dreams. We both have jobs we’re passionate about. We work and enjoy life with the family we’ve found—us, Quincy, Iz and Reid, Liv, James, Grey and Harper, Mr. and Mrs. Andersen…my folks.” I gulp, hit with grief from losing my dad while he’s still alive.

“My dad would be better, and my mom could relax. Quincy would be happy again, maybe find love again.” Delilah wipes a stray tear from my eye.

“I wish that for her too,” she says quietly.

I gently pat her ass, motioning for her to hop off my lap. Sex is suddenly the last thing on my mind. She cuddles in to me like every night and I turn off the lamp. We lay in silence, soaking in comfort from each other.

“I love you, Connor,” Delilah says, tipping her head up for a goodnight kiss.