Page 66 of Worth the Trouble

“Anyway,” Jason murmured, pressing his forehead to hers. “Lola needed a place to stay while Chet wraps up a few things. She’s getting ready for retirement anyway and he’s got a couple other horses in his care. We might take on one more.”

“Really?” she whispered.

“Really.”

Cece reached up and grabbed ahold of his shirt, yanking him closer so she could capture his mouth with her own. She kissed him deeply, reveling in how his hands trailed down her back as he deepened their connection.

Jason practically leaned her backward, his hold on her the only thing keeping her from falling into the dirt at his feet. She moaned into his mouth until someone cleared their throat behind them.

A distinctly feminine mutter followed. “Get a room.”

Cece broke the kiss with a smile and peered past Jason at Lydia. “Hey, girl.”

Lydia huffed, though she wasn’t capable of fighting her amusement. She waved her phone in the air at her brother. “Tate and Rylee are on the phone. And they have Wren added as a three-way call. Guess it’s important.”

Cece shot a worried look in Jason’s direction, but he wasn’t at all bothered. He righted her, and his hand remained at the small of her back as he led her toward his sister.

“He there?” Tate asked through the speaker.

“Yeah, we’re all here. Cece, too,” Jason murmured, his thumb tracing circles just under the hem of her shirt. His touch sent tingles up her spine and she leaned into his side and smiled at him.

Never in a million years did she think she’d get something like this. It was more than a place to call home. Right here at Jason’s side, she belonged. And she couldn’t wait for the future they’d share together.

“Cece’s there? Perfect!” Rylee interjected.

There was a pause.

Then, as one, Tate and Rylee announced, “We’re having a baby.”

Squeals of delight rang through the phone from Wren. Jason’s grin lit up his entire face. Lydia was smiling, too, but there was a little sadness in her gaze.

“Congratulations, we’re happy for you,” Cece gushed. “I can’t believe I’m going to be an aunt!”

Jason nuzzled closer to her. “You know, the sooner we get hitched, the sooner we can give their little one a cousin.”

“Ugh! You guys are so cute it’s disgusting,” Lydia shot in their direction before storming off.

Cece followed her with her eyes, but Jason paid no mind. His sister spoke into the phone, fainter with each step she took.

“Lydia doesn’t really date seriously, does she?”

Jason shrugged, tossing his sister a cursory glance. “She used to. Not so much anymore.”

“Why not?”

He snickered. “Do you really think Lydia would open up to me about her love life? I’m not exactly the chatty type.”

She pushed at his chest playfully. “Well, now that you’ve gotten more practice, you can do something about that.” Cece frowned, her thoughts taking on a mind of their own when she caught sight of Chet and Lydia chatting.

“Oh, no you don’t.”

Her eyes snapped to Jason’s innocently. “What?”

“You’re not setting up my little sister with my new business partner.”

Cece flashed him a mischievous grin. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Join Lydia and Chet on their journey to love.