“Why not?” He frowned and he saw her wring her hands slightly.
“I don’t know how to say it.”
“Just say it.” He nearly growled. If she was going to tell him he wasn’t good enough he would rather she just did it plainly. She took a deep breath.
“You taught me a lot about myself that I never knew. Some of it good and some not so much.” He shifted uncomfortably, impatiently waiting for her to get to the point. “I thought I was calm and rational but it turns out that… well I am jealous and selfish and well completely irrational. I want… more than it is within your power to give me.” She finished softly. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her he would give her whatever she wanted no matter what it was but he restrained himself barely.
“You never did tell me what your price was.” She smiled and he saw her eyes fill with tears.
“It’s the same as yours,” she whispered.“I want you, all of you.”
“I can give you that.”
“You are who you are, I can’t make you choose.” He finally understood what she was getting at and he smiled.
“I am not a Ranger anymore.”
“You’re not?” She gasped. He tapped his injured leg.
“Never going to be the same. Probably always have a limp, a weakness.”
“So they fired you?” She said sounding angry and he smiled.
“No. I retired. I learned a lot about myself too. I learned that I was a good Ranger but it really wasn’t who I was any more. I want so much more than that. I want… I want you. I want to be home in bed with my wife every night. I want to grow old and have children and grandchildren and never have to pretend to be something I am not again.” He stepped forward closing the gap between them. “I want you to know that you can trust me, because I trust you.” He whispered. “I want to tell you everything and give you the life you’ve always wanted.” She rose up on her toes and kissed him and he smiled against her mouth. One shrill yell cut through the air and she pulled back.
“You really sure you want to do this? Go from carefree bachelor to family man in one quick swipe?”
“Absolutely,” he grinned. She smiled and took his hand and led him toward the bedroom. He stopped in the doorway and watched. The baby was standing in the crib holding on to the railing. When he saw her he bounced and squealed. She smiled and reached in and lifted him up. He saw it again, that look that she got when she held the baby.“Now I might be jealous.” He was only half joking. She smiled at him and brought the baby to him.
“Would you like to meet your son?”
“My son.” He repeated. The words landed on him like a ton of bricks. He put out his hands and she transferred the baby to him. The child squealed and grinned at him. He had four tiny white teeth in the front. Matt’s chest felt so tight he couldn’t even breathe. His own eyes filled with tears as he looked into his innocent blue eyes.
“Careful, he bites.” Rose half laughed. Matt laughed“You want a handkerchief back? I still have a couple.”
“Rangers don’t cry.” He insisted.
“Maybe not, but daddies do.” She smiled and one tear slipped out of his eye. He reached out and put his arm around her pulling her into the tight little circle. “I love you Matt.” She whispered squeezing her arms tightly around his waist.
About The Author
Melissa Jones lives in Oregon with her husband and four children. Though her day job is in the tech industry, her guilty pleasure is writing. She can often be found hiding in the closet writing on any device with a text app.
Don’t miss the first book in the Fallen Series.
Fallen Angel
Angelica can't remember who she is or what she is running from. All she has is a locket with a picture and the word Angel. When she wakes up in a ranch house with a handsome cowboy that makes her heart pound, she decides to embrace her new life. Just as she settles into Ranch life with her rescuer the past returns to haunt her.
When Luke finds an unconscious woman on his land in the middle of a storm he has no idea where she might have come from. It doesn't take him long to realize he doesn't want her to go back. Unfortunately, the return of her influential father and her memory, destroy his plans for happily ever after.
Angelica doesn't realize that a killer sent her running. Forced to return to her old life can she figure out where the danger lies before it's too late? Will Luke come to his senses before Angelica becomes the killer's next victim?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGTMYV6
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Whiskey Rose (Fallen) Page 17