by Kira Barcelo
“I have a text…from Tom.” After reading it, she grinned up at him. “Looks like Ashley got the news even before you did. He says she got the series and she’s coming to spend a few days with him before you all have to leave for Florida. Awesome! I should call and congratulate her.”
The boys were piling into the backseat. He opened the car door for her, kissing her mouth before saying, “That’s a good idea. She’d like that, Jenna.”
The master bath had become one of Jenna’s favorite rooms in the house.
Up until recently, she’d never used it, but she knew it hadn’t always looked the way it did now. That was one of the renovations Stone had made to the old yet well maintained house. Before its remodeling, it was nothing more than a large room with fixtures that had long ago been outdated. Everything in the room was functional, though she wouldn’t have thought of it as inviting.
Now it was more than just a master bath; it was a spa.
Most days, she made use of the smaller bathroom down the hallway, which she shared with her brother and the occasional guest. Typically, she loved a refreshing shower. After the long hike earlier that day, she’d chosen to luxuriate in the master bath’s garden tub. Stone, too, tended to prefer the adjacent shower, with its simple glass door and massage showerhead.
Resting her head on the bath pillow, she blew at the bubbles in her hand and looked around at her surroundings, at the acrylic glass block windows and the understated yet elegant vanity with the double sinks. In one corner of the tub, she’d lit a scented candle for herself, filling the room with the fragrance of coconut and citrus. Behind her was a small basket with neatly folded white washcloths.
“Goodbye, tomboy,” she whispered, giggling.
Not that she’d made a complete break from that side of her personality. Jenna knew she would always prefer cowboy boots to uncomfortable high heels that squeezed her toes and riding her horse on some dusty mountain trail to dinner in a fru-fru restaurant.
But ever since Stone had come home, she’d sensed changes in herself. Mostly, that womanly part of her was more alive than ever. Suddenly, being a girl was incredible fun.
The sound of the doorknob turning made her look up. She laughed, seeing a naked man—and a red-hot naked man, at that—enter the room. In his hands Stone held a tray that balanced two glasses filled with red wine.
“Thank you for not locking the door,” he said in that deep, sexy voice of his.
“Well, it is your master bath. And besides, I’d hate to miss out on a delivery of a drink that’s sure to make me tipsy.”
“Ah, good, good. I hope so. I have every intension of taking advantage of a tipsy, beautiful woman.” Grinning, he handed her a glass and set the tray on the vanity, taking the other glass for himself.
“We have time before going to dinner at your sister’s?”
“We have time for me to have my way with you and for me to do this first.” Carefully climbing into the tub with her, he placed his glass on the tub rim and leaned over to tickle her neck with seductive kisses. “I’m hungry. But I want sex more than I want food.”
“That’s usually the case.”
Me, too! Jenna sipped her wine. That was a new delight for her. Before, she’d drink beer from the tap, and though they both still enjoyed a Corona or something—especially paired with a juicy cheeseburger—Stone had introduced her to the relaxing powers and delicious flavors of Cabernet and Merlot and Chardonnay.
“Is this our celebration?” she wanted to know. “You know, for the show?”
“It’s a lot more than that.”
“Oh?”
Before going on, Stone took a good swallow of his glass’s contents. Then he selected a washrag from the basket, unwrapped it, and lathered it up.
“Turn around, baby,” he said softly.
Jenna was more than happy to oblige. First shifting all her hair over one shoulder, she gave him his back. The soapy washrag felt almost as good being rubbed on her shoulders and back as his nibbles did on her neck.
“You know, Jenna, I almost didn’t come here. I almost told my sisters they could sell the place, and that they could keep whatever it ended up selling for.”
“Really? Well, I’m glad you didn’t do that. You don’t…regret your decision to keep it, do you?”
“No. But I didn’t know what I made the decision to give it a try that it would include you. And Jake—I love that kid. I think of him as family.”
“Good. And he adores you, Stone. You’re more of a big brother, you know, age-wise. I think he thinks of you as a father figure, too, though.”
Turning to see his expression, her lower jaw dropped open. He was gazing back at her with such anticipation, with a tenderness that tugged at her heart.
“I can’t tell you what that means to me,” he said hoarsely. “And you, Jenna. Of all the things that have ever happened to me in my life, meeting you and being loved by you is the best thing that’s ever come my way.”
“And your love is the best thing that ever happened to me, Stone.”
“I want us to be together forever. I want us to…well, I want you to have my baby someday. If you’d like that.”
Was she hearing correctly? She felt her throat tighten with emotion. And that big, strong cowboy of hers—his eyes were glistening.
“I would love to have a family with you someday.”
“Then, so, then you’ll marry me? You’ll wear this ring?”
In awe, she watched him reach back to the tray. Hidden beneath a heavy napkin was something small that caught the light. When he displayed it for her, she saw the loveliest ring she’d ever laid eyes on, made of white gold, a gorgeous, heart-shaped diamond surrounded by tiny chips of what looked like emeralds.
“You’ll marry me, Jenna? You’ll be Mrs. Farrell? I promise I’ll love you and I’ll be with you for the rest of my life. I’ll be a good husband to you and the best friend you’ve ever had, and of course…a lover who’ll always be in love with you.”
She almost dropped her glass in her haste to set it aside. That freed her to hug him. With her nude body melded against his, the next kiss was even more ardent. Jenna tried to find her voice but was afraid to speak. Instead she held out her hand and allowed him to place the ring on her finger.
“Looks like it needs to be adjusted,” he observed out loud. “It’s a little big.”
“Then we’ll do that as soon as we can. I want to start wearing it right away!” she exclaimed, her tone bubbly and light, as if she were already tipsy.
“So the answer’s yes?”
“The answer could only be yes, Stone. You know how much I love you. And I’ll be a good wife and the lover who dreams about you always, as well as your friend…” Once more she shared a kiss with him. Jenna suspected they were going to be late in getting to dinner that night. “How could I say no to a cowboy?”
THE END