Page 35 of Best in Show

“You’ve just made me the happiest man in the world.”

Her mouth opened in surprise. This was the response she was hoping for but not expecting in a million years. Words evaporated on her tongue. He pressed his mouth on hers, and his heat tingled on her tongue, bursting with saltiness she had missed tasting. He sucked gently on her lip as he pulled away.

“Truly?” She’d found one single word. Her knees were wobbly, and she was glad he was holding her up.

“Yes.” The intensity in his eyes helped her believe him. “I love you.”

Zoe smiled, the warmth from his wrapping her in a sense of safety and love. “I love you, too.”

“Do you think you can live here on the farm? It’s a bit rough?”

“I’ll fix it up.” She took a deep breath. She was confident she could live there. The first time she saw the farm driving up in her car she’d fallen in love. It was so different from the life she was used to, but it had felt like she was coming home.

“You’ll do no such thing in your condition.”

“I will so.” She stirred, her strength vibrating out with her words.

He kissed her. His tongue tangled slowly with hers as if feeling her for the first time. “I’ll help you then.”

“I’m going to find it a little hard here on my own, but I know it will work out.”

He ran his finger down the side of her cheek, she tilted her head into the palm of his hand, enjoying the roughness of his skin mixed with a gentle touch.

“I don’t think you will.”

“I guess there will be three of us soon enough.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

She moved to look up into his eyes. His smile sending her mind dizzy with the new found connection with him. It was strong. Powerful. Her heart felt unbreakable.

“I’m shearing in a month, and you know Billie, right?”

“Billie’s going to be here?”

He nodded his head. “For at least a week.”

“I reckon I could work remotely, what’s your internet like?” asked Chloe. She loved her job and was good at it. So much so she was sure that her boss would want her to leave as he valued her contribution to the law firm.

“Ummm… I’ll make sure I get it sorted so you can work. And I’m sure we can arrange for other people to visit you, and maybe I could take a holiday to the city—”

“You’ll go to the city with me?” She knew he hated the city.

“Of course. I’d go to the moon if that’s where you want to go. Though, I’d have to come back to feed the sheep so that might get a little tricky.”

Laughter spilled from her lips. “I’m loving you even more right now. “

“Good. Because I hated it when you didn’t, and I only ever want to love you.”

“And our baby?”

“Yes, and I can’t wait to meet him.”

“Or her.”

“And then I’ll show them how much you mean to me, every day.”

Her head spun with the love his words weaved around her. “I will, too.”