Page 71 of Promise Me a Forever Texas Love

“But nothing. I’ve waited for twenty years, Huck, to be with the man I love and I’m not waiting a minute more. So do you want to marry me and Cam or not?”

His eyes widened with surprise. “Are you serious? You want to get married now?”

“After twenty years of loving each other, I think it’s about time, don’t you?”

He closed the distance between them in a second and pulled her into his arms. His kiss was everything. Rough and gentle. Hot and sweet. Needy and loving. Cadee felt like she was floating away on one of the downy white clouds above them.

When he drew back, his pretty amber eyes held everything too. A lifetime of friendship. The pain of separation. And the joy of reuniting.

“I want to marry you too, Catydid. But if we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right. I’m going to get permission from your family, then we’re going to plan the biggest wedding Promise Springs has ever seen.”

“I don’t need a big wedding.” She smiled and smoothed back the wayward strand of hair on top of his head. “Nor do I need to get permission from my family. I love you, Huck. I’ve always loved you. If they have a problem with that, I don’t care.”

Huck cradled her face in his hands and his eyes sparkled in the setting sun. “I love you too, Cadee. God, how I love you. You pick the date and I’ll be there.”

As much as she wanted to race to the courthouse and claim him as her husband right then and there, she knew Camden would need a little time to adjust to Huck being his father.

“What are you doing tonight?” she asked.

His eyes darkened. “Whatever you want, baby. My mustache and I will be there.”

She brushed a finger over his mustache. “That sounds nice, but I was thinking more of having a movie marathon with Camden.”

Huck stared at her in confusion for a second before his eyes lit up. “Will there be dinosaurs in these movies?”

“A few.”

He laughed. “Then I’d love to. I’ll bring the popcorn and candy . . . and the mustache for after Cam goes to sleep.” He kissed her deeply and thoroughly before he drew back and smiled wickedly. “Who’s your Huckleberry?”

She melted into his arms. “You. Always you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“So I guess this is goodbye.”

Huck finished loading the porch swing he and Camden had made for Cadee into the back of his truck before he turned to Poppy. This morning, she was wearing a Cinderella nightshirt with her hair spilling around her shoulders in messy light brown waves. Sad Hennessy hazel eyes stared back at him through the fringe of her long bangs.

Slamming the tailgate, he walked over and pulled her into his arms.

“Like I told you before, Pops. I’m moving out, but I’m not going anywhere. My workshop is right over there so I’ll be here every day.”

Poppy clung tightly for a second before she drew back. “And you better not forget to stop by Grounds For Divorce every morning and get me a dozen mini cinnamon sugar donuts.”

He grinned. “Of course I won’t. What are brothers for if it’s not filling their little sisters up with sugar?” He pinched her cheek. “That’s why you’re so sweet.”

She batted his hand away. “Don’t be a smartass.”

“You love me being a smartass.”

She nodded sadly and his heart panged.

As happy as he was that Cadee had wanted to get married before the holidays—so he got to experience Thanksgiving and Christmas with his wife and son—it was still hard leaving his little sister. After the wedding, he and Cadee planned to take a short honeymoon to South Padre. When they returned, he’d be living at the Stockton Ranch.

“The ranch is less than twenty minutes away.” He reminded himself as much as Poppy. “You’re welcome anytime.”

“No, thanks. Perfect families make me nervous.”

He understood. He was more than a little nervous about becoming part of the perfect Stockton family.