Page 117 of Wilde Ride

Smiling, I leaned down and bridged our mouths with a soft kiss. “You know the best part?”

“What?” she asked back.

“We get to break in every single room in the house…plus the barn.”

Her cheeks turned red. “The barn, too, huh?”

“Hell yes. That’s going to be the most fun to break in.”

After one more kiss, we walked hand in hand back into the house. For the first time in years, a peace I’d thought was long gone settled over my body.

Lord, please don’t let it all be too good to be true.

“Where do you want this box that’s marked ‘extra’?” Caden asked as he stood before me.

“Extra?” I asked, walking over and looking at what he was holding. “I don’t know what this box is. I don’t remember packing it.”

“Could your mom have packed it?” he asked, setting it down on a chair.

Taking out the box cutter, I opened the box and looked in. “This is Caroline’s stuff. How in the hell did it get mixed with mine?”

Caden let out a long breath. “Should I burn it?”

I shot him a non-humorous look. “No, let’s just put it in that corner. I’ll text her later and ask her what she wants me to do with it.”

Rhett came racing into the living room, his newest friend and our closest neighbor, Timmy, on his heels. I’d already accidentally called Timmy by Jimmy’s name, and vice versa. I was hoping his next friend wasn’t named anything close to either of those two.

“Don’t run, guys!” Emeline called out. “There’s stuff everywhere, and you’re going to trip.”

“Wow,” Caden stated with a smirk. “You sound like our mother.”

Emeline shot him a dirty look. “I do not.”

“Daddy! Daddy! Timmy asked if I could spend the night tonight.”

I officially got the keys to the house on August 1st, and Rhett and I set up the tent in the living room that first night. I made a fire, and we ate pizza and roasted marshmallows. It’d been so much fun, especially since it was just the two of us in our new place.

“I’ll call Timmy’s mom and talk to her about it,” I replied as I pulled out my phone. After a quick conversation, Timmy’s mother told me she’d be by in thirty minutes to pick up both boys.

“You keep working on bringing things in, I’ll help Rhett pack an overnight bag,” Emeline said with a smile. Her eyes sparkled, and I knew she was thinking the same thing I was.

Alone time in the new house.

Kissing her on the cheek, I winked. “Thank you, Em.”

“No problem. Come on, boys, let’s go pack up a bag.”

I watched as they headed up the half-log stairs to the three additional bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. “Don’t forget your toothbrush!” I called out.

“I won’t, Dad!”

I sighed, and Caden laughed. “Looks like he’s back to calling you dad.” A swift slap on my back caused me to stumble forward. “Kid’s growing up. Come on, let’s keep unloading. We’re almost done.”

“I appreciate the help, Caden. I know your time is valuable and you’re busy at the ranch.”

He waved me off. “Gatlin’s got it covered. It’s a nice break, and a different way to use the muscles.”

He flexed his biceps, and I rolled my eyes.