Page 154 of Wilde Flame

Caden laughed. “Getting Wilde already!”

The sound of someone coming into the nursery had me looking up. I smiled when I saw it was Ensley.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” I asked, as I went to stand.

Holding up a hand, she said, “Stay there.”

She walked up and stared down at Nellie. “She’s so damn cute, Lilibeth. Have Grandma and Grandpa stopped by today?”

I chuckled. Nellie and Gus had been by almost every single day since we’d brought Nellie home from the hospital. When we had told everyone the baby’s name, Nellie and my mother had both cried.

“Not today. I think they were planning on going with Vivianne and Ladd to Emeline and Levi’s.”

Emeline had gone into labor three days after her due date, giving birth to her son, Jackson Michael.

“I tell you what, it’s hard work bouncing between both of you guys visiting.”

“Want to hold her?”

Ensley nodded and quickly scooped the sleeping beauty from my arms. I watched as she walked around the room before bringing Nellie to the window. “You see those horses out there? I’m going to teach you everything you need to know about them. And the cows over there…see them? Your daddy will teach you all about those. Between you and me, the horses are better.”

I smiled. Ensley was so good with Nellie; whenever she cried, if Ensley took her, she stopped instantly. My heart ached for Ensley, though, because I knew she wanted a baby of her own. She wanted love.

Caden suddenly appeared, which was a surprise, because he should’ve been at work on the ranch. He crossed the room, reaching out a hand for mine. “I want to take you somewhere.”

Frowning, I stood. “You want to leave Nellie?”

“Hey!” Ensley said. “You don’t think I can take care of her?”

“Of course I do. It’s just…she’s only three weeks old, and I’m not sure we should leave her just yet.”

Caden squeezed my hand. “We’re not going far, and we won’t be gone long at all.”

He and Ensley exchanged a smile.

“I guess some fresh air would do me good. We’re staying on the ranch, though, right?”

“Yes,” Caden chuckled. “Ensley, call if you have any issues.”

She was swaying back and forth as she gazed down at Nellie. “We’re fine. You guys go and get that fresh air.”

It was still pretty warm out, even for late September, so I didn’t need to grab a sweater or anything. I tucked my cell into my back pocket and followed Caden out to his truck. He held my hand while I climbed in.

“Where are we going?” I asked, as he got in and started the truck.

Winking, he said, “You’ll see.”

I lay my head back, and the next thing I knew, Caden was softly saying my name.

For a moment, I was confused. Then I remembered we’d gotten into his truck to go somewhere. And I knew instantly where we’d gone.

“Your spot.”

He grinned. “Our spot.”

After getting out of the truck, we walked hand in hand down the path and to the secluded, hidden meadow and lake. There were a few horses walking around near the edge of the lake, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was equally as beautiful here in the summer as it was the winter. The mountains and blue sky reflected in the crystal-clear water, small ripples disturbing the image as they danced across the surface.

“I can’t wait to show Nellie this spot, and the carving tree where your parents got married. She’s going to love growing up here.”