Page 134 of The Ranger Gets His Girl

"I'm sure. I've always thought having a family was for everyone else, but not me. I never saw how I could move past this lonely little bubble I've lived in my whole life. Having a family is a dream I never dared to dream. But with you? You make me think all dreams are possible."

He kissed the side of her head, then stepped under the water. "You anchor me, Luce. With the injury, I felt adrift at sea, unsure of where the tide would take me. I was so afraid of the Rangers kicking me to the curb. The Marshals are an entirely different company culture but such similar missions. I'm excited about work again."

She smiled, and they switched places. She undid her braid and worked it out under the spray while he lathered up. "I'm so glad you're happy, Mason."

His blue eyes pierced hers with a heavy look. "I'm happy with you. You keep me grounded in reality, give me something to look forward to that's not work. You remind me that there's more to life than work. With you, I have fun again. Go on adventures. See the world. Life seems brighter with you in it, and I never want to let you go."

His arms wrapped around, and they held each other. Finally, they switched places again. He washed the soap off while she scrubbed her hair.

"The baby is going to eat into your writing time," he said quietly.

She shrugged. "I know, although the last few months without you, I've made great progress. I'm running it through edits now."

His eyes widened. "Wait, you finished it?"

She shrugged shyly. "Just the first round."

He wrapped her in a hug and did a little naked dance in the shower. "That's amazing, little bird. I knew you could do it."

She giggled as he released her, only for his lips to cut off her laugh. She gasped at the power of it. Her toes curled as his body was branded to hers. He made her feel things she'd never felt before. And he was all hers forever. Almost.

Her breath lodged in her throat, and she deepened the kiss. She was hot but wasn't sure if her cheeks were flushed from being outside in the sun all day or from him or from the shower.

She was breathless at his love, his encouragement. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and her stomach leaped.

He gasped, breaking the kiss and jerking back. "What was that?"

She giggled. "The baby kicked. Here." She took his hand and placed it on the left side of her bump. It happened again, and the look of awe on his face brought tears to her eyes.

"That's—this is—oh Lucy, thank you. This is the best gift."

The tears rolled, and she ignored them. She rinsed her hair, but his hands didn't leave her stomach until the water turned cold. When they were snug in the bed, he spooned her again, his hand on their baby.

She smiled, feeling safe, warm, and loved, thankful that it was so vastly different to how she'd gone asleep just last night.

"I love you, sunshine," he murmured sleepily.

She smiled, her body relaxing as they both held a hand to her stomach. "I love you too, master."