She wanted to say something, anything. But her climax caught her off guard and she cried out. He muffled her sounds with a deep kiss, back tightening under her hands, as he came.
Five minutes later, Jo was still struggling to regulate her breathing.
“That was some ride.”
“Mmphfeed.”
“Either that’s a cowboy term I haven’t learned yet, or you have to take your face out of the pillow first.”
He lifted his grinning face. “I said, ‘indeed.’ Some ride.”
Jo stroked one hand over his face, the hair that missed a cut a week ago, the scruff he ignored so often. “I love you.”
His eyes lit, and she realized he hadn’t expected her to say it back. Hadn’t assumed. Hadn’t been ready to pressure her into it, make her feel guilty about it. He’d just been prepared to wait. Which only made her love him more?
“I love you,” she said again, the words bringing a lightness to her breathing, to her life. “Wow. I can’t remember the last time I said that.”
“About two seconds ago. But say it again, so you can remember how.”
“I love y—” She broke off when he kissed her. “You,” she finished.
“No pressure.”
She closed her eyes a moment. “I can’t promise I’m what’s best for Seth.”
“I’m what’s best for Seth. And you’re what’s best for me. So, ipso facto …”
One brow arched. “Did you say ‘ipso facto’ to me while you’re still inside me?”
“Whoops.” He pulled out and gave her a serious look. “Ipso facto. Better?”
“Smart ass,” she said, slapping him playfully on the thigh as he got up to head to the bathroom.
“But I’m your smart ass.” His face sobered a little. “We take it slow, for real this time. We hang together, you promise not to freak out when he cries—which he will, because he’s a baby. And we go from there. You’ve got a lot of love built up in you, Jo. You just weren’t ready to open the floodgates yet.”
“Oh, you know that for a fact, do you?” She pinched his butt.
“Yeah, I do. If you aren’t worried about us cramping your style—”
Her mouth dropped open. “What? Why would I worry about that?”
“Super hot bar owner suddenly takes on boring father and son?” He shrugged. “It could drag a person down.”
“Hardly.” She blew out a breath and nodded. “Fine. You don’t worry about cramping my style, and I won’t worry about screwing up with Seth daily.”
“It’s a deal.” He kissed her to seal it.
“Love you,” she sighed. She couldn’t stop saying it, hearing her own voice give power to the words.
“Love you, too.”
They’d be good. The two, and then the three of them. She could believe it now.
If you love contemporary Western romance, be sure to check out Cat Johnson’s Oklahoma Nights series.