Luke Stone was head over heels in love and completely miserable.
Being called on the cranky business hadn’t helped, either. The fact his ten-year-old niece had clued in to the rumble in his gut was a pretty clear sign he needed to figure out a way to fix this, and soon.
And while cuddling kittens with Kelli was a short-term solution, not even the promise of wild, heart-pounding sex once they reached the seclusion of their own home could knock away the lingering frustrations.
Which meant it was time to do something about it because putting off the discussion wasn’t going to make it any easier.
Caleb and Luke waited outside the barn for Kelli to finish giving Emma and Sasha good-night hugs and kisses. His brother eyed him carefully. “Want to talk about it?”
“Dammit, is there something written on my forehead in Sharpie?” Luke asked.
His brother shrugged. “It’s clear you’ve got something on your mind. And I know things are good between you and Kelli, so it’s not that.”
Luke considered. “Just trying to find a path to make the right people happy.”
“Hmmm.” A measured look. “Bit of advice. Find the path that makes you and Kelli happy first. Anybody who doesn’t like that path isn’t one of the right people.”
It was wonderful advice, only tough when Luke wasn’t sure he and Kelli were headed in the same direction on this particular issue.
Still, he dipped his chin then impulsively offered his brother a back-pounding hug. “Thanks.”
Caleb offered him a modestly sized grin as Sasha and Emma caught their papa by the hand and began taking him back toward the house where their mama and baby brother waited. “Let me know if I can do anything to help,” Caleb called over his shoulder before giving his girls his full attention.
Kelli’s firm grip wrapped around his fingers. “I’m ready to do some jumping, if you’re still interested.”
He glanced down, pausing when he spotted the armful of magazines she had tucked against her chest. “Definitely interested, but want to go for a ride first?”
She all but threw the magazines on the table at the side of the hall, whirling toward the tack room as he followed on her heels.
Like a well-oiled machine, they were soon out on the trail, sitting comfortably in their saddles as the warm spring night surrounded them.
Kelli held out a granola bar. “Don’t want you getting hangry,” she teased.
Considering he was making them late for dinner, it wasn’t a bad idea. They ate while they rode quietly, the horses instinctively making their way toward the Heart Falls pool. It was one of the special places on the ranch, and Luke couldn’t get enough of it.
It was a place where tough conversations could be had and still feel a little magical.
They ended up holding hands, arms hanging between their horses as they swayed in an easy rhythm toward the water’s edge. Spring runoff made the falls a little wilder right now, the pond bursting at the seams as, everywhere around them, birds sang and new green leaves fluttered on the trees.
Kelli slipped off her horse, dropping the reins and letting him wander off to nibble on the fresh green grass.
Luke took her by the fingers and led her up onto the rocks where the perfect heart shape of the pool was clearly visible.
She slid an arm around his waist, head resting on his chest. “It’s so pretty here.”
He stared down at her. Her long brown hair, her beautiful eyes—staring out at the wilderness but holding tight to him. She looked as if she belonged here.
She definitely belonged in his arms.
Luke really needed to get over his issue. But ever since they’d visited her grandfather’s estate in Kentucky, he’d been worrying over it. Having their friends Jack and Diane pop in had been wonderful, but it also compounded the problem.
Kelli stepped around to face him, sliding her hands up his chest. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” With everything in him. With every fiber of his being, which was why he had to just man up and either admit his issue or shut up and pretend it wasn’t there.
Kelli lifted her chin firmly. “I have something to tell you.”
She looked so serious. For one brief second, he panicked. “Are you…pregnant?”
She blinked. Her jaw fell open. “Oh my God, no. I mean, not yet. I mean, did you want me to be?”
“No. I mean, if it happened, I’d be okay with it, but I thought we were going to wait a little while. So it’s okay if you’re not.” Luke was rambling. Definitely rambling.
The tension drained out of her, and she gave a sigh of relief. “Okay. Good. I just wanted to say that I love you, and I want to get married, but no way in hell am I going through with a wedding. I hope that’s okay with you.”
It was his turn to blink. “What?”
Her hands slid down, and she grabbed hold of his belt as if clinging for support. “The girls gave me all those wedding magazines, and while they’re pretty and all that, the idea of picking out a wedding dress to crawl into—number one, it’s a real waste of money because I’d only wear it one time. I mean, hello, that’s just silly.”
Luke had never thought of that. “I guess if it’s something you always wanted…”
Kelli shook her head vehemently. “Then when we visited Grandfather Timothy, he talked about hosting a wedding there. Diane got into it as well, and I’ve been having nightmares ever since. I mean, they’d probably expect me to walk down that grand staircase. I’d be in that damn wedding dress that I don’t want in the first place, and I could just see myself tripping and falling.”
Amusement was beginning to rise. Why had he doubted for even a single moment? “So, what you’re saying is no wedding. But you do want to get married.”
She dipped her chin firmly. Then tilted her head hesitantly. “Do you mind?”
He picked her up, holding her close so he could rub their noses together. “You know what’s had me cranky for the last while? Thinking about a big, fancy wedding at your Grandfather Timothy’s house. Having to wait at the bottom of that big, long staircase for you to come marching down to me when all I want is to have you by my side.”
“Get out.” Kelli’s face lit up. “That is really sweet, by the way.”
They grinned at each other for a while. Luke spun her in a circle and got her laughing before lowering her feet to the ground. “Okay, then. Let’s get married.”
“Sounds like a plan. How do we do this? You want to go—” Kelli paused as he pulled out his phone and put through a call. Curiosity lit her face as she waited for him to speak.
“Malachi? Luke Stone here. Are you busy tonight?”
It took a lot less time than expected. He had to promise to send their already completed paperwork to Malachi a.s.a.p., but Luke hung up the phone with all kinds of happiness bubbling inside.
Kelli was all but vibrating with excitement. “What did he say? And holy hell, are you serious?”
Luke caught her by the hand, leading her toward the trail around the outside of the pond. Walking side by side toward the base of the waterfall. “He said he can be here in fifteen minutes.”
She tugged him to a stop. “That means there’s not enough time to call everybody.”