“From Colorado?” I asked.

  “Yeah, he has a horse ranch east of Denver.”

  Emeline rode up and stopped right at the fence. I held out my hand for the horse to smell. When she let out a soft nicker, I smiled. “Seems like an angel to me.”

  “That’s because she has one sitting on her,” Caden teased.

  “Want to go for a ride?” Emeline asked.

  I pointed to the filly. “Are you going to ride her?”

  “I am. I’d like to see how she does with another horse riding alongside her.”

  Caden clapped my back. “And this is where I leave. Good luck.”

  I frowned as I watched him walk away. “Thanks a lot.”

  Waving his hand, Caden said, “You’re welcome!”

  Turning back to Emeline, I asked, “Which horse did you have in mind?”

  “Marshall was saddling up Comet. He was going to ride with me, but since you’re here…”

  Right then, Marshall appeared with Comet trailing behind him.

  “Levi’s going to join me if you don’t mind, Marshall.”

  He tipped his cowboy hat. “Don’t mind at all.”

  Marshall and I were the same height, so I knew I wouldn’t have to adjust the stirrups. I climbed on, and he handed me the reins.

  “Thanks, Marshall.”

  “Sure thing.” He turned and opened the gate for Emeline, who walked out with the thoroughbred.

  “What’s her name?”

  “Starlight. It’s like she was meant to be with us with a name like that.” She walked up next to Comet and let the two horses smell each other. “It looks like a storm is going to be moving in, so it’ll be a short ride.”

  “Sounds good. Shall you lead the way?”

  Emeline started toward a trail, and I followed behind until she motioned for me to come alongside her. Starlight reached over and nipped at Comet, who simply ignored her.

  “Smart boy,” I said, giving him a soft pat on the neck.

  “What are you doing here? I thought you were working all day at the clinic?”

  “I was until my father came in and asked if he could see some patients.”

  She laughed. “So much for retiring.”

  “It’s only been three weeks since he officially retired. He wanted to be done by November first, and he was. Couldn’t even make it to Thanksgiving.”

  Starlight reached over and bullied Comet once again, and he ignored her. Again.

  “I’d say you paired up the right horses for this ride.”

  She chuckled. “Yeah, I figured she was going to have a bit of attitude, and Comet’s the most laidback horse we have on the ranch. He has zero fucks to give.”

  It was my turn to laugh.

  “Speaking of Thanksgiving, what are you and Rhett planning on doing, since your parents are going to Las Vegas?”

  “We’re going to make a turkey.”

  “You’re going to make a turkey?” she asked, clearly surprised.

  “Why do you sound like you don’t think I can make a turkey?”

  “Can you?”

  I shrugged. “How hard can it be?”

  “A whole turkey?”

  “Nah,” I said as I moved Comet away from Starlight just a bit. She looked like she was ready to take a chunk out of him again. “Maybe just a breast. Some stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, and a pumpkin pie.”

  “You’re going to make all of that?”

  Looking at her, I flashed my sexiest smile. “I was hoping for some help.”

  Her head tossed back as she laughed. Fuck, it was the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.

  “Is that a no?”

  She looked at me, and the way her eyes sparkled made my heart skip a beat in my chest. “I would love to help you make Thanksgiving dinner. I’ve never missed one at my parents’ before, but I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. Unless you and Rhett wanted to come over to my folks’ place?”

  “I appreciate the invite, but I really want to start some traditions. We always went out to eat on Thanksgiving because Caroline never had the desire to have a traditional family meal at home.”

  “I’d be honored to join your first Thanksgiving Day meal then. And I have to tell you, I make a mean stuffing.”

  “Do you?” I asked, my brows lifting.

  “Yep!”

  “Okay, then you’re in charge of the stuffing.”

  “And the pumpkin pie.”

  I laughed. “And the pumpkin pie.”

  We rode in comfortable silence for a bit longer before I looked up at the sky. “Mind if we stop a minute?”

  “Not at all,” Emeline said as she brought Starlight to a stop.

  I slid off of Comet and tossed the reins over his saddle. Emeline did the same. I walked up to her and cupped her face in my hands.

  “I love you, Em.”

  Her eyes grew wide—then immediately filled with tears. “I love you too.”

  Pulling her to me, I looked into those blue eyes. “I kept trying to find the perfect place and time to tell you, and this suddenly felt like it was the right time. Just the two of us, with one spirited horse and one calm as hell.”

  She laughed and wrapped her arms around my neck. “You could have told me anywhere, and it would have been special.”

  I ran my finger down the side of her beautiful face. “You have no idea how much you’ve healed us. Your love is something I will never take for granted.”

  A tear slipped free and slowly made a trail down her cheek.

  I leaned in and kissed it before pressing my forehead to hers. “God, this feeling, Emeline.”

  Her hands came up to my face. “I know. I feel the same. You were so worth the wait, Levi.”

  We drew apart, and thunder rumbled across the meadow. We both laughed.

  “We should turn back before this storm moves in.”

  “I agree.”

  We climbed back onto the horses and turned them around. Starlight kicked at Comet, but he simply sidestepped. I was beginning to think his indifference pissed Starlight off. She snorted, and Comet answered with a snort of his own.

  “Guess he’s tired of her shit and is telling her so.”

  Emeline laughed, then looked at me with a mischievous grin.

  “Oh no. I don’t think I like that look.”

  “Let’s see how they do in a trot.”

  Before I could reply, she and Starlight were taking off, leaving me and poor Comet in the dust.

  Smiling, I said, “Come on, boy. Let’s put her in her place once and for all.”

  Emeline

  The Sunday dinner of Thanksgiving week was like a prequel, or at least that was what my mother always called it. Instead of turkey, the meal Mom always made was roast with mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, green beans, homemade gravy, and sourdough rolls, and cherry or apple pie for dessert. It was a tradition that my great-grandmother, Lileth, started, and one that my grandmother and mother continued. Joining us was the entire family and a few friends.

  “Wow, this is the most food I think I’ve ever seen outside of a holiday meal,” Levi said as he set the basket of rolls on the table.

  “It’s the traditional pre-Thanksgiving Sunday dinner,” Ensley said as she placed the carrots on the table. “It’s like a warm-up.”

  Levi smiled as he asked, “Is there a pre-Christmas warm-up dinner?”

  I grinned. “No. The Sunday before Christmas is pizza night.”

  “Cool! I can’t wait until pizza night!” Rhett exclaimed with excitement.

  “Same,” Gatlin said before picking up Rhett and tossing him into the air, causing a round of giggles from the boy.

  “You’re going to drop him one of these days, Gatlin Wilde,” my mother chastised as she followed my father in, who set the roast down in the middle of the table. Mom motioned for everyone to sit down. “That’s it, everyone, take your seats.”

  The moment everyone was seated, food was passed around.

  “May I make your plate for you, Rhett?” I asked.

  “Yes, please! Lots of carrots. I love carrots.”

  “A young man after my own heart,” my father said with a wink in his direction.

  “I want to grow big and strong like you, Papa!”

  My heart warmed as my father beamed at Rhett. He’d started calling my father ‘Papa’ and my mother ‘Minnie’ about a month ago, and I knew my parents were over the moon about it. They’d tried to act all nonchalant when it first happened, but I saw my mother’s eyes fill with tears. We still weren’t sure where Minnie came from, but Mom had declared that was her official grandma name.

  “Emeline tells us that you’re going to be making your first turkey this week, Levi,” Mom said with a smile.

  “I am. I’ve been googling the proper way to thaw and cook it.”

  “Think you’re up to the task?” Caden smirked.

  “I do, thank you very much.”

  Dad had a worried expression. “Please tell me you’re baking it and not trying to fry it?”

  “You can fry a turkey?” Levi and Gatlin asked at the same time.

  “You can, but I wouldn’t recommend it,” my father said.

  Ensley asked, “What sides are you making?”

  Levi wiped his mouth and looked around the table, a proud smile on his face. “I’m having stuffing, green bean casserole, fresh cranberry sauce, rolls, and mashed potatoes. Oh, and turkey gravy.”

  My mother’s brows shot up. “That’s a pretty hefty menu to handle by yourself.”

  “I’m gonna be helping, Minnie!” Rhett told her. “And Emeline’s gonna make the pumpkin pie and stuffing.”

  “You’re sure you don’t mind Emeline spending Thanksgiving with us?” Levi asked my parents.

  Mom’s grin was answer enough. “We don’t mind at all. I love that the three of you will be spending the day together.”

  “We’re still going to a movie afterward, right?” Gatlin asked. “It’s our Wilde family tradition.”

  Rhett looked at Levi and asked, “Are we Wilde family now?”

  Before Levi could answer, my father did. “Always have been, always will be a part of this family.”

  Levi glanced my way and winked. A warm sensation washed over me as our eyes met and held for a few moments.

  “Um, hello? Can you not stare at my sister like that at the family table?” Caden complained, spoiling the moment.

  “Very funny,” I said, balling up my napkin to throw at him, but my mother quickly interjected.

  “Small eyes at the table, please. Let’s not teach him bad things.”

  I quickly put my napkin on my lap and peeked at Rhett. When I was sure he wasn’t looking, I flashed my middle finger at Caden, who laughed.

  “Emeline Wilde!”

  Lowering my hand, I muttered, “Sorry, Mom.”

  She shook her head, but I could see the corners of her mouth twitching with a hidden smile.

  The rest of dinner was filled with conversations about the ranch, the vet clinic, and Rhett’s horse, Orion. After dinner, Gatlin, Caden, and Levi all played a game with Rhett, while my father, mother, Ensley, and I cleaned up.

  “It’s been so lovely having Rhett and Levi join us for Sunday dinners,” Mom said as she hugged me. “They’ve brought such joy to the house.”

  “Was the house not joyous before?” Ensley asked.

  My mother playfully slapped her on the backside with her hand towel. “Of course it was. I just mean it’s been nice to have a little one in the house again.”

  “I agree. I miss hearing all the yelling and playing in the house,” Dad added with a grin.

  “We can still do that,” Ensley grinned. “We just figured you guys would frown on it.”

  My father rolled his eyes. “Smart-ass.”

  Ensley lifted onto her toes and kissed his cheek. “Takes one to know one!”

  Mom started to motion for us to leave the kitchen. “You girls go join in the fun, we’ve got the rest of this.”

  Ensley clearly didn’t need to be told twice; she dashed out of the kitchen without so much as looking back.

  “Wow, she really still doesn’t like kitchen duty, does she?” I laughed.

  When I turned back to look at my parents, they were both staring at me with goofy smiles on their faces.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  They quickly got back to the last of the dishes, ignoring my question. Once everything was loaded, my mother took my arm in hers and we walked out of the kitchen.

  “Are you happy, sweetheart?”

  “With?”

  She shrugged. “Life? Levi?”

  I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “I’m beyond happy, Mom. Sometimes I have to pinch myself because this all feels like a dream.”

  “We’re so glad. Levi has always been such a wonderful young man, and Rhett is just the most precious little soul.”

  “Yes, he is, and Levi…he makes me feel so treasured. That’s the only word I can think of. He treats me like I’m his everything, and that’s such a beautiful feeling.”

  “That’s how your father makes me feel. How are you doing with Rhett?”

  I stopped walking and looked at her. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, it’s pretty clear your relationship with Levi is serious. So how are things with you and Rhett? Can you see yourself potentially being a mother figure to him?”

  Glancing toward the family room, where everyone else was, I focused back on my mom. “I mean, we haven’t talked about that, and the last thing I want to do is force Levi into something he’s not ready for.”

  She nodded.

  “But I love Rhett more than I can say, and if the time comes, I’d be honored to be his stepmom.”

  She smiled, wrapped her arm around mine once again, and we walked into the living room, where she dropped her hold on me. Before she could walk away, I grabbed her hand and leaned in. “Why were you asking me all that?”

  With a shrug, she replied, “Just curious.”

  Then she swept away and joined everyone else in the game of charades.

  The feel of Levi’s soft lips moving up my neck caused my entire body to heat. The smile on my face grew into a full-blown grin as I rolled and looked at him.

  I crinkled my nose and asked, “How is it you can just wake up and look hot as hell, but I’m sure I look like a mess?”

  He smiled. “You do have a bit of dried drool in the corner of your mouth.”

  I slapped a hand over my mouth as he laughed.

  “I’m kidding, Em! By the way, good morning.”

  As I stretched, I replied, “Good morning.”

  “Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for staying last night.”

  A wave of uncertainty hit me. “I still think I should sneak out before Rhett sees me.”

  He shook his head as he ran his finger down my cheek. “I love you, Em, and I’ve already spoken to Rhett about you staying over. Trust me when I say, he wants you here as much as possible.”

  It still made my entire body tingle to hear Levi tell me he loved me. Those three words were something I knew I would never get tired of hearing.

  I felt my cheeks heating. “He just likes my French toast.”

  Levi chuckled, and I loved how throaty it sounded first thing in the morning. “We both love your French toast.”

  “Should I tell you my secret ingredient?”

  He shook his head. “It makes it more special, knowing only you can make the French toast that we love so much.”

  Moving over my body, he spread my legs apart and teased my entrance.

  “Levi…what time is it? Do we have time for this?”

  He covered my mouth with his as he worked me with his fingers, causing me to orgasm faster than I ever had before. His mouth captured my moans until my body finally came down from the high.

  When he removed his mouth, he smirked. “That was fast.”

  I giggled. “You’re talented.”

  We both moaned silently as he slowly pushed inside of me. There was nothing I loved more than the feel of Levi deep inside my body. Our lovemaking was slow and tender, which was a far cry from last night, when Levi had bent me over the desk in his home office and taken me from behind. Rhett had already gone to bed, and I’d had a hell of a hard time keeping quiet.

  It was the first time we’d had sex here while Rhett was home. I’d been nervous, but Levi quickly took my mind and my body elsewhere.

  Framing my head within his hands, Levi met my gaze. “I love you, Emeline.”

  My legs wrapped tightly around his hips as I whispered back, “I love you, too, Levi.”

  His rhythm began to increase, and I had to bite down on my lip to keep my moans of pleasure inside.

  He buried his face in my neck and panted, “I’m going to come, baby. Come with me.”

  He slipped his hand between our bodies, and the moment his fingers swept across my clit, I shattered. He groaned into my ear as his own release hit him. When he finally came to a stop, he lifted his head, and we both smiled.

  “I want you in my bed every morning from this day forward.”

  My fingertips moved softly across his back as I relaxed fully into the mattress. “I’d love that. You do know I came with a cat and a dog.”

  He laughed. “I’m okay with that.”

  “Daddy?”

  Levi pulled out of me quickly, causing me to let out a little yelp.

  “I’ll be right there, Rhett!”

  He grabbed his sweats and slipped them on, almost falling in the process. Reaching for a shirt, he slipped it on and went to reach for the door. He turned and tossed me a wicked grin. All I could do was smile back as I sat up in bed. Levi’s gaze ran over my body, hungry even though we’d just made love.

  “I’ll get breakfast going.”

  When he slipped out the door, softly shutting it behind him, I let out a soft laugh. Could life get any better than this?

  I quickly showered and got dressed in the change of clothes I’d brought in my overnight bag. I put some mascara on, piled my hair up onto my head, and pondered if I should even bother putting any more makeup on. I decided the mascara was enough and made my way to the kitchen.