How long did Tanna expect her to stay? Because if Celia had her way, she’d hop a plane tomorrow morning and she could be home by suppertime. She imagined pulling into the driveway at twilight. Kyle running out of the house to greet her. Sweeping her into his arms, peppering her face with kisses, and making her promise she’d never, ever leave him again.

Romantic nonsense. Next you’ll have him riding up on a white horse. Carrying a puppy.

After two more quick swipes with the brush, she patted Daisy-Mae on the rump and returned her tools to the barn, hanging up the chinks and straw hat she’d borrowed from Tanna’s stash.

But even after she left the pen area, three horses hung over the fence trying to get her attention. She wandered over. They took off when they realized she didn’t intend to feed them.

“You know, I shouldn’t be surprised I’d find you out here with the horses.”

Celia spun around, her heart racing. Not a figment of her imagination this time. Kyle was here. Really here. In his black hat and a green sport coat. “Kyle?”

“Glad to know you haven’t forgotten my name in the last six days, nine hours, and twenty-three minutes.”

She didn’t think, she just acted. She hopped over the fence and threw herself into his arms. “I can’t believe…I thought I was seeing things. You really were at the church.”

“Yeah. I kinda slipped in and snuck out. I knew you were with the family and I didn’t want to distract you.” He gestured to the pasture. “If you’d waited I’da done a cattle check with you. Someone told me recently I ain’t all bad on a horse.” He smiled.

That charming smile did things to her knees and other parts of her body. “How long have you been here?”

“Only since about an hour before the service started. I drove straight through. Found a hotel, got cleaned up.” Kyle curled his hands around her face. “Stayed away from you until I couldn’t stay away any longer.”

Celia closed her eyes when his lips met hers.

“Christ, I missed you. I hated that you left with things hanging between us. But I understand why you did. You are Tanna’s friend; she’s been there for you so many times when you felt you had no one else. You owed her and she needed you. But I need you too, Cele.” Kyle tilted her face so he looked directly into her eyes. “I love you. You’ve been my wife in my heart and soul since the morning we woke up wearing wedding rings. And yes, I should’ve told you when I learned about the marriage license issue. I’m not proud to say I didn’t tell you because I thought you’d leave me. See, you’ve never needed me as much as I need you.” His small smile was there and gone. “I wasn’t worried about losing my ranching expert, Celia. I was terrified of losing you.”

“You didn’t lose me. After you told me you loved me, even when you knew I had to leave, it gave me so much hope and…”

“And what?”

“And I can finally admit that I love you like crazy.”

“Thank God for that.” He held her for several long moments. One hand twisted around her braid, the other hand covered her heart. “The thought of not having you in my life, by my side, every damn day for the rest of my life makes me die inside.”

“Don’t say that.”

“But it’s true. I never knew I could love anyone the way I love you. It scares me, Cele.”

Her tears leaked out the corners of her eyes and ran over his hands. But she didn’t even try to stop them. “I missed you so much, Kyle.”

“Oh shit. Don’t cry. I freak the f**k out when you cry.” His fingers started to wipe the moisture from her cheeks.

Celia put her hands around his wrists. “They’re happy tears. You make me happy. Ever since last year, when you told me I deserved better than Breck, when you convinced me that if I walked away from him I’d give myself a chance to find a good man who loved everything about me. I’m so thankful that man is you.” Celia squeezed his wrists. “I think part of that bratty little girl who annoyed you always secretly loved you.”

He laughed. Then he kissed her. With sweetness. With his heart. With his soul. The passion would come later when they were alone. Celia let herself fall into it, fall into him.

Took a good, long while before they finally broke the kisses, and even afterward, their hands stayed clasped, their bodies gravitated toward each other.

“Will you stay with me at my hotel room tonight? I’m dying to touch you.”

“Yes. God, yes. I missed that about us too.” She buried her face in his neck.

But he wouldn’t allow her to hide. “So why the sadness in your eyes?”

“I feel guilty. I’m so happy right now. And Tanna’s inside, so devastated.”

“She’s lucky you could drop everything and go to her, but she’ll have to stand on her own now. You realize that, right?”

“Yes. Speaking of dropping everything…who’s taking care of the livestock at home? Josh?”

“And your brothers. And Bran. And Renner and his crew. They said they owed me for all the years I helped them out. They were more than happy to return the favor for a few days. But I suspect our sisters-in-law had a lot to do with makin’ that happen.”

“My meddling family members making you crazy yet?”

“Nope. I sort of like it, to be honest.” He briefly pressed his mouth to hers. The man could not stop kissing her. And she really loved that about him. “My mom has some news too. But it’ll keep. First things first.”