“I have a surprise for you later this evening if you’re up to it and are feeling okay.”

Oh my god….the seduction in his voice gave me goose bumps. FUCK YEAH I was up for it. I was feeling stiff from just sitting all day. I really needed to take a walk.

I turned and reached up on my tippy toes and gave him a kiss. God I loved him so much and to think I almost blew it with my stupid insecurities. The thought made me feel sick.

“Will you walk with me for a little bit outside? I’m going crazy sitting here just watching everyone work!”

Gunner gave me that crooked smile and my heart melted. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how his smile makes me feel.

“Of course I’ll walk with you sweetheart.”

Gunner told Emma we were heading out for some fresh air as he leaned down and scooped me up. I had to start laughing.

“GUNNER! I can walk you know…I only have a broken arm!”

He threw his head back and laughed and then kissed me so passionately I almost wanted to cry.

“I know you can but any excuse to have your body closer to mine and I’m going to take it!”

“Can we go see the new calf that was born yesterday?”

Gunner smiled and led me to the barn. I ohhhed and ahhhed over him because my god he was the cutest damn thing ever! Aaron pulled up in the jeep and I noticed Gunner’s body stiffen. Aaron looked at Gunner and then at me and then back to Gunner. He gave him a wink and nodded his head.

“Did you get it all taken care of?” Gunner asked him.

“Yep, I did. Jenny is amazing. I think it will work out perfectly.” Aaron said with a huge grin on his face.

“How is Jenny doing Aaron? I haven’t seen her since Thanksgiving.” Jenny was Aaron’s fiancé. She was the sweetest girl and they made a wonderful couple.

“She’s doing great Ellie, she had to leave to get to her parents place for Christmas dinner but she will be around tomorrow so you will be able to say hi to her.”

“Great!”

Aaron walked towards us and gave me a quick hug before turning his attention onto Gunner who now seemed nervous as hell. What the hell was wrong with him?

“Dude, we took care of it. Don’t worry…..trust me okay? Around what time in the morning do you want it?” Aaron asked Gunner.

“How about 8am, is that too early?”

“Fuck no…I will be glad to get rid of the damn little menace!” Aaron slapped Gunner on the back and headed off.

“Merry Christmas Aaron!” I called out to him and waved.

“Merry Christmas Ellie.” He gave me a smile that stretched from ear to ear and then let out a laugh.

Gunner looked down at me and smiled. I wonder what that was all about.

“I asked Aaron to take care of some things I needed done right away. I just feel bad asking him to do it on Christmas day.” Gunner said as he looked at me and smiled bigger.

“Oh Gunner, don’t worry about that. I know how much Aaron cares about you and your family. I’m sure he did not mind one bit doing what you needed done.”

Gunner smiled at me and stood in front of me.

“Do you know how much I love you?”

“Umm, I think you should probably show me!”

He carefully put his arms around me and lifted me up. I swung my broken arm up and over his shoulder while I wrapped my legs around his waist. My ribs where throbbing with pain but I did my best to hide it. Gunner captured my lips with his and all the pain melted away. The only thing I could feel was his love rushing through my body. He slowly backed us up against the barn.

Oh god I could feel his growing erection and pushed my hips into him. He let out a moan that had me about to go crazy.

“Gunner, I want you so bad I can’t stand it! Please….please…. I’m so ready to make love!”

I could hear the pleading desperation in my voice and I did not care! Almost two weeks of sleeping next to this man in his bed every night and not being able to have sex with him was killing me!

He just smiled at me. “I know baby I feel the same exact way. The last couple of weeks have been killing me also Ellie….you have no fucking idea how hard it is to keep from ripping your clothes off and taking you right here.”

I pushed up against his crotch again and let out a moan. I just needed this ache to be gone!

“Then do it Gunner…..no one will see us….”

“Jesus Ellie……please baby, I don’t want your first time to be up against a barn.”

“I do! Up against a barn, in the grass, in the bed of your truck….I don’t care Gunner anymore. I just know that I need you so much.”

Gunner took his hand and pushed a piece of hair behind my ear. He loved to do that and I loved it just as much.

“Ellie, I promise you soon baby. Very soon….please just let me make it special for you. I need to make this special for both of us.”

I threw my head back and let out a scream. I didn’t care who heard me. I looked back to see him giving me that damn crooked smile and I could not help but smile back.

“FINE! But I’m telling you right now…you have thirty days to make it happen and then I’m going to take matters into my own hands.”

Gunner chuckled and kissed my nose.

“Deal! Now let’s go get some food. I’m starving.” He gently slid me down his body and then adjusted himself as we walked back to the ranch house hand in hand.

Thirty days…..the bastard only had thirty days!

Emma finally let me help out by putting away the dishes as Ari washed and Heather dried. The guys were of course all outside on the porch.

I looked at Ari who had a smile so big on her face I couldn’t help but be happy for her. Jefferson had given her a beautiful bracelet from James Avery with a horse charm on it first thing this morning. Then he took her riding and when they got to the property line of his land and the Mathews ranch there was a huge black Iron gate that had the letters A and F together with a circle around it. It stood for Ari Forever.

Gunner told me I was getting my gift later this evening! I could not wait. Just then I saw Emma turn and look at me. She had tears in her eyes. She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the living room. She wrapped my body in the most loving hug ever.

“Emma what’s wrong!”

“Ellie darling….nothing is wrong. Everything is just perfect. You’re okay and here and Drew is so in love with you….I see it every time he looks at you. Do you know that every time you walk into a room he has to catch his breath? Thank you Ellie for making Drew so happy.”

I didn’t know what to say. I felt tears running down my face. To think I almost lost this just a short two weeks ago. I loved this woman more than I ever thought possible.

“Emma, I love Drew also….more than I love anything. He has the same effect on me but much more…so much more. His smile melts my heart and makes me long to do everything in my power to keep it on his face. His touch, well….I’m sure you can imagine how that makes me feel!” I felt my face blushing.

“I really should be the one thanking you for helping to raise such an amazing man. He not only has made me the happiest woman on earth but he……he literally saved me Emma, if that makes any sense.”

She nodded her head and we both started crying and laughing at the same time.

Garrett and Gunner walked into the living room and they both looked so damn confused!

“Women! I’ll never figure y’all out no matter how old I get!”

Emma walked over and kissed Garrett and I just happened to catch the quick slap on her behind he gave her. Gunner was just staring at me with those beautiful blue eyes.

“Are you ready for your surprise sweetheart?”

My heart started pounding. He looked so handsome standing there but he also looked scared as hell! He was probably worrying himself sick if I was going to like what he picked out for me. I reached up and felt my daisy necklace he gave me for my graduation. Then I looked down at my bracelet. I never took either of them off and threw a fit in the hospital when I found out they took them off of me.

I walked over and took his hand and nodded yes.

I was so confused when Gunner started to lead me out to the Jeep. He helped me in and then gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. He jogged around to the other side and hopped in.

“Where’re we going?”

“We’re going to the hunter’s cabin.”

“The hunter’s cabin? The one you showed me on my first tour of the ranch?”

“Yep! That’s the one.”

When we rode by it I remembered making a comment to Gunner about how romantic it was having a cabin out here in the middle of the ranch. It was a small cabin and was so rustic looking. It looked like at one time someone might have had a garden out front. It just screamed romance to me. Gunner laughed and said it was a dump and no one had been in it for years. Why the hell was he taking me there?

Gunner must have sensed my confusion. He reached over and placed his hand on my leg. The tingles instantly started in my leg and went right to my stomach. How did he do this to me still? I mean we had been dating for six months now. I thought it would wear off, but sometimes it felt like it was getting more intense.

The sun was starting to go down now as we drove on the gravel roads of the ranch. It was breathtaking. We came around a giant live oak and I saw the cabin. I’m sure my gasp was loud because Gunner snapped his head and looked at me.

It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. The whole outside of the cabin was covered in white Christmas lights. As Gunner got closer I started to shake. OH MY GOD……I could see the inside lights were on in the cabin but I couldn’t see in the cabin.

Gunner pulled up and parked. I just sat there stunned. He walked around and helped me out of the jeep. I looked up at him and was at a loss for words.

“When did you do all of this? How did you do all of this? My god Gunner it’s beautiful!”

Gunner let out a small laugh.

“I didn’t do it. Aaron and Jenny did it for me. Do you like it so far?”

“So far? There’s more? I mean YES! It’s so beautiful but I thought you said this place was a dump.”

“When you mentioned how romantic you thought it was I got an idea so I talked to Gramps about getting it fixed up and he agreed.”

He took my hand and started to lead me to the front porch and when we stepped up on the porch I was stopped in my tracks. Daisies…..they were everywhere. In flower vases, buckets, laying on a bench and even in a bouquet of daisies in a cowboy boot…….holy hell…....I thought I loved this man before but now my heart felt like it was going to burst open from the love I was feeling.

I turned to look at Gunner who was watching my every reaction. “Gunner I….I don’t even know what to say this is all so beautiful!”

“There’s more inside Ellie…..”

OH…..there was more?

Gunner told me to close my eyes so I did as he led me into the cabin and I heard him shut the door. He turned my body just a little and then I felt his warm breath up against my ear as he told me to open my eyes. I held them closed another few seconds before I slowly opened them.