Her Grumpy Cowboy (Fit Mountain Cowboys #3)

8. Luke

Hours later, I ease the door to Maisey’s bedroom closed, holding my breath until I hear the soft click of the latch. Then I freeze, listening for any sign that we’ve woken her.

Silence.

I grin at Jasmyn. “Out like a light.”

“I’m not surprised.” Jasmyn keeps her voice low as we tiptoe down the hallway. “Between the dance lesson, the ice cream, and the horseback ride, I’m amazed she made it through dinner.”

“That makes two of us.” I chuckle, remembering Maisey’s valiant struggle to keep her eyes open during dessert. “I thought we were gonna have to carry her up to bed.”

We reach the top of the stairs. I glance over my shoulder, making sure Maisey’s door is still closed. Then I turn back to Jasmyn and hold out my hand.

She takes it without hesitation.

I love that about her—her boldness, her trust. I lead her past the main staircase, to the back of the house where a narrower set of stairs waits. My bedroom is up there, in the addition above the kitchen.

I’m grateful for the privacy as we climb the steps hand in hand. Living with my brothers has its perks, but alone time with Jasmyn isn’t one of them. The second-floor addition is my sanctuary. I push open the door to my room and guide Jasmyn inside.

The door closes behind us with a soft click. Jasmyn steps further into my room, her eyes scanning the space.

It’s not much—just a double bed, a dresser, and a desk cluttered with paperwork and old coffee mugs. A faded patchwork quilt, one of Grandma Clayton’s creations, drapes over the foot of the bed.

Jasmyn gravitates towards the window. I’ve left it cracked open, letting in the crisp evening air and the distant lullaby of crickets. The scent of summer grass, sun-warmed hay, and a trace of Jasmyn’s vanilla shampoo find my nose.

“I like your room,” Jasmyn says, turning to face me. She leans back against the windowsill, a soft smile playing on her lips. “It’s cozy. Very you.”

I cock my head, crossing the room to stand in front of her. “Yeah? How so?”

She shrugs, her smile widening. “It’s simple, but warm. Unassuming. And the view...” She turns her head to gaze out at the moonlit pastures. “It’s peaceful.”

My chest swells at her words. I’ve never thought much about my room, but seeing it through her eyes gives me a new appreciation for my space. For my life. I reach for her hand and tug gently. “C’mere.”

Jasmyn lets me lead her to the bed. I sit on the edge and pull her down next to me, my arm automatically wrapping around her waist as she nestles into my side. It amazes me how perfectly she fits there—like she was always meant to be in the crook of my arm.

We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, just breathing each other in. I press a kiss to her hair, savoring the feeling of her warm weight against me. “What are you thinking?” I murmur.

She turns her face into my neck. I feel her smile against my skin. “I’m thinking...” Her words are soft, almost shy. “I’m thinking about how happy I am. Right here, right now, with you.”

A deep sense of contentment settles in my bones. I tighten my arm around her, turning to brush my lips over her forehead. “That so?”

Jasmyn lifts her head. In the low light, her eyes glimmer with unmistakable emotion. “This day has been perfect.”

I lean forward, capturing Jasmyn’s lips with mine. The kiss is fierce, urgent, a physical manifestation of the love burning in my chest. Jasmyn responds instantly, her hands sliding up my arms to loop around my neck. She presses closer. I feel her heartbeat against my chest, as rapid and intense as my own.

I deepen the kiss, my tongue seeking hers. She opens for me with a soft moan. The sound ignites a hunger in my veins. I need to touch her, taste her, show her how much I love her. My hands find her waist and I lift her, never breaking the kiss, until she’s straddling my lap.

Jasmyn’s fingers thread into my hair. She tugs lightly and I groan against her mouth. I break away, trailing kisses along her jaw, down her neck. Her head falls back, giving me better access. I nip at her pulse point and she shudders.

“Luke,” she gasps. Her hips rock against mine, seeking friction. The movement sends a jolt of pure need straight to my core. I tighten my grip on her waist, guiding her rhythm.

I find her mouth again, kissing her deeply as we move together. The heat between us builds, the air heavy with our shared want. Jasmyn’s hands slip under my shirt, her nails grazing my stomach. I hiss at the contact. I need to feel her skin on mine.

I break the kiss just long enough to tug her shirt over her head. She does the same to me, our movements frantic, desperate. Then we’re pressed together again, skin to skin, hearts pounding in sync. Jasmyn rolls her hips, harder this time. I meet her thrust for thrust, the friction delicious but not enough.

I flip us over, pressing Jasmyn into the mattress. She wraps her legs around my waist, urging me closer. I settle between her thighs, our bodies aligned. I look down at her, my heart swelling at the sight of her flushed face, her kiss-swollen lips, her eyes dark with desire.

“I love you,” I breathe. The words come easy now, a truth I’ve known in my bones for weeks. “God, Jasmyn, I love you so much.”

Jasmyn pulls back just enough to meet my gaze. Her eyes shine with tears, but her smile is radiant. “I love you too, Luke. So much. More than I ever thought possible.”

The words wash over me, a balm to my soul. I’ve spent years watching my brothers find their soulmates, wondering if I’d ever be lucky enough to find mine. And now here she is, this incredible woman who’s stolen my heart and given me a love I never knew I needed.

I brush a thumb over her cheek, wiping away a stray tear. “I’m never letting you go, you know that right?”

She laughs, a watery sound that’s music to my ears. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

As we lose ourselves in each other once more, I send up a silent prayer of thanks. For second chances, for new beginnings, for the unexpected path that led me straight to Jasmyn’s arms. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know we’ll face it together.

Because this? This is what happily ever after feels like.

The End