Wishing for the Rancher’s Love (High Country Ranch #5)

Chapter 24

24

A gentle prodding woke Clementine. She opened her eyes to find Grady slipping his arms underneath her and lifting her from the chair, where she’d dozed in the hotel sitting room. His face was still smudged with soot, the coyote scratch red, his dark hair messy, his white shirt streaked. But somehow he still managed to look entirely too appealing.

“Grady.” Her voice came out sleepy, and she didn’t resist as he settled her against him. Instead, she snuggled closer, loving the feel of his arms surrounding her and the solidness of his chest.

A glance at the mantel clock told her that the time was well past midnight and he’d been gone for over an hour.

Shortly after he’d left, the hotel guests had been admitted back into their rooms. The firefighters had still been working with Mr. Curley in the kitchen, helping to sweep out the water and board up the spots that needed patching to keep out the elements and wild creatures. She’d offered to assist, but Mr. Curley had shooed her back into the sitting room, insisting that she wait there for Grady.

With firm footsteps, Grady carried her toward the door.

She stifled a yawn. “Where are we going?”

“I’m taking you up to bed.”

“No, put me down.”

He kept walking. Of course.

She wriggled against him. “Grady Worth, I’m not going anywhere until we’re married.”

At her declaration, his steps came to an abrupt halt, and he stared straight ahead, his jaw flexing.

She struggled to free herself from his arms, and he finally placed her gently on her feet. She rounded on him. “We are still getting married tonight, aren’t we?”

His jaw was still clamped together stubbornly, giving her the answer.

“Why not?” She could admit she’d been looking forward to his return and to finishing their wedding. When she’d drifted to sleep, the reverend had even still been at the hotel, his loud German accent rising above the others in the kitchen. He’d probably been waiting for Grady’s return just like she had.

Grady heaved a sigh, one laced with weariness.

Maybe he was too tired after all that had happened. “We can keep the ceremony brief if you’re worn out.”

“That’s not it.”

“Then what?”

He rubbed a hand across his jaw. “Listen, Clementine. With Elbert in jail, we don’t need to rush this—”

“We’re not rushing.”

“Yes, we were. To keep you safe.”

“No.” Her heart began to thud hard in protest. He was right, but she didn’t want to admit it, didn’t want to lose him, didn’t want to let him get away now that she had him again.

He blew out a breath. “We’ll go back home to Breckenridge and give ourselves more time to make sure this is what we both want.”

“What if I don’t want more time?” She fisted her hands on her hips and glared at him.

He backed up. “We need it.”

“You need it.”

“We both do.”

“I think I know what I want.” She huffed and stamped her foot. She didn’t care if the move was childish. She was irritated at him. “And I want to marry you. Tonight.”

The dark brown of his eyes was murky with emotions she couldn’t name but which sent strange spirals of heat through her.

He wanted her too. She could see it in his eyes. She’d thought he was ready earlier. So why was he holding back now?

She took a step toward him.

He stiffened.

“Don’t do this, Grady,” she whispered, closing the gap with another small step.

“Do what?” he whispered back.

“Push me away without talking about the issues.” She didn’t know how she could survive losing him again—not after opening up her heart and letting herself love him so quickly.

He seemed to swallow hard.

She reached him and took both of his hands within hers. “You’re the one who told me that having courage is hard but necessary. So have courage, and tell me why you’re pushing me away.”

He stared at her hands surrounding his.

He was going to reject her again. She could feel it. Maybe she’d been wrong to think that their relationship could grow into something stronger. Maybe all they would ever be was friends.

She had the urge to shove past him and run up to her room, where she could be alone with her misery. She started to let go of his hands, but he gripped her fingers tighter.

“Wait.” His voice held a soft plea.

She let her hand sink back into his.

“You’re right. Maybe I am trying to push you away. But only because I don’t want you to feel obligated to go through with the marriage.”

She caressed his hand, unable to stop herself. “I don’t feel obligated any more now than I did earlier.”

He caressed her hand back, his long fingers drawing a line across hers. “The thing is...”

She watched his face, trying to read his expression but unable to see anything but his hesitation.

“The thing is...” He started again, then sighed.

She waited quietly and stroked his fingers once more, even though her insides were churning.

He lifted his eyes and met hers. “I love you, Clementine. I have for a long time.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. “Really?”

“Yes, really. I’ve been wishing for your love in return. And now I want to wait to get married until you have the chance to catch up to me and fall in love with me too.”

A lump formed in her throat, and she was too impatient to push the words out past the swell of emotion. Instead, she threw her arms around him and lifted onto her toes, pressing her lips against his.

She didn’t wait for him to respond to her but instead kissed him deeply with all the desperation and need and love that filled her.

He paused for only a second before snaking his arms around her, pulling her flush, and letting his lips fuse with hers. He opened up the kiss so that it was as wide and deep as the mountain valleys, transporting her there and to the mountain peaks all in one swift move.

This. With his kiss. In his arms. Against his body. This was where she wanted to live the rest of her life. If she never had to go anywhere else, she would die a very happy woman. She could kiss him all day long and all night and never tire of it.

His hand at her back slipped to her hip and tightened there possessively. He hadn’t rejected her. Instead, he’d claimed her with his love. He loved her. In fact, he’d said he’d always loved her.

Just like she’d always loved him . . .

She broke the kiss and then took a rapid step away from him.

His fingers lingered on her waist and slid up her arms, and his eyes were even darker, desire raging there—a desire that threatened to pull her back and keep kissing her.

And oh, she wanted to keep kissing him. And this time she would glide her fingers across his shoulders to his face and there explore the scruff and the tautness of his jaw and maybe plunge her fingers into his hair.

But first . . .

She pressed a hand against his chest to stop him. Beneath her hand, she could feel the rapid beating of his heart. “Grady?”

His gaze dropped to her mouth, and she could almost hear his thoughts about ravaging her lips.

She nearly threw herself back against him to let him do as he wanted with her. But she knew she needed to clarify something first.

“Grady?” she said softly again.

He tore his attention from her mouth and lifted his gaze to hers. The desire and love there took her breath away.

“I want you to know,” she managed a whisper, “I’ve been wishing for your love for a long time too.”

His brows quirked in question.

“What I mean is that I love you already. I might have even fallen in love with you when I first met you years ago.”

“So, are you telling me we’ve both been in love with each other all this time?”

“Yes, but we were too stubborn to admit it.”

A small smile worked at his lips. “Do you think everyone else knew except for us?”

She smiled in return. “Probably.”

He started to angle down, his eyes full of a heat that promised another passionate kiss. His lips barely had time to brush hers before a cough came from the doorway.

She startled and broke away from Grady.

“Mr. Worth, I have been waiting for your return,” came the strong German accent of Reverend Ludwig.

Grady didn’t let Clementine get but a step away before he snagged her arm, stopping her, his eyes still on her mouth.

He wasn’t thinking about kissing her in front of the reverend, was he?

As though hearing her unasked question, he nodded.

She shook her head in response and then turned her attention to the reverend. “You’re here to finish the wedding?”

He frowned and held up Grady’s coat. “I came to return this.”

“And finish the wedding,” she insisted, then before Grady could protest, she dragged him toward the reverend.

She held Grady’s arm, keeping him in place. Not that he was fighting against her, thank goodness. “I think you were just about to have us state our vows.”

Reverend Ludwig’s forehead creased into the beginning of a frown. “We do not have our witness—”

“I’m right here,” Mr. Curley announced as he stepped past the reverend into the room. He was full of soot, his gray hair standing on end and his clothing soaked in places. But he smiled at them anyway. “Let’s get these two married before they combust and cause another fire.” He winked at them.

At the bold insinuation, the flush in her face turned hotter.

Grady cast her a sideways look, his lips turning up into a smirk.

She loved his smirk and everything about him, but she released a huff. “Let’s do this before Grady decides to make me wait any longer.”

The reverend glanced between the two of them for a moment before gathering his book from the table in the hallway and returning. He opened it and cleared his throat. “We are gathered here in the sight of God and of his Church to witness—”

“We don’t need to redo everything.” Grady’s voice was sharp and impatient.

“But we must do things properly—”

“Just the vows,” Grady growled.

The reverend hesitated only a moment longer before skimming down the page of his order of service.

Clementine bent her head to hide her smile. Oh, she loved her man. With him, her life would never be dull. She had no doubt they would clash again plenty of times and have fights and disagree, since they were both so stubborn and strong-willed. But they were both equally determined and passionate. And together, they would face life’s joys and challenges and continue to become better and stronger in the process.

“Will you have this woman to be your wife,” the reverend continued, “to live with her in holy marriage according to the Word of God? Will you love her, comfort her, honor her, and keep her in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, be husband to her as long as you both shall live?”

“I will.” Grady’s voice was strong and certain.

Emotion rose swiftly inside her again. She’d given up on wishing for this moment. And now here she was, marrying the man she loved.

Reverend Ludwig shifted to face her. “Will you have this man to be your husband, to live with him in holy marriage according to the Word of God? Will you love him, comfort him, honor him, obey him, and keep him in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, be wife to him as long as you both shall live?”

“I will.” She spoke without hesitation and smiled up at him as she did so.

His eyes filled with a happiness that spilled over into her.

“I love you.” She couldn’t contain the words.

He bent and touched his lips to hers, showing his love in return with a passion that ignited fresh heat inside her.

“No, no, no.” The reverend’s objection sounded a million miles away. “I have not yet pronounced you man and wife.”

Grady broke the kiss, leaned his forehead against hers, and then grinned. “Go ahead, Reverend. I’m giving you five seconds, then I’m kissing my bride again.”

Mr. Curley chuckled.

The reverend spoke rapidly and loudly, clearly trying to finish the ceremony before Grady carried through with his kiss. “Now that Grady and Clementine have consented together in holy marriage and have given themselves to each other by their solemn pledges, and have declared the same before God and these witnesses, I pronounce them to be husband and wife, in the name of the Vater and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.”

The words were barely out before Grady’s mouth descended on hers again, eagerly.

Joy swelled within her. She’d gotten everything she’d wished for and so much more.