My eyes widened in disbelief. Was this guy for real?
“I don’t even know how to respond to that? Are you really that stuck on yourself that you think any woman would just fall at your feet?”
“They usually do.”
Slowly shaking my head, I let out a gruff laugh. “You seriously need to be kicked in the balls. You have three seconds to turn and leave before my fiancé decides he’s had enough.”
His smile dropped as Ryder stood up and wrapped his arms around my waist. “I’m the fiancé.”
Dr. Russell lifted his hand up and took a step back. “Sorry. I’ll just be um …”
“Leaving?” Ryder said with anger laced in his voice.
With a nod of his head, the good doctor turned and left.
Turning in his arms, I looked up at Ryder. “I swear I didn’t invite him, and any flirting he thought I was doing was done unintentionally.”
Ryder’s lips crashed to mine. Our tongues danced in perfect harmony. My arms wrapped around his neck while I let myself get lost in the man I loved.
When we both needed air, we pulled away just enough for Ryder to rest his head against mine. “I’m ready to go home,” I said.
“Let’s get a taxi and head back to your place.”
Shaking my head, I gazed into his eyes. “No. I want to go home … to Montana.”
The way his eyes lit up had my heart skipping a beat. He pushed a piece of my hair behind my ear while he searched my face. “Ava Moore, do you have any idea how happy you make me?”
My stomach fluttered as butterflies swarmed ins
ide. “I think I do, because you make me just as happy.”
AVA AND I stayed in Austin for another two weeks while we got both of our places packed up and ready to move to Montana. We spent half our time in Austin, and the other half in Llano. I was glad though as it gave me a chance to get to know her family more. And I was pretty sure I was winning the approval of Reed.
“I wish you weren’t leaving,” Courtney said as she set two glasses of tea in front of us.
Ava tilted her head and smiled at her mother. “I know, Mom. But now that we’ve gotten everything settled, it’s time.”
She chewed on her lip. “But I thought you weren’t going to be moving back to Montana until a few months into the new year. Why are you both rushing up there?”
I cleared my throat and glanced over to Reed who smiled and replied, “It just makes sense to make the move now so we can get settled in.”
“And y’all will be living in Helena? Not on the ranch?”
“No, we’ll be at the ranch for a few months. Ryder and I haven’t really decided on where we’ll live. The focus is on the wedding.”
Reed pushed a breath out. “And you’re sure you both want to do this? You don’t think it’s too soon?”
Ava reached for my hand and laced her fingers with mine. “Dad, when you first realized Mom was the one, didn’t you want to start your life right then and there? If I remember correctly, your wedding was kind of last minute.”
“We had our reasons,” Reed said.
“And we have ours.”
“I know, but why not make it for next year?” Reed said with a hopeful expression.
“Ugh, Daddy! Are we really going to argue about this when I’m fixin’ to leave for the airport?”
He pushed off the counter and held his hand out for her. “No. You’re right. This is your wedding and you do it how you want.”