“A picnic!”
My smile faltered for one second, before I flashed it again. “A picnic?”
“Yep. Tonight under the stars.”
My heart jumped to my throat. Jase was such a romantic. “I love that idea!”
Lifting his hand he pushed a piece of hair behind my ear. “Do you remember our first date in the back of my truck?”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes and smiled. His face was beautiful and for a moment, it felt like the ground moved. When he opened them again, my heart dropped at the site of the tears pooling in those beautiful baby blues.
“I held you in my arms right here in this spot as I looked up at a falling star.”
I became aware of every single sound. My breaths . . . Jase’s . . . the sound of the wind blowing the wind chimes outside, and even the woodpecker searching for his lunch.
My hands rested on his broad chest as I found the words to speak. “What did you wish for?”
I’ll never forget the look in his eyes as he slowly shook his head and gazed down at me with so much love I could feel it in the room.
“For a little girl.” He dropped his hand and slid it behind my back, pulling me in closer to him. “But don’t worry sweetness, you’ll always be my number one girl.”
Laughing, I reached up on my toes and kissed the man I loved.
“I love you, Jase Morris.”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “And I love you, Taylor Morris. Now come on.”
Reaching for my hand, he laced his fingers in mine and pulled me to our bedroom. “I’m making love to you until the sun goes down and the stars come out.”
I reached up and pinched myself.
Nope. Not dreaming.
Layton
Six Years Later
Whitley sat in my lap as we watched the kids playing in the pool. I couldn’t help but think what a lucky man I was to have the woman I loved in my arms and my family surrounding me.
Liza splashed around in the pool with her daughter, Corinne.
“I’d give anything to have an ounce of that energy,” Courtney said with a chuckle.
Agreeing with her, Reed wrapped his arms around Courtney while we all gazed out over the beautiful site in front of us. Nothing made me happier than all of us being together like this.
“I cannot believe how fast they are growing up,” Whitley said with a sigh.
My stomach felt like a rock. I’d give anything to freeze time.
“Dad!” Nickolas yelled. “Can I teach Lacy how to cannonball?”
Walker stood at the edge of the pool. “You mean like this?” He jumped and tucked his legs in and hit the water hard. Splashing everyone around the pool.
“Walker Moore! You got my Kindle wet!” Ava yelled out.
Courtney and Reed were so happy to have Ava and Ryder in town. They had been here almost two weeks and would be leaving tomorrow to head back up to Montana, and I knew it was killing both of them to have them so far away. I couldn’t imagine having Liza and Jase in another state.