Leaning against the barn, I watched as Tessa rode up the path. Her hair blew in the breeze, and a wide smile stretched across her face. We’d been married eight months, and seeing her still made my heart pound faster.
Parker slapped my shoulder. “I’ll let you help her down. Then I’ll take care of Sprinkles.”
“Thanks.” I met Tessa just outside the corral. “Hello, gorgeous.”
Her cheeks, still flushed from riding, changed from pink to red. “Hiya, cowboy.” She dismounted and wrapped her arms around me. “I thought you’d be busy until later.”
“You know what today is?” I picked her up, cradling her in my arms.
“Hmm. Monday?” She chewed her bottom lip. “Did I forget something important?”
“One year ago today, I asked you out, and you turned me down.” I’d marked the date in my calendar shortly after she’d decided to risk being more than friends.
Her eyes widened. “Garrett!”
Chuckling, I carried her to the truck. “If you have time, I was hoping you’d spend the rest of the day with me.”
“Now that I know what day it is, I can’t exactly say no. Not that I would anyway.” She grinned. “What do you have planned?”
“You’ll see.” I set her in the passenger seat.
She grabbed my shirt. “Do I need to change clothes?”
“You’ll see.” I loved watching her anticipation mount.
As I pulled away from the barn, I clasped her hand. “I ran into town this morning and bumped into someone at the feed store.”
“Okay?”
“I’d never met him before, but he sure was eager to meet me. Went on about how he’d been friends with you years ago.” I glanced at her to catch her reaction.
“Skeeter?” Panic flashed in her eyes.
“I didn’t hurt him.” That man’s stupidity was why I’d gotten my happily ever after. “I’m glad you didn’t end up with that guy.” I winked. “For lots of reasons.”
Her brown eyes twinkled. “Me too.”
With her, the promises I’d made at the wedding—for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health—were easy to say. I’d seen her character, and there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her. She made me a better man. And she made me very, very happy.
I squeezed her hand as I turned out of the ranch. “They broke ground on the new cabins today. I hope this helps us hang on to some of these ranch hands.”
“You can’t blame them for falling in love.” She danced her eyebrows. “It happens to the best of us.”
“Right when we least expect it.” Chuckling, I drove up to our hilltop. “The crew isn’t working today, but I’ve been assured the house will be ready by Thanksgiving.”
The crew wasn’t working today because I’d requested the house be empty for my little surprise.
She pressed a hand to her chest. “I’m so excited.”
“And while the house isn’t quite finished, it’s close enough for us to celebrate you turning me down with a soak in the hot tub.”
“You make it sound horrible.”
“I thought you liked the hot tub.” I opened her door.
“Not as much as I like you.” She fluttered her eyelashes.
“Well played.” I lifted a small overnight bag out of the back seat. “You will need to change clothes . . . to what’s in here.”
She started to open the bag.
“No peeking. Just go change.” I pushed open the front door. “But if you want to walk around and see the progress first, I’m fine with that.”
Hand in hand, we wandered through the house, like we’d done at least once a week for the last several months. Tessa talked about where she wanted to put furniture, and I drank in her smile. My opinions on furniture placement wouldn’t fill one page. Whatever she wanted was fine with me.
She tugged me to the patio door in the master bedroom. “Having a private patio out here is going to be awesome. I love that we decided to have the hot tub right outside our bedroom.”
“Just like at the getaway house. Except this patio is only accessible from this room.”
“Perfect. I love how the house is coming along. We should go pick out a table for the kitchen soon.”
“We should.” I pulled her close. “Why don’t you change in here? Then I’ll unveil the next part of my plan.” I let my hands wander on her back and down over her jeans. “I’m thankful that our story didn’t end in the doughnut shop that day.”
Her eyes misted as she nodded.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead before walking toward the door. “I hope you like what I bought.”
The zipper slid open, and she gasped. “It’s so tiny!”
Anticipating how she’d look in that new bikini, I ran up to the rooftop patio. On the last few tours of the house, I’d distracted her from coming up here.
Everything was ready. The wine was chilled and waiting within reach. The hot tub was bubbling. And the weather was perfect.
It wasn’t as cold as last year, and I had no complaints about that.
After swapping my jeans and shirt for a swimsuit, I ran back downstairs and knocked on the bedroom door. “Did it fit?”
Laughter rang out. “See for yourself.”
Grinning, I strolled into the room and was surprised to find her wearing the fuzzy robe. And it was tied closed. “Tease.”
With the robe still closed, she grinned as she spun in a circle with her arms spread out. “It fits. Are you going to turn on the hot tub?”
“Nope. Come with me.” I looped my pinkie around hers and led her through the house and up to the door that led out to the rooftop patio. “Close your eyes.”
She squeezed them closed, then slapped a hand over her eyes for good measure. “They’re closed.”
I pushed open the door and guided her outside. “Have a look.”
“Oh, wow!” Her smile widened as she scanned the patio. “I absolutely love the idea of having a hot tub on the rooftop patio. And you bought furniture.” She stepped up to the porch rail. “The view is incredible, and it’s so private.” She slipped the robe off her shoulders and let it fall. “This was a fabulous idea.”
“It was your idea. You mentioned it the first time I brought you up here.” I traced her curves with my fingertips. “This string bikini was also a fabulous idea.”
She turned around, her dark hair brushing her shoulders. “Let’s not stay in the hot tub long.”
“Fine with me.” I stepped into the bubbling water, then held her hand as she joined me. “This is where I make a joke about pulling a few strings.”
Laughing, she nestled into my lap. “I have no objections.” She pressed a hand to my chest, then trailed her fingers across my skin. “And so far, I like your plan for the day.”
“This is only just the beginning. Wine?”
Chewing her lip, she shook her head. “No thanks.”
“Are you sure? Normally you . . .” A lightbulb exploded inside my head. “Are you . . .”
Tessa smiled. “Surprise.”
Thank you for reading Two Risks I’d Never Take Again! This is the last book in the series, but the characters might show up in some of my other series. And if you’re curious about Nico and Layla, find out their story in the novella, One Whopper of a Love Story.
Keep Reading for a BONUS epilogue!