“I’m sorry you ever got that impression,” said Liam. “I was confused. And stupid. And I didn’t see the value in what was right in front of me.”
She laughed, snorting toward the end. “Oh, I think you did. And I think that I’m so valuable it scared you a little.”
“Sounds right to me.”
Mina leaned in and kissed him, her body melting into his. Home, she thought, the word ringing like a clear bell in her mind. Home. This is home. And home meant that you could let your guard down—you could let people help. You didn’t have to carry every burden alone. She’d believed that for so long, and it just wasn’t true. Liam kissed her back. His lips were tender on hers at first, searching, but after a moment she opened her mouth for him, her self-control falling away like a discarded T-shirt. She launched herself onto him, wrapping her legs around his waist, and Liam made a sound low in his throat. “This is supposed to be a romantic proposal, Mina.”
“This is very romantic. Would it be more romantic if—if I said I was sorry for trying to push you away?”
“You just jumped on me,” he said wryly. “If you’re trying to push me away, you’re doing it wrong.”
She slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him in close. Nothing was sexier than the way he held her up so effortlessly, his arms cupping her ass. Nothing was sexier than the way he looked at her, those green eyes on fire. And nothing was sexier than a man who wanted her as much as Liam did. She saw it there in his eyes and felt it in his touch, and relief flew through her like a bird aiming for the sky. She didn’t have to wait for the baby to arrive to have a family. He was right here, holding her up. She kissed him harder, hotter, and he backed her up so that he could perch her on the edge of the reception counter. Liam stroked her face, looking at her like he would never let her go again. “Listen,” he said, “the lodge isn’t done yet. It still needs renovations. There are no beds.”
She gave him her wickedest grin. “Who needs a bed?”
Epilogue
Liam’s youngest brother, Tucker, looked him up and down as if he was looking in a mirror that had somehow surprised him. The two brothers stood at the front of the church, a few feet from the altar, as the last of the wedding guests filtered in. “I can’t believe it,” he said wonderingly. “You’re so…happy. With domesticity. You’re wearing a tux.”
“Hate to break it to you, but so are you, Tuck.” Liam couldn’t care less about his brother’s good-natured ribbing. He was happy with domesticity. Happier than he’d ever been. It had been a shock to him, too. And then it had just become his real life. “Thanks for going to all the trouble for my wedding day.”
“Okay. Becca and Joey are all set.” Cade joined them from the side aisle of the church, taking his place with utter confidence. “Pianist is going to start playing any minute.” He adjusted the pocket square on Liam’s suit and stepped back. “There. Good.”
Liam had been in front of a crowd a hundred times in his life, but when he looked out over the church in downtown Benton Ridge, his gut turned over. All these people were about to witness what seemed like an incredibly intimate ceremony. His family, coming together. He’d leave here as a husband, with his wife. A bunch of his old rodeo buddies had come into town for the occasion, along with several Wells cousins and relatives. Their voices echoed from the ceiling of the church, the soft murmur providing a soothing background to the waiting and waiting and waiting that was the morning of his wedding. They’d had photos taken what seemed like a century ago. All Liam wanted was for Mina to walk down the aisle so he could take her in his arms. He could not kiss her right away, like he truly wanted. That would spoil the ceremony. And the ceremony mattered a lot to Mina. It mattered to him, too.
“Why did you wait so long?” Tucker asked as the three brothers arranged themselves in a neat row. “To marry her.”
“Mina didn’t want to have the ceremony while she was pregnant. I told her she looked gorgeous every single day, but she still didn’t want the dress to be so…belly focused.”
“Now Weston can be here, though, so that’s cool.” Tucker nodded. “That’s really cool.”
“I’m glad you approve. Now I can finally go forward without any cold feet.”
“I also give you my blessing, Liam,” said Cade. “In case you wanted it.”
“I’m good,” teased Liam. “I’ve got enough blessings to last a lifetime.” He’d meant it as a joke, but there was more than a little truth to it. He had Mina, and he had his son, Weston. Weston Wells was, without a doubt, the most impressive person on the planet. Liam had fancied himself quite the big man during his days in the rodeo, but Weston—well. He could hold his head up pretty well already. Liam couldn’t stop telling people about it. He pressed his lips together to keep himself from bragging to his own brothers, who had already heard it all more than once.
“I’m thinking about sticking around for a while,” Tucker announced. Liam watched the pianist make her way up the side aisle and take her seat. “You guys seem like you’ve got it together. You seem…happy.”
“We are happy,” said Liam. “I thought you liked being out on the road.”
“Living in a suitcase is fun for a while,” Tucker answered. “But I’m getting a little sick of it. All the packing,
