He’d even grown used to having his mother and stepsiblings around, and he liked the way their family had grown. All the generations together on the Flying W—and Thorn Hill—meant there never was a dull moment and always someone to help.
“One dance,” Olivia said when he returned to the kitchen and took her hand.
He didn’t answer but tugged her gently out to the dance floor and took her in his arms, swaying slowly despite the upbeat tempo of the song.
“This is nice,” Olivia admitted a few minutes later. “We need to do this more often.”
“I’m down for that,” Noah said. “Anytime.”
Olivia breathed in the familiar scent of her husband and was reminded how once upon a time she wouldn’t have dreamed of looking to a man for comfort or support. Now she took Noah’s presence in her life for granted. He’d pledged himself to her, and Noah was a man of his word.
He was so strong and determined. A rock she could anchor herself to when life seemed out of control. He was a good father. A wonderful husband. Knowing he’d always be there meant she could let go of her worries and concentrate on all the good in her life.
Last year when she’d finished her library degree, Noah couldn’t stop talking about it to everyone they knew. This year, when Marta Langly stepped into a supporting role and Olivia had been given the head librarian position at the Chance Creek public library, she thought he’d burst with pride.
Olivia could hardly believe she’d made it this far, but as soon as she really buckled down, she found her studies suited her far better than she’d expected, and now she looked forward to entering her library early every morning, turning on the lights, getting ready for each new day, surrounded by the books she so loved.
And then there was William, the light of her life. Her precious little tow-haired boy. She laughed to think she and Noah had worried at all about how they could balance work and parenting. With so many couples on the ranch—and so many friends in town—childcare was the least of their worries. They hadn’t decided whether to expand their family yet, but Olivia thought they might.
She tilted her head back and kissed Noah on the underside of his chin. He chuckled, bent down and gave her a proper kiss.
“I should go find William. Last I saw him, Virginia was holding him,” Noah said.
“We’d better grab some dessert first,” Olivia said, nodding to indicate the crowd that had gathered around the trays of food.
“I’ve got all the sweet stuff I need right here.” Noah growled playfully against her neck. “Actually, Camila already brought me a plate.”
“I’d better catch up then.” But she stayed where she was a moment longer. “Mmm, that feels good, but I’ve got work to do, and you’ve got a baby to find.”
“Later?” he asked and finally stepped back.
“Definitely.”
“It’s been a good year, hasn’t it?” Maya said, picking a beautiful berry tart off Lance’s plate of desserts.
“It has,” he agreed. They were crowded around a tiny café table with Liam and Tory, but he didn’t mind the squeeze. It had been a fun night, and he and Maya had danced already to a number of songs, shaking off all the long days and nights that had gotten them so much closer to their goals.
“What do you think about grad school?” Tory asked.
“It’s hard, but we’re taking it nice and slow,” Lance said, “so it’s not as intense as finishing our undergrad degrees, right, Maya?”
“That’s how I feel, too. The work goes deeper, but we’re taking it more slowly. I think we’ve got our rhythm down.”
Lance knew what she meant; between chores at the ranches, school, studying and working at the Chance Creek history museum, they kept awfully busy.
“Any thoughts about starting a family?” Tory patted her belly, which had just begun to swell.
“Not until we finish grad school,” Lance said, although he had to admit it was getting harder—for him at least—to put it off. His siblings were starting families. They would be among the last to get to that part of life at this rate.
“It would be a lot to take on.” Tory nodded. “Glad I finished law school before we got pregnant.” She smiled at Liam.
“It was worth the wait, but I’m getting impatient to see the baby,” Liam said, resting a hand on Tory’s thigh.
“We’re looking forward to having children, too,” Maya said, “but I’m enjoying this part. Getting to be with Lance, going to school and working together. We make a good team.”
“That we do.” Lance was still awed by the fact he had this woman by his side, and he knew when they did start their family, it would only increase his satisfaction with his life. Once, he’d struggled to know where his place was in this town, but now he felt he inhabited it completely. His work on the ranch, his schooling, his care for the historical museum—it was intoxicating to feel like he had so much to give to his community.
He’d never expected to feel so solid about his ranch and his family, either. The Coopers had taken a new place in Chance Creek—had settled squarely into the number of families who gave the town its structure and its strength, and that made him prouder than he had words to express.
He took Maya’s hand. “You’re still the best thing that ever happened to me. Always will be.”
Maya smiled back at him. “Can’t wait to see what happens next.”
Liam surged to his feet. “You two are sappy enough to make a man sick. Come on, Tory, let’s dance.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Thought they’d never leave,” Lance
