It seemed as if the six months she’d spent here with Cade had flown by—with the two of them growing closer every day. She’d also grown to love Montana and, though she missed her friends, she had gained so much more—a family to call her own, and soon, even more would be coming their way.
She wrapped her arms around her middle and sighed.
Working the ranch with the Brodys had given her the sense of peace and belonging she’d been looking for her whole life. The animals were a balm to her tattered spirit after she’d first arrived and had helped her overcome the trauma that she’d left behind. Learning to ride horseback and to care for the horses had soothed her, but Cade’s ever-present love and affection had healed her heart.
Not that she’d forgotten what had happened, but she no longer jumped when someone spoke or touched her unexpectedly, nor did she have nightmares anymore. Cade’s arms seemed to keep those at bay and his touch—she shivered in anticipation of their honeymoon, thankful that her aversion to sex had worn off the night Cade proposed. Ever since, she couldn’t seem to get enough of him. It was as if she needed to make up for lost time.
She and Cade hadn’t had much when they first came to the ranch, but Cord had done much better running it than he’d let on when he visited her place a little over seven months ago. With Cade working beside him now, the business was thriving like never before. She didn’t know all the specifics, just that the brothers had come to an agreement about their past and the ranch that had left her and Cade in much better financial circumstances than when they’d arrived. They weren’t billionaires or anything, but they were very well off. She just hoped Cade hadn’t gone crazy with the honeymoon—not that she would complain. As long as he was with her, she didn’t care where they went. But that didn’t stop her from asking or joking with him about it as she had several times over the last two months. She’d been anxious to go somewhere far off and tropical, but at the same time, she’d also wanted to stay right where they were.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Cade had teased when she brought it up again two nights ago. They’d just finished making love, a rousing round of kissing and connection that had left them both breathless and satiated.
“Not fair,” she’d whined, playfully tugging on his chest hair.
“Ow!” He flattened her fingers against his chest with his hand and gave her a faux-stern stare. “Not nice.”
“But it’s my honeymoon, too,” she’d pouted, continuing the play.
“And you’ll love it.” He squeezed her hand.
“Are you sure?”
He glanced down at her with a raised eyebrow. “You mean I’m not enough for you?”
She huffed out a breath and slapped his chest lightly. “Of course, you are, but you haven’t told me anything about it. I’m…curious.”
A slow grin spread across his face and he lightly bopped the end of her nose with his index finger. “You, my curious little cat, will have to wait.”
“Are we going to Hawaii?”
He rolled his eyes.
“The Bahamas?”
Again with the eye roll.
“Europe?”
He gazed at her intently, something like worry wrinkling his brow. “Is that what you want? To jet around the world?”
Her chest tightened at his expression. “No, but someday I’d like to see the world.”
His arms had tightened around her. “Me, too.”
Addie sighed as she ran her hand over her fancy up-do, smoothing her hair and thinking back on that wonderful night, wishing now that time would speed up just a little bit. Enough to get things rolling so she could see Cade again.
I missed you last night, she thought suddenly, hugging herself. They’d both agreed to the one night apart, some old tradition that seemed right for them. But all she’d been able to think about was how he’d felt as she’d sprawled against his side the night before with one finger swirling through the light dusting of brown hair on his work-hardened chest. That memory—and the realization that in one day they’d never be apart again—had helped her find rest.
Now, as she waited for the word to exit the house and walk down the flower-lined aisle, she couldn’t help but be thankful for Cade and his patience. She’d come so close to losing him and now she was looking at a lifetime of happiness with the man she loved.
Veta appeared at the glass door and hurried in with Lana and Helga right behind her. The sisters wore matching pale-blue dresses that shimmered in the light and reminded Addie of Cade’s eyes.
“It’s time,” Veta said as she handed Addie her bouquet of mums, daisies, and white lilies.
Addie’s heart stuttered as they stepped outside and went to where Ivan waited behind the landscaped brush that hid them from view until they were ready to walk down the aisle.
Zack’s mother Janice stood beside Jorje and smiled, her dark eyes shining. “Addie, dear, you look beautiful.”
Addie smiled at the compliment, but she was anxious to see Cade. Her heart longed for him, swelling with love and need at just the thought of seeing him again.
Damn, she scolded herself and her libido, it’s only been a few hours. Calm down.
But her heart still beat too fast and her skin warmed, overly sensitive, and yearning for his touch. Her fingers practically itched to touch him, and her legs trembled with the desire to run to where she knew he’d be waiting with open arms.
When the Wedding March began to play a moment after they arrived, her heart gave a hard thump and butterflies took flight in her belly. “Soon,” she muttered to herself. “Soon…”
“All right,” Janice said as she quickly got everyone in line. “Time to get going. Lana,” she pointed at the young woman who had her arm tucked into Jorje’s crooked elbow—he’d arrived two days ago in Cade’s
