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  He took a deep breath. “But mostly, my darling, it’s because when I’m with you, I’m a better man. You bring out the best version of me. Something no one else ever has. But you challenge me too. Push me out of my comfort zone. Give me what I need even if it hurts. Because there is no growth without growing pains.”

  “We’ve had a few of those.”

  “And I’m sure we’ll have them again as we navigate our life together. Without turbulence we can’t appreciate the clear skies.”

  “Pretty poetic for a businessman.”

  “Rancher,” he corrected, and kissed her again. And for the first time in his life, Ridge Lockhart felt well and truly loved.

  Kaia listened to the humming in her head, kneaded the beads of her necklace between her finger and thumb, and watched the sunrise brighten through her window. They’d made love all night long and the humming had not stopped.

  There was, she noted, a lulling quality to the hum. It was not the annoying ring of tinnitus. But if she were to tell other people about the humming, they would assume it was something unpleasant that she needed to get rid of. They would not understand how the hum was now an integral part of who she was and clear-cut evidence of her true nature.

  Love.

  Granny Blue understood. But she was the only one.

  She glanced over at the man in her bed, smiled wide. He was lying on his belly, arms flung out over his head, legs spread. He looked like a starfish, hogging the bed, her big man. She leaned over, pressed her lips to his bare back.

  Immediately, he rolled over like a crocodile lying in wait for prey, grabbed her in his arms, flipped her onto her back and buried her in kisses. She giggled so hard that she couldn’t catch her breath. “No … stop … wait. I … hafta … breathe.”

  He pulled back, but just barely. His big body trapping hers beneath him. His eyes were bright and alert. His dark hair was mussed and a cowlick standing up in back.

  She inhaled sharply, overwhelmed by the miraculous beauty of him.

  He didn’t say anything, allowed her to breathe, and then he folded her gently against his hard-muscled chest and kissed her again.

  And boy, what a kiss!

  Deep, hot, sensual. His tongue slipped between her teeth, filled her mouth, hungry, searching. No preamble. No good morning. Straight to the point.

  Here we go!

  His body radiated heat and strength and divineness. The sheets smelled of him, all leather and cardamom and bay rum and Ridge.

  That’s when she registered he was clearly turned on.

  She pressed against his erection, kissing him harder, happy, so very happy to be in his arms. She let her eyes flutter closed, reached her hands up to thread her fingers through his hair, tugging his head lower. All stray thoughts slipped away and the only awareness she had was of his hands, his mouth, his body, his masculine heat.

  So much heat churning between them.

  His palm swept underneath the sleep shirt she’d put on during the night when she’d gotten chilled, pushed it up over her belly.

  Their mouths were glued. Lips seared. Tongues fused.

  “Hang on.” Panting, she wrenched her mouth from his. “We need to talk.”

  “Now, Kaia?” He gasped. “I want you so bad. Need you.” He buried his face against her neck. Nibbled. Licked.

  She shivered. Closed her eyes against the onslaught of glorious sensation. God, she needed him too!

  Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist, clung tightly to his neck. He fumbled blindly on the nightstand. Found what he was looking for.

  Box of condoms.

  Foil package.

  He covered himself, kissed her again. And for the fourth time since he’d come home to her, they made love.

  Afterward, they lay on top of the blanket, limbs entwined, breathing ragged and sated. Kaia slipped her palm into his, and he interlaced their fingers.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “Yes what?” he asked, sounding sleep and sex-befuddled.

  “Yes, you big lug, I’ll marry you.”

  “Really?” He sat up in bed, glee in his eyes, looking happier than she’d ever seen him look. “Oh Kaia.” His voice clotted. “You’ve made me the happiest man alive.”

  Kaia sat up beside him. “What was that?”

  “What—?”

  “Shh, shh.” She waved a hand. Heard it then, plain as day.

  The sound of a kitten mewling.

  “Dart!” he said.

  And they shot out of bed, dashed to the back door, opened it up to find Dart on the porch blinking up at them.

  “You’re back!” Kaia exclaimed, overjoyed. She scooped the cat to her chest, cradled him against her heart. “Will you look at this? Two prodigals returned at the same time.”

  Ridge hugged her against him as she hugged the cat, Buddy and Bess dancing around them.

  “I guess you were wrong.” She giggled. “Once a runner, not always a runner. I guess this means you’re part of the family now.”

  “You talking to me or the cat?”

  “Both.” She grinned at him as Dart crawled up her arm to lick her face. “But I hope you don’t mind having a few pets in your life.”

  “Sweetheart, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  And when he took Dart from her, set the kitten on the ground, drew Kaia into his arms, and kissed her again, all she could hear was the happy humming of their soul mate hearts.

  Epilogue

  Like a blast from her past, Kaia dove into the water, lithe as a fish. No, she was not in Balmorhea.

  She was swimming in the beautiful water feature Ridge had made for her at his house in the middle of the desert. A sweet oasis for his water nymph as he loved to call her. The pool was eight feet at its deepest spot, and shaded by a long wooden pergola. There was a curved slide and a diving board and a cascading waterfall.

  Ridge had created a water-land paradise.

  Tonight, they were having a blowout party to celebrate the ending of one chapter and the beginning of another. For the past year, as Kaia had finished her DVM, Ridge had been shuttling back and forth from Beijing to Calgary to Cupid and back again, winding up his business dealings as he turned the keys of Lockhart Enterprises over to Lui Yan.

  The guests were due to arrive at six, but it was only four.

  Ridge would be home soon. He’d called that morning to tell her he was on his way back from Calgary for the final time. The offices were now officially closed. The ink was dry on his deal with Duke. Ridge was now a rancher and proud owner of the Silver Feather Ranch.

  At the moment, she was home alone, well except for Dart and Buddy and Bess, who were all napping in the air conditioning, and the place was quiet.

  She got out of the water, wrapped Ridge’s white terry cloth bathrobe around her. It was the same bathrobe she’d worn the first night they’d made love. The night he’d stirred her to untold heights. The night she knew she’d mated with the other half of her soul.

  Dropping into the lawn chair, she sighed happily and pulled off her swim cap, shook out her hair. She stretched her legs out in front of her, admired her freshly painted toes. She’d gotten a pedicure in honor of Ridge’s homecoming. His favorite color. Candy apple red.

  She got up and went into the house, double-checking the provisions, making sure she had everything she needed for the party. Food. Drink. Music. She was ready. Since it was a pool party, she didn’t even have to change. Just put on a cover-up over her swimsuit.

  The sound of a plane buzzed overhead. Ridge was home!

  She raced out the front door, put her palm to her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun as she watched his plane touch down. Fifteen minutes later, his ATV came into view, her handsome husband astride.

  He pulled up to the house in a cloud of dust, a stunning smile on his face. “Do you have any idea just how gorgeous you look?”

  She ran to him, giggling.

  He held his arms open, and when she was close en
ough, he scooped her up and spun her in a circle, pressed his face to her hair. “God, how I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too.” She nuzzled his neck.

  “How ’bout a kiss.” He puckered up.

  “Any time, any place.” She kissed his lips that tasted of peppermint. The instant their mouths touched the humming in her head bloomed, swelled.

  Ah. Song of the Soul Mate. Telling her the thrill of kissing her husband was meant to be. It would not fade.

  They’d gotten married at the cowboy chapel just as Archer and Casey had. Where the girlhood dreams she’d doodled in her notebook all those years ago had come true and she became Kaia Lockhart.

  Ember had been her maid of honor. Aria, Casey, and Tara her bridesmaids.

  They used Atticus as ring bearer. He had experience. Luckily, the boy had learned not to walk behind horses, and no one got kicked this time. Archer served as Ridge’s best man, of course. His brothers were groomsmen. Her mother cried. Granny Blue whispered, “The song is never wrong.” Duke was on his best behavior. Kaia doubted it would always be smooth sailing with her father-in-law, but the man loved animals as much as she did.

  “When are the guests supposed to be here?” Ridge murmured, his lips pressed against her throat. “Do we have time to get you out of that swimming suit and into my bed?”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down for another kiss, dreaming of the delights awaiting in their bedroom.

  But the sound of the glass patio door sliding open interrupted them.

  “Lookee here, they’re at it again,” Aria said, as her three sisters traipsed into the kitchen, carrying food and drink. “Sappy time.”

  “Don’t be jealous,” Ember said. “Your turn will come.”

  “Frequent kissing makes for the best marriages.” Tara nodded.

  “How would you know?” Aria asked. “You’ve never been married.”

  “Mom and Dad still kiss like that.” Tara put a platter of her famous deviled eggs in the fridge.

  “Bodes well for us.” Ember settled a tray of crudités onto the kitchen counter.

  “Touché.” Aria swiped a celery stick.

  Ember batted Aria away from the food. “Get out of that.”

  “So much for getting you out of that swimsuit,” Ridge muttered.

  “Later,” Kaia whispered. “Anticipation is the most underrated form of foreplay.”

  “Oh,” Tara said. “Are we interrupting Ridge’s welcome home?”

  “No, no,” Kaia said, at the same time Ridge said, “Yes, yes.”

  “Should we go?” Aria pointed a thumb over her shoulder at the back door.

  “I told you we shouldn’t have shown up so early,” Ember grumbled, and elbowed Aria.

  “You’re already here,” Ridge said good-naturedly.

  “The pool is amazing, by the way,” Ember said, turning to peer out the door at the water.

  “Why is that bottle of wine unopened?” Aria asked reaching for the merlot and a corkscrew. “It’s almost five. Let’s get this party started.”

  “None for me, thank you,” Kaia said.

  “Aww, c’mon,” Tara said. “I know you’re not much of a drinker, but just one glass. We’re celebrating.”

  “I can’t.” Kaia smiled shyly and ducked her head.

  “Omigod!” Ember squealed. “You’re preggers?”

  “Kaia?” The joy in Ridge’s voice was unmistakable.

  She turned to her husband, nodded. “I took three pregnancy tests while you were gone, just to make sure, but it looks like you’re going to be a daddy.”

  His color paled and he swayed on his feet.

  “Quick,” Aria said. “Get him sitting before he passes out.”

  Tara was already on it, guiding Ridge down into a kitchen chair.

  “This is so wonderful,” Ember said. “You and Casey both expecting at the same time.”

  “A baby?” Ridge said. “You and me?”

  “Well”—Kaia smiled—“I’m certainly not having a baby with anyone else.”

  “That is … I’m … you are …” Ridge couldn’t seem to find the words. But that was okay. Kaia knew what was in his heart. Happiness radiated off him in waves.

  “Spit it out, man.” Aria danced around the room. “Tell her what you’re feeling.”

  Ridge’s eyes drilled into Kaia’s. He patted his knee. “Come here.”

  Heart pounding, she went to him.

  He pulled her into his lap. Smothered her with kisses. “I love you,” he said with each kiss. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”

  The old familiar humming started the second his lips touched her, rising with each kiss, growing, surging until every cell in her body throbbed to the beat of their love.

  Then he dipped his head and kissed her belly through her swimsuit, sending vibrations swirling through the very core of her.

  “Dear, sweet Kaia,” he breathed. “You’ve made me the happiest man on the face of the earth.”

  “You’re not afraid?” she whispered.

  “I’m freaking terrified.” He laughed. “But I’m in this with you one hundred percent.”

  Tears pressed against the back of her eyes at the look of absolute joy on Ridge’s face. He wasn’t going to run and hide behind work.

  The back door opened, and Kaia’s parents came in with Archer, Casey, and Granny Blue.

  “We’re having a baby!” Aria announced.

  “What?” Mom exclaimed. “Who?”

  “Ridge and Kaia.”

  “When?”

  “In about seven and a half months,” Kaia confirmed.

  Ridge pressed his forehead to hers, stared deeply into her eyes. “This kid is going to be the luckiest baby on the face of the earth.”

  As she sat in the shelter of her man’s arms surrounded by her family, the seams of her heart swelled to bursting. And she knew with absolute certainty they were going to live happily-ever-after.

  Acknowledgments

  I must acknowledge the amazing team at HarperCollins. From the editors to sales and marketing, to the art department and the fabulous publicity team. They are the best in the business. I wouldn’t have the career that I do without them.

  An Excerpt from Cowboy, It’s Cold Outside

  Here is a sneak peek at

  New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde’s

  COWBOY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE

  Arriving Christmas 2017 only from Avon Books.

  Chapter 1

  Backstage at the one-hundred-forty-year-old Twilight Playhouse, Paige MacGregor wriggled into her skimpy Santa Baby costume, finger-pinching red Lyrca leggings up around her waist, flashing her doughy-white belly to the full-length mirror, and quite possibly the ghost of John Wilkes Booth, and swore off Christmas cookies forever.

  “Sorry, John,” she apologized. “But if you don’t want to see the sad evidence of my total lack of self-control, you shouldn’t haunt theatres.”

  She was the first of the six Santa’s helpers to arrive, and the quiet of the old limestone building offered momentary respite from the extravagant Dickensian hullabaloo ruling the town square.

  At the narrow oval window overlooking the flat roof of Perk’s Coffee Shop next door, Earl Pringle’s pet crow, Poe, pecked at the pane, tap, tap, tap, and glowered with murderous intent, but then again Poe was a moody cuss.

  He was tiny for a crow, barely larger than a grackle, but he cocked his shoulders and flared his wings as if trying to convince her he was indeed a ferocious raven.

  She pretended to startle because she knew what it was like to be on the short side, and everyone needed an ego boost now and again, even small crows trying to prove worthy of poetic names.

  Poe gave a “caw,” satisfied that he’d scared her, and flew away to find new town folk to terrorize.

  She moved to the window clouded with decades of dirt and grime, called, “Go forth and nevermore.”

  Hey, were those snowflakes?r />
  Her obsessive-compulsive gene wished for Windex and a cleaning rag, but her curiosity gene overrode it. She undid the rusty latch, and with some effort, shoved open the window for a better look at the street below teaming with tourists. The smell of dark roast and yeasty pastries teased her nose, and her mouth watered.

  No. No more sweet treats.

  Behind the theatre and the town square, Lake Twilight stretched sapphire blue, a dazzling jewel in Hood County’s crown. If she leaned out the window and craned her neck, she could just make out her Uncle Floyd’s houseboat where she was crashing for the holidays and/or until she got her life straightened out.

  Delicate white flakes coasted silently from the sky, sprinkling trees, roofs, cars, and heads of passersby. Her West Texas heart leaped joyously.

  She’d grown up in the desert surrounded by oil and sand, far away from water and snow. And she was thrilled by the white stuff here in North Central Texas, even though she knew the ground was too warm for it to stick. For this one spectacular moment, Twilight looked like a shaken snow globe.

  She took a deep breath, savored the sight for as long as she dared, then reluctantly, pulled back inside and shut the window.

  With a dreamy sigh, she kicked off her Skechers, and plunked down onto the creaky rocking chair, the white paint distressed dingy and chipped by advanced age and a vast collection of butts.

  Zipped herself into knee-length, black-vinyl, spiked-heel boots that were part of her sexy costume. Topped her chestnut, chin-length bob with a green elf hat and examined the results in the mirror.

  Turned sideways, sucked in her gut.

  “What do you think, John? Give it to me straight. I know I’m no Eartha Kitt, but put me in a couple of pairs of Spanx and I can pull off this hot elf thing. Right?”

  She spun around to get a rearview, but her ankle turned in the stilletoe boots and she had to grab hold of the mirror to keep from toppling. “Okay, okay, Spanx and deportment lessons.”