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He dried her off, kissing her body between tender swipes with the towel She returned the favor, and it was all he could do not to initiate another bout of loving in the steaht

“No Don’t”

“Baby?”

“There’s so I want to say”

“And you want to do it while it’s dark?”

He heard a soft sigh “Yes I don’t want distractions or interruptions Only the words I want you to hear the words and believe them Will you do that, Grant? Will you believe e of tears, and he couldn’t help reaching out to touch her He found her arm, and from there settled both hands on her shoulders “Yes I’ll believe anything you tell ainst his chest like the fluttering wings of a sparrow “I love you”

“I love you, too”

One of her hands left his chest, and then he felt her finger tracing his lips, silencing them “Thank you” Her shoulders rose and fell as she took a deep breath “I know you think I can’t be happy on a working ranch”

He nodded Her fingers were still pressing his lips closed

“You’re wrong”

He reached up and gently pulled her hand away fro with you, loving you, willwithout you would be hell Please don’t ht embrace “Never I want to marry you I want you to haveabout affairs instead of a future after the ht of love between two people known to ht “Marry me, Zoe” He cupped her face with one hand while the other held her close to him “I love youin my life Marry me”

Her eyes filled with tears “I love you I love you so much I’ll live on the ranch with you I’ll have your babies, and I’ll be as stoic as they come every year at the stock sale”