through the thin material of her gown.
Just that quickly, her breathing changed. He heard it and then he felt the sinfully erotic movement of her hips against him. After all the times they’d made love right here in this bed, not to mention the times they hadn’t made it to the bed, didn’t she know how much he wanted her? Her and no other woman? She actually thought she had a reason to be jealous of some damn reporter who couldn’t keep her hands to herself?
He knew from the eyes staring back at him that his grandmother was right. Layla had no idea how he felt about her. The woman hadn’t a clue. He had told her they needed to talk, and then she’d gone on the offensive. Why? Had his grandmother been right on both accounts, that Layla cared for him as much as he cared for her?
There was only one way to find out.
“Let’s backtrack for a minute, Layla. Earlier I asked you why I would want another woman, and you asked why I wouldn’t want one. I don’t think I made myself clear enough. The main reason I don’t want another woman is because I love you. I’ve fallen in love with you, Layla, and when a man falls in love with one woman she takes away his desire for other women. She becomes the one and only woman he wants in his life, his bed, his home, his mind and his heart. You are that woman for me.”
She stared at him for a long time without saying anything. And then he saw it, the tears forming in her eyes. “But if you love me, why were you sending me away?”
He frowned. “I wasn’t sending you away. The other night you told me you were going. What was I supposed to do, tell you that you couldn’t go?”
She frowned back at him. “You could have told me you loved me.”
“Why would I tell you that when I didn’t know how you felt? Hell, I still don’t know. With your credentials, you can teach anywhere. I know about all those job offers that have come in. Why would you want to stay here? My mother hated it here.”
“I love you, too, Gavin, and I love it here. I fell in love with the Silver Spurs the minute I drove onto the land. There are times when I will leave to do speaking engagements and interviews. Maybe even teach a class or two for a semester. However, I will come back. You leave, don’t you? To go on your covert operations. Yet you come back. You return and step into your role of a rancher. Why can’t I return and step into a similar role.”
“As a rancher’s wife?”
She lifted her brow. “Wife?”
He smiled down at her. “Yes, wife. You don’t think you’ll hang around as my live-in lover, do you? I want to marry you. I want you to one day have my children. I want you to live here on this ranch with me.”
“And be here whenever the rancher returns?”
He chuckled. “That would be nice.”
A smile touched her lips. “That can be arranged.” She didn’t say anything for a minute. “About all those offers. I don’t want to decide on anything just yet. After dealing with the likes of Clayburn and Connors, I just want to chill for a minute. Possibly write a book. I’d love to take my time and do it here.”
He nodded. He needed to let her know something.
* * *
Layla waited for him to speak.
“Gramma Mel told me this morning that she and Caldwell are getting married. She’s moving to his place. That means you’ll be here by yourself whenever I’m away. I’m supposed to report back for duty at the end of January.”
“I’ll be okay. I will have enough to keep me busy.”
Layla wouldn’t tell him yet that she wanted lots of children. She’d always wished for siblings and would make sure she had more than one child. And she didn’t want to wait a long time before she began having them.
Before Gavin, she’d never thought beyond her career goals. But now she’d achieved those. With him by her side, she could have everything—success and a family and the man she loved.
“So, will you marry me?”
That question, as far as she was concerned, was a no-brainer. “Yes, Gavin, I will marry you.”
He released her hands as he lowered his mouth to hers. She wrapped her arms around his muscled back.
She loved her SEAL, her rancher. For them, the best was yet to come.
Layla couldn’t help but dab at her eyes. The vow renewal ceremony for Bane and his wife, Crystal, was simply beautiful. The words they spoke to each other in the presence of family and friends were filled with so much love that Layla couldn’t help but shed tears.
Gavin had told her how Bane and Crystal had eloped as teens, and then had been separated for five years when her family had sent her away. But what Layla found so precious was how their love had survived. They had reunited a year ago and since no family members had been present for their first wedding, they’d decided to renew their vows in front of everyone.
What was doubly special was that Crystal and Bane had announced to everyone earlier that day that they were expecting a baby. Everyone could tell from the smiles on the couple’s faces that a baby was something they both wanted. Gavin and the guys couldn’t wait to tease Bane about impending fatherhood. Mac, who had a number of kids of his own, said he would give Bane pointers on changing diapers.
Today was officially the couple’s sixth wedding anniversary and Crystal’s twenty-fourth birthday. Layla thought it refreshing to find someone even younger than her with a PhD; they had a lot in common. Crystal was beautiful and Layla thought she was just the woman for Bane.
It was a lovely November day in the city of Denver. And since one of Bane’s brother’s had married an event planner, the home belonging to Bane’s older brother Dillon, where the ceremony took place, had been decorated beautifully in colors of blue and gold. Layla had already talked to Alpha Westmoreland about planning Layla’s dream wedding, which would take place in June.
“You okay, baby?” Gavin whispered before boldly using his tongue to lick away one of her tears.
“Behave, Gavin,” she whispered back in a warning tone, knowing when it came to her he wouldn’t behave.
She glanced around to see if anyone had noticed what he’d done. Bane certainly had a big family. There were Westmorelands everywhere. Gavin had warned her but she hadn’t believed him. No wonder the locals referred to this section of Denver as Westmoreland Country. There were also some Westmorelands who lived in Atlanta, Montana and Texas. She’d even discovered Bane’s cousin was married to a king in a country in the Middle East. All the Westmorelands she’d met were friendly and made her feel so welcome.
Another couple she’d met and liked right away was Bane’s cousin Bailey and her husband, Walker Rafferty. They lived in Alaska. Layla hadn’t wanted to keep staring at Walker but she remembered when he’d been a movie star years ago. He’d been a heartthrob then and he was definitely one today. She recalled seeing his picture on the cover of a recent issue of Simply Irresistible magazine. When she’d mentioned it to Bailey, the woman had chuckled and looked up at her husband adoringly before saying, “There’s a story behind that. One day I will have to tell you about it.”
It was good seeing Gavin’s teammates again. Layla was glad to meet Mac’s wife, Teri. The mother of four was simply gorgeous. Everyone planned to visit the Silver Spurs in June for Gavin and Layla’s wedding. They’d agreed to spend Thanksgiving at the ranch and Christmas with her family. Ms. Melody and Caldwell had married and seemed to be very happy together.
Layla looked down at her engagement ring. It was beautiful. They had talked about Gavin giving Layla his mother’s wedding set. Jamie had still been wearing the rings when her body had been unearthed. But Gavin had said he wanted Layla to have her own special rings and