Thank God for that.

Jill stirs in my arms. I kiss her head again and smile. I can’t believe she’s here. I’ve wanted her here for months. Hell, years, if I’m being honest.

I don’t plan to let her go now.

“Zack, answer the phone,” Jill mumbles and nudges my arm. I yawn and turn toward the soft, sleepy woman, wrapping myself around her.

“I can think of better things to do.”

“It could be important.” She chuckles and climbs onto my chest as I check the time and answer the phone.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Dad.” Seth’s voice is happy and he’s clearly chewing on something crunchy.

“It’s seven in the morning, Seth.”

“I know. You’re awake, right? It’s, like, super late for you.”

“Actually, I was asleep, but you’re right, I should go check on some things. So what’s up?” Jill kisses my chest and her hand is roaming over my stomach, and my morning semi-wood is no longer a semi.

“Josiah’s dad says the roads are too icy to take me home today, so he said I should just stay here until tomorrow afternoon. Isn’t that cool? Please say yes.”

“That’s fine with me if it’s okay with Josiah’s dad.”

“It is. Cool. Thanks, Dad. How’s Thor?”

“Thor misses you, but he’s fine. Be good and call me if you need anything.”

“Okay. Bye!”

I throw the phone onto the floor and roll Jill beneath me and run into a wall of warm fur.

“Thor jumped up here about an hour ago,” Jill informs me with a laugh. I glance over at the dog’s face. His chin is resting on his paws, his eyebrows shooting up and down as he looks about innocently.

“You’re not innocent, you little mutt.”

“Be nice to him,” Jill insists and brushes her fingers through my hair. “He’s just a baby.”

“He’s got you wrapped around his paw.”

She grins and watches me with a sassy expression on her gorgeous face.

“It seems he’s not the only male around here under your spell. I have to let him outside, but I don’t want you to move from this exact spot. Understand?”

“Maybe I need to use the bathroom too.”

“You have thirty seconds.”

I run downstairs with the dog, let him out back, and set on a pot of coffee before returning to my bedroom. Jill is perched on the edge of the bed, the sheet wrapped around her. Her brown hair is tousled and falls around her face and shoulders, and her eyes are still sleepy.

She offers me a shy grin, and my gut clenches in lust and something else I’m not quite ready to recognize. “Hi.”

“Hi yourself.” I lean my shoulder on the doorjamb and cross my arms over my chest, watching her.

“Everything okay downstairs?”

“Fine,” I confirm. “I started some coffee.”

“Oh good, thanks.” She stands to pull on her clothes, but I move quickly, grab her hand, and pull her behind me to the master bathroom.

“What are you doing?”

“We’re going to take a shower.”

“I thought we were going to have coffee.”

“We will. After our shower. I owe you a few more orgasms.” Her jaw drops and she watches as I tug my boxers down and step out of them. “Like what you see?”

To my surprise she reaches out and runs just the tip of her finger down the length of my cock to the tip and back again. “I love this.”

I back away before I explode like a teenager and turn on the shower. “Stay with me this weekend.”

“I have things to do . . .”

I pull her to me and tilt her chin back. “Stay.”

“Okay.”

“First things first.” I pick her up and carry her into the shower. “I have to dirty you up before we get clean again.”

“Oh good. I like getting dirty.”

“Hi, Max.” Jill has Max on speakerphone and is typing furiously on the screen. We’ve been hanging out at the house today because it’s just been too cold outside to show her the ranch. “Yes, I found a few places and was about to send you an email.”

“Thanks, Jill. I appreciate it.”

She grins and nods. “No problem. Let me know if any of these look good and we’ll set up a time to go see them.”

“Sounds like a plan,” he replies.

“Great. See you soon.” She hangs up and her fingers continue to fly over the screen.

“How’s Max?” I ask.

“Fine. He’s looking for property to buy here.”

I nod and curse myself for being jealous. Who the fuck cares if Max wants to buy a house? I like Max. He’s my friend.

But I don’t love him calling Jillian.

“What have you been doing outside?” she asks while her nails click on her keyboard.

“Checking on things. It’s actually warming up out there a bit.”

“It’s nine at night,” she reminds me with a raised brow. “Is it clouding up?”

“Nope, but the ice is melting. In fact”—I walk to her and take her phone, set it aside, and pull her to her feet—“I have something to show you.”

“Outside?”

“Yes.” I help her step into her boots and bundle her up in her coat and scarf and take her hand in mine, leading her out the back door. We walk past the chicken coop, past the barn to the pasture beyond, where I’ve laid out a thick quilt to lie on and a quilt to cuddle up in.