“I told her that we are having a wonderful time together, and we are very happy.” Ellie laughed and looked at me. “She just asked me if you are being romantic!”

My mouth dropped open. “How in the hell does she know what that means?”

Ellie giggled as she texted Alex back. She put her phone back in her pocket. “I told her you are probably more romantic now than when we first started dating.”

The waitress came over and cleared our plates as another waitress set down the tableside s’mores.

Ellie’s eyes lit up as she looked at the s’mores and then peeked up at me. “Gunner, it seems like it was just yesterday. Oh my gosh. My stomach almost feels like it’s in a knot, like it was on that day.”

I leaned over and gently kissed her on the lips.

“I love you, Drew Mathews.”

“I love you more, Ellie Mathews. I love you so much.”

I kissed her again, and I had to force myself to pull my lips from hers. “Want a s’more?”

She nodded her head in excitement as I began roasting a marshmallow.

“Gunner, do you ever think about our kids’ future? Like, where do you see them at the age we were when we got married?”

My heart dropped to my stomach. “Well, shit, Ells. Considering Colt is just eight and Alex is nine, I don’t even want to think that far ahead.”

She giggled as she tilted her head. “Without a doubt, I see Colt wanting to run the ranch. Luke, too. Ari said that it’s all he talks about.”

I smiled and nodded my head. “I do see that. Even Will tells Josh that he’s gonna run the ranch with the other boys.”

“Alex…I see her totally being a country girl.”

I shook my head. “No, I want her to live in the city for some time.”

Ellie was about to put a s’more in her mouth when she stopped. “What?”

I nodded my head. “Yeah, I want her to go to college, preferably the University of Texas, and then she can spend a few years in the city.”

“You mean, after college? What if she wants to be in the country?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I just want her to have the best life possible. I could totally see her wanting to be like you,” I said with a wink.

She laughed and said, “So can I.”

I let out a breath. “I’m not looking forward to her liking boys, that’s for damn sure.”

Ellie pushed a s’more into her mouth and attempted not to smile.

My whole body sagged. “What? Does she already like boys?”

Ellie shrugged her shoulders and attempted to eat the mouthful of chocolate and marshmallow.

“Who is it? I’m gonna kill the little bastard.”

Ellie slapped me and then reached for her water. “Stop it, Gunner Mathews. You’re not going to put the fear in these young men when they come calling on your daughter.”

“The hell I’m not.”

Ellie shook her head. “What’s next on our schedule?”

“I think we need to let our stomachs settle a bit and then head back to the hotel. I have a few toys to play with…thanks to Ari.”

Ellie rolled her eyes and slid out from the booth as I held her hand.

“Can we go dancing tonight?” she asked.

I smiled down at my beautiful blue-eyed beauty. “Baby, we’ll do whatever your little heart desires.”

“Dancing. I’d love to go dancing.”

I started to lead her out of Halcyon as I said, “Then, dancing it is.”

Ellie and I barely made it into the hotel room before we were clawing and ripping our clothes off of each other.

“Ells, I don’t think he’ll work again. He’s exhausted,” I panted.

She let out a giggle. “Let’s take a bath.”

I smiled as I picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. I set Ellie down on the small bench as I began filling up the bathtub.

I started to pour some bubbles into the hot water when I heard her say, “Thank you.”

I turned to see her sitting there…crying. I got up and dropped to my knees in front of her.

I pushed her hair back behind her ears and gently took her face in my hands. “Baby…please tell me those are happy tears.”

She nodded her head and tried to talk.

“Yeah? They are?”

She smiled slightly as she wiped them away. “Do you remember the day we got married, and I had that panic attack? You came out and calmed me down?”

I rubbed my thumbs across her beautiful face. “Of course I remember that.”

“That happened to me the first night I was here alone, and I just kept praying you would come to me.”

My heart physically hurt when she spoke those words. I pulled her into my arms and sat down on the floor with her, holding her, as she cried.

“Ellie…I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. I was going crazy, trying to find you, and then Mom and Dad told me to stop after I drove around for hours. I’m sorry I didn’t think about coming here. Baby, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. God, Ellie, please don’t cry.”

She pulled back to look at me and smiled. “They’re really not sad tears. I’m so moved by how strong our love is for each other, and if anything, I’m more upset at myself for doubting it. I need you so much, Gunner, that it scares me.”

“I feel the same way.”

She stood up and smiled as she walked over to the bathtub and climbed in. When she sat down, she let out a long sigh and sank until the water reached her neck. I got up and crawled in behind her. I wasn’t sure how long we were in the tub, just soaking in silence. I ran my fingers along her body, and I could feel how relaxed she was.

“I think we should do this at least once a week after the kids go to bed,” she said.

I chuckled. “Soak in a hot bath with my naked wife. Hell yeah.”

She turned around and gave me a smoldering look as she sat on me and wrapped her legs around me.

“Not just soak in the tub…but make love in it as well.”

I wasn’t sure how the ole boy was keeping up, but he hadn’t failed me yet. Ellie positioned herself and slowly sank down on me. She dropped her head back and moaned as she began moving slowly.

“Ellie…” I whispered.

She looked into my eyes and smiled at me.

“Faster, baby…go faster.”

She picked up speed, and I felt the build happening way too fast. She placed her hands on the sides of the tub and lifted herself more before coming down harder.