"I know that, but this isn't easy for me," Clay replied, finally breaking eye contact. "To even think you are in danger drives me insane. I wanted to beat the hell out of my own brother when he threatened you, and at that time I didn't know my true feelings for you."
"I'll be careful, Clay. I promise." Julie climbed across the seat and straddled him, not caring the steering wheel was digging into her back. "But you have to trust that I know what I'm doing.
"Now please, let's not argue." Julie kissed his neck. "Let's have a nice night together."
"Do you have to shower this man?" Clay growled when she nipped his ear.
"I'm not answering that question." Julie used her tongue to soothe her bite.
"I'm an alpha, Julie. You are mine and I protect what's mine." Clay grabbed her hair, gently pulling her head back to look at him. "Get used to it."
Julie moaned, feeling him swell underneath her. "What else does it mean to belong to an alpha?"
"You're about to find out." Clay proceeded to show her exactly what that meant.
★★★
Once they made it out of the truck, Clay led her to the barn where he saddled up his horse, Samson. Once he'd mounted, he reached his hand down to her. This time she took it without any hesitation.
They rode mostly in silence. A few times, Clay pointed out things. They ended up back at the pond, which she'd named their special place. The moon wasn't as bright as the first night they'd gone there, but there was still a warm glow. He again helped her off the horse, but this time he lowered her to the ground slowly with her body against his.
They walked around the pond, not saying much, just enjoying each other's company. He tried to show her how to skip rocks, but she failed miserably at it. He laughed at her efforts and she threw the rocks at him, which she was much better at.
They sat down next to the pond with her nestled in the V of his legs, his arms tight around her. "It is so peaceful here." Julie sighed, laying her head back against his hard chest.
Clay murmured lazily under his breath. "You have no idea, do you?"
"About what?" Julie closed her eyes, liking the rumble of his chest against her back when he talked.
"How I really felt about you in high school." His answer surprised her.
"Yeah, you felt sorry for the nerdy girl and said hi just to make her day," she teased. But then again, that was truly what she thought.
"No." He turned her to face him. "How could someone as smart as you fall for a cowboy like me?"
Julie just sat there, staring at him with a stunned expression on her face. "A cowboy like you?" Julie whispered. "You were the most handsome cowboy in school, who had any girl he wanted and too many friends to count. You can't expect me to feel sorry for you."
"I didn't want any girl, and one true friend is worth way more than a thousand fake friends," Clay replied, his eyes searching hers. "We were two lonely souls who liked each other, but didn't take that chance."
Julie nodded. "Maybe it was for the best." She touched the side of his face. "It could be it wasn't meant to be at that time."
Clay pulled away from her and stood before pulling her up. He left her, walked to his horse, and opened up the saddlebag. Turning, he walked back to her and knelt at her feet.
"You've seen what I have to offer you, Julie. I have a decent house, but it comes with my blind brother. I have plenty of land filled with horses and a pretty decent business." Clay opened a small box and held it up to her. "I'm not taking the chance of making the same mistake I made in high school. Will you marry me, Julie Daniels?"
Julie didn't even look at the ring; her eyes stayed on his. "None of that matters to me, Clay. I would marry you without the house and blind brother, horses, or land." She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Is that a yes?" he whispered against her hair.
Laughing and crying at the same time, Julie nodded. "That's a yes, Clay."
★★★
After a very short engagement, Julie stood with her husband greeting and accepting congratulations from those who witnessed their wedding. To say she was excited was an understatement, and it showed in her smiling face.
"Guess it's a good thing I didn't kill you with the whiskey bottle, sis." Bo laughed as he and his guide dog, Max, made their way toward them.
"Your aim isn't that great." Julie laughed, then hugged Bo tight.
"Congrats to you guys." Bo and Clay shared a hug. "I'll try not to be underfoot too much."
"Oh, and what fun would that be?" Julie laughed. "The only thing changing is me living here now. You better not change a thing, Bo Marshall."
"You'll regret you ever said that." Bo laughed loudly as he turned, walking away with Max leading him.
"You know, you probably will regret saying that." Clay grinned down at her.
"That's okay, I always wanted a brother." Julie watched as Max led Bo straight to Jessica and Diesel. "You think we might be planning another wedding?"