We both laughed harder when we saw Colt mimic his son. Lauren yelled for them to stop, prompting my son drop the bag, pick his wife up, and start running with her, eliciting cheers from all the kids.
Anissa lifted her head to see what was going on. Not seeming to care, she snuggled back onto my chest, which was perfectly fine by me. “She’s going to fall asleep in your arms again.”
“Then I’ll just have to hold her while she sleeps.”
Ellie’s breathtaking smile had me catching my breath.
“Aunt Ellie!” Emma yelled while running up and hugging Ellie’s legs.
Ellie gasped and said, “Why Emma Rose, look at your beautiful dress.”
Emma twirled around and gave us a huge grin. She was missing her front tooth.
I bent over and looked at her mouth as she snapped it shut. “I dare say, did you drop a tooth somewhere, Emma?”
She tried hard not to laugh, but lost her battle and went into a giggling fit. Her precious little blue-green eyes lit up when she finally looked up at me. “It fell out, Uncle Gunner!”
“I’ll say it did. Now where did you get that pretty dress?”
Emma blushed and looked away. Taylor and the girls teased me all the time over Emma’s little crush on me.
“My mommy made it. For our weddin’.”
Ellie covered her mouth with her hand to hide her smile. “Our wedding, huh?”
“Yep!” Emma said . . . doing another twirl in an attempt to win my heart.
“What if you get it dirty before the wedding?” I asked.
She frowned and lifted her eyes. Turning to look at Ellie, who lifted her shoulders, she glanced back at me. “Mommy will clean it.”
“Emma! Emma!”
A look of horror washed over Emma’s face. “Bye!” she yelled out as she took off running before her little brother Mason could find her. Taylor and Jase had their hands full with Emma and Mason, that was for sure.
“Oh lord, that little girl has it bad for you, Gunner Mathews. It’s those blue eyes and that dimple of yours. Not to mention you’re still rocking a body at fifty something.”
My heart hammered in my chest as I looked at my wife. “As much as I love this craziness we call our family, my favorite thing in the world is to lay on our quilt under our tree while I get lost deep inside of you.”
Ellie’s mouth dropped open as she lifted her hands and covered our granddaughter’s ears. “Drew Garrett Mathews. Don’t you talk like that in front of her.”
Wiggling my eyebrows, I leaned in to kiss her. Pulling back slightly, I stared into those blue eyes that still left me breathless.
Her eyes were filled with pure love as she softly spoke. “I love you, Gunner.”
Lifting the corner of my mouth into a smile, I replied back, “I love you more.”
KELLY ELLIOTT IS A NEW York Times and USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author. Since finishing her bestselling Wanted series, Kelly continues to spread her wings while remaining true to her roots and giving readers stories rich with hot protective men, strong women and beautiful surroundings.
Kelly lives in central Texas with her husband, daughter, and two pups. When she’s not writing, Kelly enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
To find out more about Kelly and her books, you can find her through her website.
www.kellyelliottauthor.com
A huge thank you to everyone who has had a part in this crazy thing called writing a book. You know who you are!
These three series have been some of my favorite books to write, and to be able to combine the three of them has been such a fun (and at times insane) process. It’s a bittersweet ending to an amazing journey, and I’m so blessed you were along for the ride! Thank you!