Page 129 of After We Fall

When we break, I gaze up at him. “Good news for you, though, that you’d end up with me.”

“Oh yeah? How’s that?”

“I’m excellent at backing a trailer. It’s like threading a needle.”

29

“Six?” I ask Luke, rinsing off a plate in the kitchen sink at the ranch. “Did you say six?”

“Yeah,” he says, taking the plate from my hands and drying it. With the sleeves of his Henley rolled up to his elbows, his sinewy arms working while he helps me with the dishes, it’s hard to concentrate on this morning’s topic. But when he mentioned his latest idea, I became laser focused on the conversation.

I turn to him, resting my hip on the counter. “You want six kids?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“The roller-coaster effect,” he says, as if I have any clue what that means.

I raise my eyebrows.

“You have to have your kids in even numbers so when you go to an amusement park”—he sets the plate in a cabinet—“everyone has someone to ride with.”

My mouth gapes. “You’re either completely lovable or totally ridiculous.”

He grins. “I vote for completely lovable.”

“But why six? Why can’t you start off with two kids? Or even four?”

“Ah. So you’d consider four.” He throws the towel on the counter, slips his arms around my waist, and pulls me to him.

I shake my head, placing my hands on his biceps. “You did that on purpose.”

He moves slowly toward me, a sly look in his eyes, then he kisses me once. Quick but sweet.

“You did,” I say. “You maneuvered the conversation so I’d agree to four kids.”

“I’ve got to get my hits in while your brain is still healing. I won’t have a chance in this relationship when you’re running at full capacity.”

“Well, I’m rethinking this entire relationship.” I’m rethinking our relationship, the jeans and fitted flannel tunic I’m wearing, and my invitation for him to come to breakfast this morning.

One more kiss, this time soft and slow.

And now I’m rethinking my rethinking. Or really, not thinking at all. I’m just breathing heavy.

He smooths his hand over my back. “What do you have planned this morning?”

“Tanya mentioned she wants to get baptized, but she wants to do it in the chapel on the Holcombe property. I’m going to take measurements to see if we could use a big water trough as a baptistry. It might be a tight fit on that small stage.”

“I’ll walk you over there. Harlan and I are going to sight in our guns today. He’s getting the target set up now.”

“Sometimes I forget I’m dating an Olympian.” I give him a kiss, then step out of his hold. “Are you making him do all the dirty work?”

“He’s in charge of the protective eyewear and headphones. I have to give him something to do that he can feel good about. He’s a terrible shot.”

“Worse than his dancing?”

“It’s a toss-up.”