The diamond on my left hand glinted in the sunlight—subtle, vintage, perfect. He’d asked me three weeks ago, both of usstanding waist deep in the river, me wearing the waders he’d insisted I put on now that the weather was cooler.
The ring had been dangling from a bright pink lure.
Cheesy as hell, but naturally, I said yes.
And now, every time I stepped into this river, I remembered.
This time was no different.
“I’m trying to fish,” I said, trying to sound stern even as his hands slid a little lower.
“You’re not trying that hard.”
“Because someone’s got his dick pressed against my ass.”
“Not my fault you wore those tight little waders.”
I elbowed him lightly, and he caught it midair, spun me around, and kissed me before I could breathe.
It was soft at first—sweet and sure—but it deepened fast, like everything with us. Our mouths collided in that hot, hungry way that still made my toes curl, even now, even always.
He backed me up against a boulder at the edge of the bank, water swirling around our legs, his hands under my jacket, his tongue in my mouth, and every part of him hard against me.
“I love you,” he said roughly. “You know that, right?”
“I do.”
“You’re mine.”
“I know.”
“I’m never letting go.”
“Please don’t.”
He grinned and reached for the button on my waders. “Think you’ve got one more cast in you today, sweetheart?”
“I think I just felt something tug on the line.”
“Damn right you did.”
And I did.
Because I’d cast my line out once, not knowing what I’d find.
And somehow, I’d caught the grumpiest, sexiest, most loyal mountain man in Montana.
And I wasn’t ever throwing him back.
EPILOGUE
Nate
One Year Later…
“If you don’t stop looking at your wife like that, I’m going to have to hose you down.”
I dragged my eyes away from Ellie long enough to glare at Tom, the owner of the guide service. He was grinning at me like the smug bastard he was. He took full credit for me finding Ellie. He was also thinking of retiring and letting me buy him out.
