“Tim, the ladies look wonderful. How’d they do on the ride over?”

“Just fine. We have a couple new foals. I emailed you photos.”

Sarah turned to him. “Meet my princesses. The brown is Jasmine and this is Gweneviere.”

“Sarah, the horses . . . they’re outstanding. But you can’t be serious about giving them to me.” He knew they were worth a fortune. And no one had ever given him anything like this. The foals these horses produced would be the best on his ranch—any ranch in the state, for that matter.

Sarah’s eyes turned defensive. “I’m not giving them to you.”

Luke narrowed his eyes. He should have known better. “How much do I owe you? I’ll pay you whatever you’re asking.”

“Really. Whatever I’m asking?” She raised a brow. “I suppose I have the perfect excuse to steal you blind on these horses.”

“How much?” Luke wasn’t buying her ruse to gouge him. He knew she’d be fair. He could all but see the twinkle in her eyes.

“Kiss me, big guy.”

He didn’t have to be asked twice and planted a kiss on her that said how much he appreciated her and this gesture that would ensure his ranch thrived.

To his dismay, she pulled away far too soon and looked him right in the eye. “These horses are a gift for Ace. Although you have some really nice mares, you don’t have any that compare to my princesses.”

He cupped her beautiful face. “There is nothing that compares to you.” He kissed her, loving her for her generosity and kind heart. She loved her horses, that was clear, but she’d given them to him, knowing he’d take care of them. He’d love them the way she did.

She trusted him with the horses, her kids, and her heart.

All he wanted to do was make her happy.

He feared ever disappointing her or losing her.

There was no one like Sarah.

His life was better with her in it.

Now all he had to do was make it permanent.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Sarah had loved making Luke outrageously happy this morning. The love and appreciation she’d seen in his eyes when she gave him the horses stuck in her mind and heart. She wanted to make him feel and look at her that way every day.

But how was she really going to make that happen? It seemed so easy to talk about and wish for it, but the reality for Sarah was a lot harder.

She needed time to think, plan, and figure out a way to run her businesses in Silicon Valley and be with Luke in Carmel. She also wanted to make sure the boys were really okay with her relationship with Luke and the possibility they would move to the ranch permanently.

While Luke made it clear he wanted them to be a family, he’d never mentioned marriage.

Did she want to get married again?

Yes. Being Luke’s wife, having a real partnership and love, would make her really happy.