She smacked him on the arm, but he only laughed. She’d never seen him this happy before and it made her heart sing.

“Are you sure about this?” All humor was gone and he was his serious self again. “You’re the one leaving your home.”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“What about your career?” He tucked a lock of her hair over her ear and then dropped his hand by his side.

“I can work from here. In fact, this room would make a great office for me. That is, once I get all the other stuff out of it.”

“Whatever you want to do or change is fine with me. This is your home now. We can get rid of any furniture we don’t need any longer. If Erin or Nathan don’t want it, we can donate it to the church for their yearly fundraising sale.”

“We’ll work it all out,” she assured him.

He grabbed her hand and tugged her close. “I know we will.” Bending down, he kissed her neck as his hands roamed over her ass. “Where were we when we were so rudely interrupted?”

Emerald laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m not sure. Maybe you could remind me.”

She was scooped off her feet and Jackson was charging back up the stairs before she had a chance to blink. “I plan to remind you again and again and again.” His voice was rough with desire as he captured her lips with his.

It was a good plan. A stupendous plan, she thought as he laid her on the bed and reached for the opening of her blouse.

Epilogue

Jackson leaned against the trunk of an old oak tree in the corner of the yard and watched his wife chatting with her sisters. Not far beyond, Erin was talking to his new mother-in-law. He couldn’t keep the grin off his face. The woman had insisted that he call her Moon and not Mrs. Jewel. It was strange, but then again, there was nothing normal about the family he’d married into.

Like her daughters, Moon had black hair and brown eyes. The outfit she was wearing was flowing and colorful, but it looked really good on her. It reminded him of Emerald. Moon looked much too young to have three grown daughters between the ages of twenty-eight and thirty-two. As if she sensed his gaze on her, she looked over and gave him a wave before going back to the conversation with his sister.

Aloysius, on the other hand, wasn’t anyone’s idea of an aging hippie. His steel-gray hair fell to his shoulders and was tied back at the nape with a leather thong. His tailored suit fit his wide shoulders to perfection and his black eyes missed nothing as he kept an eye on his wife and daughters.

Jackson hadn’t been surprised to get a visit from Aloysius before the wedding took place. His wife and daughters might consider him laid-back, and he was, with them. The rest of the world had to contend with his shrewd mind and ruthless demeanor. Surprisingly enough, they’d gotten along from the moment they’d met. Aloysius knew that Jackson would do anything to protect Emerald and that was good enough for her father.

“How you doing?” Nathan handed him an ice-cold bottle of beer as he took a sip from his own.

Jackson took the cold brew and thought for a minute before replying. “I’m doing good.” Actually, he was doing better than good. He looked ahead and all he could see was years of life with Emerald. Contentment swelled within him as he sought her out again.

She hadn’t worn white, but he hadn’t expected her to. Instead, she’d chosen a long flowing gown in a deep emerald green. The sleeves were long, but the bodice was cut low and cupped her breasts to perfection. The dress was fitted along her torso and hips before it flared out slightly and fell to the floor. She’d piled her hair on top of her head, fastening it with a jeweled comb that he recognized as one of Sapphire’s designs. Other than that, the only jewelry she wore was the diamond solitaire that he’d given her as an engagement ring.

Her sisters wore identical dresses but in different colors. They were similar to Emerald’s gown but the hem only came to their knees instead of falling all the way to the floor. Topaz’s was a rich golden hue while Sapphire’s was a deep blue. They indeed glowed like jewels as they flitted around the garden.

Patio lights had been strung and a buffet had been set up in the new barn. Since they’d only had a few weeks to pull together the wedding, they’d decided to keep it small and have it here at the farm. The new barn had been left unused and now guests milled around, chatting, laughing and occasionally dancing to the music of the small three-piece band they’d hired.

The wedding was elegant—much like the woman he married—but simple enough to suit his taste. The ceremony had passed in a blur, but he’d never forget the moment he’d slipped the golden band on her finger, making her his. They’d eaten good food, drank a few toasts, cut their cake and danced.

Jackson’s body began to swell the longer he watched her. She was his now. They belonged together.

“Boy, you’ve got it bad.” Abel slapped him on the back as he came alongside Jackson, almost knocking the wind out of him.

He turned and glared at his best friend as he snorted. “Like you can talk.”

Abel’s eyes heated as he found his wife in the midst of the small gathering. “I think it will soon be time for us to go home. Pregnant women need their rest, you know.”

Jackson laughed and shook his head. “Go. The quicker the rest of you leave, the faster I can get Emerald inside.”

Nathan chuckled and inclined his head. “Carly has to get up early for work tomorrow morning. We need to leave.”

Both men sauntered across the lawn to collect their women, but they didn’t leave right away. It took a while for everyone to say their goodbyes. Jackson strode over to stand at Emerald’s side as she hugged his sister and Carly. The men stood back and watched them chatter. Finally, Jackson leaned down and whispered in Emerald’s ear, “For God’s sake, you can see them tomorrow.”

Everyone around him burst out laughing. He’d meant to whisper, but obviously they’d all heard what he said. He shrugged, totally unrepentant. He wanted his wife and he wanted her now. Maybe in five or ten years he wouldn’t want her every minute of the day, but he wouldn’t bank on it.

Aloysius came up and shook his hand as he ushered his wife and daughters to the car. Thankfully, they were staying in a local B&B. He really liked his new in-laws. The few townspeople who’d been invited all said their goodbyes and a half an hour later, he and Emerald were standing on the back porch by themselves.

Stars were sprinkled across the dark night sky and the moon was a sliver of silver. The harvest was done for the year and now the long winter would give them both time to meld their lives together.

Jackson stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her. There was a nip in the air. Frost wasn’t too many days away. “Cold?”

She shook her head and leaned back against him. “No.” Her voice was low and with the darkness surrounding them, there was an intimacy to the moment that he didn’t want to disrupt.

They stood there for the longest time, peering over the land that was in his blood. The fact that she was standing here with him, sharing it, made the moment perfect. “I love you.”

She sighed deeply as if inhaling his words. “I love you too.” She hesitated a moment and then pulled away from him. “I got you a present.”

He smiled, thinking how much she was going to enjoy what he’d gotten for her. “I got you one too.”

“Me first.” She hurried in through the house and returned a moment later with a huge box that had holes in the top. His suspicions grew when the box moved. She peered coyly at him through her lashes. “I kept it over at Erin’s place. Abel slipped the box inside the door a few hours ago.”

A low whine emanated from inside the box as Emerald set it on the porch. She flipped open the lid and a furry brown head popped up. Jackson reached down and plucked the pup from his makeshift kennel. “How you doing, little guy?” The puppy licked his face, squirming to get closer.

“His name is Martin. You need a dog to keep you company while you’re working in the fields. You’ve got all winter to train him, so he’ll be ready to go with you next spring.” Emerald stared at him almost defiantly.

Jackson knew she’d remembered their conversation about the farm not having any animals. He shook his head and chuckled as he lowered the little guy back into his box. “He’s perfect. Now wait here while I get your present.”

It only took him a minute to go to his office and collect his present. Her eyes widened when he stepped back out onto the porch. He laid the small kennel beside the box and opened the door. A tiny black kitten pranced out, her big green eyes blinking as she peered up at them and let out a plaintive meow.

“Oh, she’s beautiful.” Emerald scooped up the kitten and snuggled her. A loud purring sound filled the air around them.

“I thought you could use some company for when I’m gone in the days.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she and the kitten bonded. “Her name is Onyx.”

“I love it.” Emerald bit her lip. “Do you think they’ll get along?”

“Only one way to find out.” Taking the kitten from her, Jackson placed it in the box with the puppy. The kitten hissed, but the puppy licked playfully at her. Onyx made a show of ruffling her fur and hissing a few more times, but the puppy was woefully unconcerned. Within five minutes they’d both settled down, the two of them curled up side by side.

“Thank you.” Emerald’s eyes practically glowed as she opened the door so he could carry the box inside. He set it down in the laundry room, making sure the kitten’s litter box was there, along with water for the two of them.