Home For a Cowboy Christmas(34)

“This is perfect,” she told him.

He kissed her temple. “It certainly is.”

Emmy lifted her head enough to take a drink of wine. Her eyes grew heavy, and she let them close. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been this relaxed.

“How do you feel?” Dwight asked.

She smiled and rolled her head to the side. “Happy and safe.”

“Exactly my plan.”

Emmy heard the smile in his voice. She sighed, wishing they could stay like this forever.

“Don’t,” he said, breaking into her thoughts.

She frowned. “Don’t what?”

“You’re starting to think about the future. That will shatter the positivity we’ve created. It’s better not to think of that.”

“You’re right. I don’t want anything to destroy this perfect day. But I’m going to have to think about the future eventually. Some things need to be addressed.”

“Understood. Just not right now.”

She took another drink of wine. “I can agree to that.”

“What would you like to do after this?”

“After?” she asked with a chuckle. “I’m not sure you’ll ever get me out of this tub. You brought food and wine.”

His breath brushed her ear as he laughed. “It is a nice tub. I don’t enjoy it as much as I should.”

“You take baths?”

“Is that surprise I hear in your voice?” he playfully admonished.

Emmy shifted to lean her head back so she could see him. “I’m not saying it isn’t done. It’s just that women usually enjoy the baths.”

“It’s true I’m not like most men.”

She nodded and returned to face forward. “I like that about you.”

“Oh?”

The happiness in his voice made her smile. She hadn’t forgotten that he had confessed his love, and while she had been surprised by it, she was both elated and saddened that he felt such feelings for her. Mostly because she feared what having her in his life could do to him. It was a conversation she knew better than to try and have with him. Dwight would only tell her that he was a grown man who could make his own decisions. While that was true, she also knew that had she not needed help, Dalton never would’ve brought her here. And her and Dwight’s paths never would’ve crossed.

She wouldn’t have known to watch the stars at night in Montana, how much more beautiful a waterfall could be, how much she loved sleigh rides, or … how much she had come to love living with him.

Sam sighed as he moved onto his side and stretched out on the tile floor to sleep. Both she and Dwight looked at the dog. Sam was another part of life on the ranch that Emmy had adapted to quite easily. Actually, there wasn’t much about the ranch she hadn’t come to love and admire.

“You’re thinking again,” Dwight said.

She finished her wine and leaned forward to set it on the stool by the tub. After popping a slice of cheese into her mouth, she returned to her reclining position and took Dwight’s empty hand in hers. She threaded her fingers with his.

“I confess, I am.”

He was silent for a moment. “I could take your mind off things.”

She smiled. “You could.”

“Or we could talk about whatever is on your mind.”

She closed her eyes and let herself be in the moment. “I think I’d like to just sit here and listen to you.”

“I’m not talking.”

“You could recite the alphabet, and I’d be happy. I love your voice. You have the greatest voice.”

He chuckled. “The alphabet, huh? That would get old pretty quick.”

“Tell me what made you join the bureau.”

He drank the last of his wine, then reached out of the tub to pour more into both of their glasses. “I had already decided that I was leaving the military once my tour was up. I toyed with the idea of joining the Secret Service, but I had a friend who had gone that route and wasn’t exactly happy. Another friend had joined the FBI. He let me know that they were interested in me.”

“Did you apply?”

“Not right away. I wanted more information, so I set up an appointment when I got back to the States. They accommodated my schedule, and I had meetings with them over a three-day period.”

She wasn’t at all surprised by his words. From what she had come to know about Dwight, he was thoughtful and methodical in his decision-making process. He took his time and weighed his options carefully. “How many people did you meet with?”

“About ten. Each higher up in the organization than the last. By the end of the third day, I knew I wanted to join them. As soon as I let them know, the official offer came in.”

“What did you do with them?”

“I was a special agent. The guys in the black suits? That was me.”

She nodded as she opened her eyes to look around. “I can see that. Especially with your training in the military. Where were you stationed?”

“Wherever we were needed. It was both demanding and rewarding. I liked my time there.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what made you leave?”

He shrugged, causing the water to move. “I was offered a great opportunity at Homeland Security outside of the Secret Service. It wasn’t an easy decision, but in the end, it was the best one.”