My phone buzzed as I picked it up and read the text message from my father.

Dad: He’ll cool down soon enough. Just give him some time.

Smiling, I shook my head and hit reply.

Me: I know, Daddy. He seems really tired.

Dad: It’s an off week. Why don’t y’all go somewhere, get his mind off of racing and onto other things.

My face blushed as I pursed my lips together. I knew my father wasn’t meaning it how I took it. The idea of spending some alone time with Emmit had me feeling all kinds of giddy.

Me: Emmit has a trip planned. He hasn’t said anything to me about it. I think it’s a surprise.

Dad: Let’s see if he can top the last surprise! Call me tomorrow baby girl.

Me: Okay, Dad. Love you and mom!

I dropped my phone into my lap and smiled as I thought back to the day I got Dakota, my brown and white paint.

“No peeking, Addie!”

I held onto Emmit’s hands as he led me down a path. I hadn’t had a chance to wander around Emmit’s property yet, but I did know he had a small track for racing go-carts, a barn, a large tank filled with bass, and a range he used for shooting his bow.

“I’m not peeking I promise!” I said with a giggle. Taking in a breath, I snarled my lip. Did Emmit have cows?

“Is that cow crap I smell?”

Emmit laughed and said, “Close . . . but not close enough.”

We came to a stop and my body shuddered when I felt Emmit’s lips against the sensitive skin under my ear. “Are you ready?”

Nodding my head like a five year old in a candy store, I quickly said, “Yes! I’ve been ready.”

The moment the blindfold was removed, I took a second to adjust my eyes. Looking over Emmit’s shoulder I saw her. A beautiful brown and white paint horse. Robby Quick, who was a part of Emmit’s pit crew, stood next to her holding her reins.

My hands went to my mouth as I tried like hell not to cry. Emmit placed his hand on my lower back and guided me over to her. “She’s yours, baby.”

It felt as if I was walking on cloud nine as I walked right up to her and ran my hand over her beautiful body. Bobbing her head, she let out a whine and turned to me.

“What’s her name?” I asked, as I looked her over.

Emmit walked up and gave her a good pat. “Dakota.”

Leaning in closer to her, I pressed my face into her side and took in a deep breath. My face was beginning to hurt from smiling so big.

Turning to Emmit, I threw myself into his arms and buried my face into his neck. “Oh, Emmit! She’s beyond beautiful! Thank you!”

Emmit spun me around as he laughed and said, “I’m so glad you like her, pumpkin.”

The moment my feet touched the ground again, I turned back to my beauty. “Like her? I love her!”

“What’s the smile for?”

Emmit’s voice pulled me from my memory as I glanced up and took in his beautiful sight. His body was perfect. He worked out six days a week, and ran at least two miles. Lola and I did good trying to keep up with him on his runs. I was pretty sure she was happy when I came into the scene since my stride was much slower than Emmit’s. He ran circles around me.

“I was thinking back to the day you gave me Dakota.”

The grin that spread across Emmit’s face made me feel better. I knew he was angry. Not at me, but at what had happened on the racetrack. He usually needed a few hours to himself and then he was calmed down.

Sitting down, he motioned for me to come sit next to him. There was no getting intimate on the bus when we were driving, unless we were in the bedroom. Hank sat just a few feet away from us as he sang along to something he was listening to.

I quickly got up and made my way over to Emmit. He pulled me down and across his lap as he kissed my nose lightly. “What if I told you I had another surprise?”

Lola lifted her head and looked at us. I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I think Lola is really hoping it’s not another puppy.”

Emmit glanced over to Lola. “Calm yourself girl, no more dogs in our household.”

Lola seemed satisfied as she dropped her head to the floor and closed her eyes again.

My hand landed on Emmit’s broad chest as I traced the pattern on his T-shirt. “So are you going to tell me the surprise or am I going to have to tickle it out of you?”

Emmit lifted his brow and let out a gruff laugh. My mouth fell open as I looked at him in disbelief. “What? You don’t think I can tickle you?”

Jerking his head back like I had just said the most insane thing he’d ever heard, Emmit slowly shook his head. “Please, don’t make me laugh.”

I moved to adjust myself to where I was straddling him. One press against his hardening length had Emmit swallowing hard. I knew I only had one shot at this so I had to play my cards right. Leaning in, I sucked gently on his ear lobe as he grabbed onto my waist and pushed up. The feel of his hard dick against me had my inner sex goddess arguing with me on what action to take next.

One quick peek over my shoulder showed Hank totally focused on driving. Turning back to Emmit, I wiggled my eyebrows as his eyes widened.

Dropping his head back, he softly said, “Yes.”

I placed my hands on his chest and pushed harder into him as I slid my hands under his shirt and went for my attack.

It took Emmit a few seconds to realize what was happening. I busted out laughing at his confused expression. Trying to grab my hands, I pushed harder onto his dick as he laughed and then moaned.

“Not fair! You’re double playing me!” Emmit yelled out as he grabbed my hands and pulled them away. I didn’t even know what had happened before I realized I was thrown over Emmit’s shoulders as he tickled me everywhere he knew I was ticklish.

“Emmit! I’m going to pee my pants if you don’t stop!”

Slapping me hard on the ass, Emmit called out, “Good. You sneaky little thing.”

Emmit shut the door to the bedroom and dropped me onto the bed. I attempted to crawl away, but he grabbed me and pulled me back to him. “Think you can tickle me and get away with it?”

“It was a challenge I had to take!” I said as I laughed so hard it felt like I would pee my pants any second.

Lola jumped up on the bed and licked my face as I yelled for her to stop. “Lola! No girl! Get . . . Daddy!”

I thrashed my head back forth as I called out, “I can’t breathe! Emmit . . . can’t . . . breathe . . . going . . . to pee!”

Emmit stopped tickling me as he sat back laughing. “I love your laugh so fucking much.”

Trying to catch my breath, I sat up and shook my head. “You wouldn’t have loved it if it made me pee on you.”

The way he scrunched up his nose was the cutest thing I’d ever seen. My smile faded some as I looked into Emmit’s eyes. Every now and then I would think about the three years we lost. Those moments between us that we’d never had because of me caused my heart to ache. Looking away, I expelled a deep breath and shook my head. “Man oh man, it feels good to laugh like that.”

Emmit lay on his side and gazed up at me. “Yeah, it does.”

I reached out my hand and traced the tattoo that ran down his left arm. “So, are you going to tell me the surprise?”

Emmit shrugged as if what he had to say was no big deal. “Oh yeah. We got the date we wanted at LaLuna.”

I almost fell off the bed when I jumped up. “What? Emmit, are you serious?”

Emmit let out a chuckle. “Yeah, baby, I’m serious. You’re getting your Christmas wedding.”

The moment I started jumping up and down, Lola started barking. “I know girl! I know!”