Beard Science (Winston Brothers, #3)

by Penny Reid

“Jenn, if we’ve made a baby, then I won’t stop badgering you until you have me as your husband.” Achingly vulnerable, his tone was also solemn with promise. I smoothed my hand over his chaotic curls. “I know. And I wouldn’t stop badgering you until you have me as your wife.” “Do you want to be my wife?” His smile returned, but this time it was subdued, hopeful. “More than anything.” Cletus’s mercurial eyes moved between mine, his hand petting and stroking from my shoulder to my hip. “Then marry me,” he whispered the command, his tone thick with passion and sincerity. I stared at him, at this man, who had been so proud. Who was clever and powerful and good. All those months ago, when I’d pressured him into helping me, I never thought things would end this way. I missed him. Even here with me now, I missed him. I wondered if I would ever stop. “Yes,” I said simply, nodding, feeling the rightness of him and me and us to the marrow of my bones. He didn’t speak. He just looked at me, like I’d hung the moon and designed the stars to match. Tucking me against his body, his powerful legs tangling with mine, Cletus lay perfectly still, and so did I, living in the moment. After a time, the weight of my happiness exhausted me, and I grew drowsy. My eyes drifted shut. But I thought I heard Cletus whisper against my ear, just before I succumbed to sleep, “This is just the beginning.”