Hope was sitting by the fireplace in the front parlor catching up on her sewing while she waited for Levi to come home. Mason and Emma had been fed and tucked in upstairs. Harold was upstairs reading Ellie a bedtime story, as was their nightly ritual. Sewing helped to take her mind off of worrying about why Andy and Levi had left the way they did. All sorts of things had gone through her mind. Harold had told her repeatedly not to worry, if it had been bad, he wouldn't have left them alone. It had helped to ease her mind, some.

"Hope!"

The sound of her name being called startled her, causing her to jab the needle she'd been sewing with into her thumb. "Ouch!" She said as she stuck her injured digit into her mouth. "I'm in here." She mumbled around her thumb.

"Hope! Oh my goodness, you won't believe it!" Claire came running into the parlor.

"Oh? I won't believe what?" Hope asked with a knowing smile on her face.

"Tuck asked me to marry him! Oh my gosh; I can't believe it myself! I didn't think I would ever get married, and certainly not to someone as handsome as Tuck." A dreamy smile was on her face as she finally sat down on the hearth beside Hope's chair.

"Congratulations! Did you set a date?"

Claire visibly deflated right in front of her eyes. "No, we haven't. Tuck wants to wait until he has a place of his own first."

"Is he going to continue to work here at the Triple L?" Hope held her breath. She knew how important Tuck was to Levi and how much he depended on him. If he left, it would be so hard on Levi.

"Oh yes! And I'm still going to keep working here, at least for a while." A blush crept up her neck and cheeks. She planned to work for Hope until she had children of her own.

"I'll talk with Levi to make sure, but I don't know why you and Tuck couldn't just stay here in your room until we can have a house built."

"You would do that for us?"

"Of course, you're family. Besides, Levi would be upset if Tuck left. I don't see why the foreman of the Triple L can't have his own house, just over the rise. I'll talk to him when he gets home."

Claire jumped up and gave Hope a hug. "Thank you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart." Wiping her eyes, she turned to leave the room going in search of her new fiancé.

"Claire?" Hope called stopping her. "How does two weeks sound? That would give us enough time to make a new dress for you." Tears began to flow down Claire's cheeks. Her throat was clogged with emotion, so she simply nodded and left the room.

Hope was really starting to worry when she finally heard the distinct sound of hooves. Without thinking, she jumped up and ran out the door. "Levi!" She called out as she entered the barn and ran straight into the solid wall of her husband's chest. Strong arms shot out and wrapped around her body to steady her.

"Woman, what are you doing out here and by yourself? You know I don't want you out at night without someone with you."

"I was so worried about you, so when I heard you come down the drive, I ran out here to see you. Besides," Hope purred as she stood on her tip toes and twined her own arms around his neck. "I'm not alone. And it's been so long since you made love to me." Stretching to her full height, she pulled his head down so that his mouth could meet hers in a fiery kiss that immediately had him forgetting anything and everything except the beautiful woman in his arms.

Her soft body molded to his as he ran his hands down her back, grabbing her backside, bringing her even closer to him. Hope let out a soft moan causing him to growl as his mouth made its way down her neck, nipping and licking as he went.

Someone behind them cleared their throat. Hope drew back from Levi as if he'd burned her. It was a good thing there was only one lantern lit in the back of the barn because he wasn't sure whose face was more red, his or Hopes. Levi grabbed his wife's shoulders and turned her around so that her back was against his chest. That way she would block his front from his sister. God, Hope was going to kill him for not stopping her.

Hope looked up to see a beautiful woman wearing britches walk out from a stall. A boy of about seventeen followed behind her. Instantly her body tensed. She wasn't a jealous person, but this woman was very beautiful and it had been a long time since she and Levi had been able to make love. He must have felt her tension because his thumbs began to rub small circles on her shoulder blades.

"Hope, allow me to introduce you to my sister, Faith and her young friend John." Levi was positive he heard his wife let out a small groan before turning her head to look him in the face. Oh, she was going to kill him for this.

She looked up at her husband, completely mortified. He leaned his head down and whispered in her ear. "I'm sorry Love, I just got carried away with my beautiful wife." His warm words washed over her skin, sending shock waves of excitement through her body all the way to her toes. Her body craved his with a desperation that truly shocked her.

Giving herself a mental shake to clear her mind of the naughty thoughts running through it; she pasted her best smile on her bright red face. "It's wonderful to meet you, Faith and you too John. I apologize for my behavior, I had NO idea that your brother and I weren't alone. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go get two guest rooms ready for you. I'm sure you're both exhausted and are in need of a good night's sleep." Hope turned to leave but stopped when John spoke.

"Ma'am, if you don't mind, I'll just sleep here in the barn."

"Well, I do mind. If you won't sleep in the house then you can at least stay in the bunk house with the ranch hands." This time when she turned to go, she did not stop until she reached the house.

"Well that answers one of my questions." Faith said with a little laugh.

"What are you talking about?" Levi asked with more than a little frustration in his voice.

"I wondered what kind of a woman would be able to get you to willingly marry her, and now I know. I like her big brother."

"Look, I'll tell her about Philip, so please don't say anything about it tonight. She didn't see your bruises or your wrists. Just walk behind me when we go inside. I'll show you to the room and you can just go inside. You can talk to my wife in the morning."

Faith could hear the strain in her brother's voice. He loved this woman desperately, that was plain to see. "She's going to think that what happened to me is her fault, isn't she?"

"Yes, she is. Come on, I'll show you to your room." Looking around Faith, he said to John, "Hold on, I'll be right back to get you settled in the bunk house. Are you sure you don't want to stay in the house?"

"Yes, sir. I'm positive. Thank you though." Levi turned and he and Faith went to the house.

"Levi Matthews I cannot believe you let me make a fool of myself in front of your sister! How could you forget she was watching us?"

"I told you out there, that you distracted me. It's been a long time since we made love, and when you came out there like that I just forgot. You were, very persuasive." He took his hat off, setting it on his dresser. Then untucked his shirt and pulled it over his head, neglecting to unbutton it. His broad shoulders glowed in the soft lamp light as his calloused hands made their way to the waist band of his pants. Even from across the room, he could feel his wife's gaze burn his body, as she drank in every movement he made.

"That's not fair Levi and you know it." Her body still hadn't cooled from the barn. Well two can play this game. She put on her most seductive smile and let her fingers slowly work the buttons on her night gown. As her gown fell open, she shifted her shoulder allowing the soft material to slide off exposing her creamy white shoulder.

A groan escaped his throat, she was definitely going to kill him, he just didn't think it was going to be like this. He kicked his boots off, then slid his pants down his muscular thighs exposing himself completely to her. In seconds, he was across the room standing in front of her. His slate blue eyes were dark with lust. He reached up and grabbed both sides of the front of her gown and yanked. Hope gasped as her gown fell away from her naked body. "I'll buy you a new one, hell I'll buy you a hundred new ones."

His mouth descended on hers; his calloused hands went to her sides as this thumbs caressed the underside of her breasts. Hope wound her arms around his neck bringing their body into full contact with each other. A white hot fire began to burn in the pit of her stomach. Levi bent down, picked her up, and carried her to the bed.

"Are you sure it's ok?" He asked between passionate kisses. Hope nodded, unable to form words or even a coherent thought. "God, I love you!"

"I love you too, Levi."

His mouth burned a path down her neck to her breast drawing her pebbled nipple into the warm recesses of his mouth. Hope arched her back, giving him better access to her body. Her nails dug into his back urging him on as his hand skimmed its way down her side to the satiny skin of her hip. "Hope love, I don't think I can wait any longer. I want you too badly."

"Then stop talking and make love to me before the twins wake up." He needed no more encouragement than that.

"I'll be as easy as I can. I don't want to hurt you." As gently as he could, Levi eased the length of himself into the warmth of her welcoming body. It took all of the self-control he had, but somehow he managed to hold himself still as her body accustomed itself to him again. Once Hope let him know that she was okay, he began to move in a slow and steady rhythm bringing them closer to the apex with each stroke.

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