LITTLE BIT STRONGER | A COUNTRY ROMANCE

Chapter Thirty-Four

They spent hours loving each other all over the house, talking, and eating random snacks from the kitchen. They finished their bottle of wine and mixed a couple of cocktails.

Near dawn, they fell asleep near dawn naked, exhausted, drunk, and wrapped around one another in their bed.

A knock on the front door when the sun was fully up had them scrambling into clothes.

"I haven't even peed yet," Kate groaned. "Which family member showed up like this? Because you know it's got to be family." The men who worked for Josh had happily agreed to her request to cover the ranch for him.

"It's definitely family." Josh managed to pull clothes over his body and trudged past her into the bathroom. "I'll pee and go down. Take your time."

Hoarse from their dehydrating sexual marathon, it took Kate a second to translate what he said.

Two minutes later, he grabbed her for a rough kiss and murmured, "I forgot to dry my hands. I'm so damn tired."

"At least you washed them." She wasn't feeling at all well. "Maybe we can get rid of them and go back to bed..."

"Doubtful. Pray for me, honey."

"Praying for both of us."

She watched as he jogged downstairs. A moment later, the sound of many voices drifted up to the second floor.

"Oh no," Kate gasped softly. "That's all of them." She made her way to the bathroom with the clothes she'd managed to find - eyes barely open - and closed the door. As she relieved her aching bladder, she mumbled, "Why?"

The reason didn't matter.

Based on the noise level, both their families had counted down to the polite but still ungodly hour of ten o'clock on a Saturday morning to descend upon them.

And they sounded chipper.

Quickly scrubbing her face, brushing her teeth, and pulling her hair into a messy bun, Kate did her best to fake alertness as she joined the mob of invaders in their kitchen.

The moment she appeared, her parents grabbed her in a hard hug. Everyone was talking at once, congratulating them on their engagement. Then she was practically assaulted with affection by her siblings and their significant others. Josh's whole family had hugs to give as well.

By the time everyone had wished them every happiness, Kate felt as if she'd been on a carnival ride.

Exhilarated but a little nauseous and confused.

Josh wrapped his arm around her waist and she knew he used her for support. She used him right back to keep from falling over.

He croaked, "Everyone make yourselves comfortable in the family room and we'll get coffee started."

She didn't think it was possible to love him more.

Several plates holding coffee cake, cut fruit, and an assortment of breakfast foods appeared on the big island. Kate had no idea where their families pulled it all from.

"I brought a big carafe of coffee!" Jasmine told her cheerfully. "Go sit and let me make you both a cup."

Krista took their hands. "You guys look rough. Come on. Let's sit you down so you can wake up." In a whisper, she added, "We tried to stop the parents. All of us did."

"So tired," Kate replied as she rubbed her hands over her face. "I can't even think..."

"They wanted to hug you, feed you, and show you how happy they are for you both. We'll get them out of here as fast as we can so you can rest."