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“Life’s a bull. Sometimes you can hang on. Sometimes it throws you off. Sometimes you get completely fucked. You gotta get up, dust yourself off, and keep riding.”
But she can get a little sassy and headstrong sometimes. You gotta remind her that you’re in control.” Brooke grinned. “So can you, and I handle you just fine.”
I loved how easily she assimilated into ranch life. Into my life.
“I’m hungry.” I glanced at Brooke, who was fighting back a smile. “Are you hungry?” “Starving.”
“What are y’all still doing here?” CJ said from the doorway. He was drenched in sweat and out of breath. “It’s seven.” “You’re late,” Ray said. “But I appreciate the effort.” Cassandra rolled her eyes. “I should’ve known you orchestrated that. I usually have to drag Christian back to the house.” Gracie poked her head in. “Why are you still working? It’s—” “Seven! I know!” Cassandra shouted. “I swear, this family is going to drive me batshit crazy.”
Ray laced our hands together and looked down at me with a weight to his gaze. “I don’t think I’ve told you how fucking thankful I am that you’re here,” he said, just between us.
“Look at Chris and Cass. Do you think they’re alike? Or Nate and Becks? She was a lot more like Cass when she first moved to the ranch. I know one thing for certain. I want this, so I’m gonna work for it.”
“Y’all just gonna hide over there all night?” Christian hollered from the tailgate of his truck. “Yep,” Ray shouted back. “You’re lucky we graced you with our presence in the first place.”
“You have all of it. Every single thing. You want me? You have me. You want my family? They adore you. You want to be part of this ranch? You’re the best thing about it. You want my last name? It’s yours. I didn’t want to come back here, but now I can’t imagine leaving. So, before those doubts consume you, let me fill your mind with something else. I love you. I fucking love you, Brooke. Nothing—absolutely nothing—will change the fact that you belong here.”
Falling in love felt like the most profound breath I would ever take.
“It’s a reset. Tomorrow, we can go outside. The grass will be greener, the air clearer, and the pond higher. Sometimes, life needs to pause. And sometimes, it takes something beyond our control to make that happen.” “You’re poetic,” she said, resting her head on my chest. “I would have never guessed that about you when we first met months ago.”
“The moon reflects the sun and stores its energy until the moment comes when the sun cannot be seen. During the moments when you can’t find your light, I’ll be here to give it back to you.”
“I think I would have loved you in any form, at any point in life. It would always have been you. Your soul and mine. Then, now, and whatever is still to come.”
“Hi. Uh…” Mason looked down at me and cleared his throat. “Bree’s told me a lot about you. She said you’re her favorite uncle.” “Hey!” CJ and Nate shouted from the living room. Brooke snickered. Mason squeezed Bree’s hand. “But, uh… I’m a big fan, actually.”
“We’re having a baby. Brooke’s pregnant. I’m—” He choked up as tears welled in his eyes. “—I’m gonna be a dad.” The simultaneous gasp must have sucked all the oxygen out of the room. Then, a crash of cheers and congratulations spilled over like a dam breaking.
“I know we surprised them, but now I’ve got one more surprise. And before you ask, I had this planned well before we found out about the baby.”
“Brooke, you saved me. You brought me back to life in ways I will never be able to repay you for. You sat beside me at this table and you held my hand when I needed your strength. And I promise you, if you’ll let me, I will spend every last breath I have trying to give that back to you. You are gracious and good. You’re hardworking and optimistic. You’re kind and loving. And goddamn, you’re beautiful. And I can’t think of a better person to be the mother of my children. But more than that, I can’t think of a better person to be my wife.”
