Powerless (Chestnut Springs, #3)

by Elsie Silver

“I mean, you look beautiful,” I rush out, grimacing when I note her eyes widening. “You always do. You just don’t look . . . happy?”

remember how Sloane looks at a man when she really wants him. And she isn’t looking at her fiancé the way she used to look at me.

“That’s probably what you tell all the girls, Gervais.” “Nah, Sunny. You’re my only girl.”

Like he just knows I need him, he reaches across the center console and takes my hand. Fingers linking with mine.

Because I’ve been staring at Jasper Gervais since I was ten years old, and suddenly . . . he’s staring back.

The way he is? It speaks to me. It always has. He’s like a warm blanket that I want to wrap myself up in. And when his eyes are bright and his smile is soft like right now? Forget it. He’s breathtaking.

Jasper: I don’t like talking to people. Sloane: You talk to me. Jasper: You’re not people. Sloane: Lmao. What am I then? Jasper: My person.

For too long, I was a soft, demure little dove. And then they burned me. Scorched me. Turns out I’m a dragon and I’m fed the fuck up with boys and their bullshit.

Mom also told me she found that video on Dad’s phone and sent it to me anonymously on my wedding day. I assume it was blackmail fodder.

But it’s Jasper who really gets the last laugh when he leans in against my ex’s ear and says, “I fucked that ring right off her finger.” I wish I could commission an artist to paint the expression on Sterling’s face when that blow lands. It would be money well spent.

less. “I love you, Sloane Winthrop. I always have. I love you so damn hard I don’t even know what to do with it. You’re my person. And I think I’m yours too.” “You have always been my person,” she chokes out. “I love you so much.” I don’t pause. I don’t think twice. I tilt her head up and I kiss her. In the middle of a busy street for the whole damn world to see while snow falls around us. In the exact spot she walked away from me once before. But this time, it’s us. Together.

A few seats down Cade has his new baby girl, Emma, strapped to his chest in a carrier. He’s all proud papa, eyes more on that little bundle than on the game. It does weird things to my ovaries watching him. Willa is her usual playful self, sitting beside Luke trying to show him how to toss popcorn up in the air and catch it with his mouth. It just keeps hitting them both in the face. No matter what, seeing everyone here to cheer Jasper on warms my heart. He needs this. Deserves this. We’re not up in the box. We’ve taken over almost an entire row of the stadium behind home net. Filled it with Eatons. Filled it with family. Maybe not the family he was born into but the one that wanted him the most. The one that will do anything for him.

Rhett yells, “Marry me, Jasper!” right as Summer elbows him in the ribs.

“Been raising cattle my entire life. I know the meaning. I know there’s nature. And that there’s nurture.”

“Don’t much care if I had a role in making you. I know in my heart I had a role in making you who you are today. And I’m damn proud of you, Jasper. Not sure I’ve told you that enough over the years.” “Thanks, Harv.” My voice catches on his name. “I’m not done,” he announces, moving his weight between his feet, like he’s a little awkward about this conversation as well. “I . . . Well, I know you’ve struggled. I know you’ve struggled with what’s in your heart. With feeling like you belong. And I’m just so dang happy that you found a place to belong with Sloane. But I also want you to know that you belong here. At the ranch with us.”