Epilogue
Two Years Later
Alexandra
Caspian sends me a wink through the glass window of the sound booth at Sun Ridge Records, my venture with Nash Rivers.
The faint hum of amps buzzes beneath the mellow lighting, wrapping the space in warmth.
Cas strums some chords to Taryn Murphy’s newest duet with Walker James, a twenty-three-year-old small-town bad boy who can sing like nobody’s business, and I could just melt into this couch right now.
He is so freaking gorgeous! I’m sitting in the control room with, the faint scent of cedar hanging in the air, watching my man live his best life.
No, Caspian didn’t give up his day job. He’s still facilities manager at Echo Ridge and loves every second of it.
But these days, he’s also a part-time studio artist for me and Nash.
It’s the perfect gig for him. The music feeds his artistic soul, while the ranch feeds his need to be outdoors and work on the land.
The label has been open for two years now, with our main office in the historic bank building in downtown Indigo Hills, which is where we are now.
It turns out that the bank vault is the perfect place for a state-of-the-art recording studio.
The vault door is just for show, of course, but the acoustics within are phenomenal.
Our sound engineer just won a grammy, and he credits the space for capturing sound perfectly.
Nash and I renovated the property next to Twisted Whiskey into a residential studio for our musicians.
It’s a creative space that allows them to both stay and write on site.
The feedback has been positive, and by giving the artists a choice of locations, many have voiced how their creativity is sparked here in Cobalt County.
My work-life balance is better than I ever could have imagined.
I have a career that I love and still have time to breathe.
Bree, my assistant, moved to Indigo Hills to continue working with me, and she loves this place.
I couldn’t do it without her. Sun Ridge has recruited several artists—some big names, some new to country music.
We’ve partnered with Magnum Records on a few projects, which works well.
Nash peeks into the control room, his fourteen-month-old daughter perched on his hip while her mama is at work, or so he thinks.
Poor Rebecca. She did not give convey one ounce of her DNA to that little girl.
Harlow’s all daddy with dark curly hair, green eyes, and the most impish grin.
Those two are in serious trouble. Although they haven’t found out the sex yet of their second baby, with any luck, it will be a protective boy who threatens any guy stepping within a ten-mile radius of his sister.
The crisp strum of steel strings fills the control room, the sound of finger picked notes crackling like thunder in the dark sky.
I feel it to my core. There’s something visceral and primal about watching my man do this thing, kind of like when I see him wrangle a runaway steer. Sexy times are always hotter afterward.
I can’t stop the rush of heat coursing up my spine at the thought of Caspian wearing nothing except a smile.
We still don’t live together, but it’s worked well.
For the last couple of years, I’ve lived on the top floor of Sun Ridge, right in the heart of town.
It will eventually become artist lodging, but for now, it’s my home even though I spend half my time at Caspian’s tiny house.
I love that place, and I know I’m going to live there with him sooner rather than later.
We’ve talked marriage and babies and all the things, but setting up the label took a lot of my time and energy.
Next week, the two of us are headed to Maui, and I have a sneaky feeling that he’s going to propose while we’re there.
What Caspian doesn’t know is that as we speak, his sister Ruby and all of my friends are decorating his family property for me.
Right on the riverbank will be a table for two perched underneath a square wooden arch that’s decorated with a mix of our favorite flowers, gardenias and hydrangeas.
There will also be a throw blanket adorned with comfy cushions plus a several hurricane lamps to set the mood.
Two years ago, I arrived in Cobalt County lonely, overworked, and searching for the unknown.
Now I’m about to propose to the incredible man who taught me what it means to be rooted somewhere, to belong.
I have amazing friends, a great sister-in-law to be, and own my own business. It’s more than I ever thought possible.
My hand slides into my pocket, fingers curling around the simple platinum band I picked out last month—no diamonds, just like he’d want.
Tonight, by the same river where I flirted with him like crazy, I’m going to turn the tables on every expectation he has.
I don’t want to wait one more day to be engaged.
He’s my everything.
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed Alex's and Cas's love story. Please consider leaving me a review.
xoxo,
Aubrey
Want to read Zane's and Capri's grumpy-sunshine love story? Find out what happens in Influencing the Rancher, or keep reading for a Chapter 1 preview!
Chapter 1
Capri
“What the blazes do you think you’re doing?”
A truck door slams somewhere behind the ranch’s barbed-wire fence, but I ignore the rugged voice.
It’s the golden hour in the influencer world, the time of day right before sunset when the sun’s rays cast a warm, natural glow that’s ideal for photos.
Ten minutes remain of this perfect Hill Country light before my shot is ruined, and I’m not about to waste them explaining myself to a man who has no say in how I run my business.
“Hey. Princess.” The cowboy raises one hand and snaps twice. “I’m talking to you.”
Did he really just snap his fingers at me? Even my four-year-old knows better.
I whip around to give the jerk a piece of my mind but am momentarily stunned into silence.
The hottest man in the south stands at the ranch’s fencing, a tight white t-shirt showing off his tanned, sculpted muscles.
Ink swirls down both of the stranger’s arms, the intricate designs eclectic and intriguing.
You’ve seen a male before, Capri. Stop staring like he’s a dessert bar.
Unfortunately, my brain does not listen to reason.
The guy’s faded jeans grip his physique in the yummiest of ways, and to top it off, he’s wearing a backward ball cap—my personal kryptonite—with blond wisps of hair peeking out from underneath.
A short beard dusts his square jaw, and I am going to melt into a puddle right now.
Hot Guy’s eyes slowly rake over my body.
Sure, my dark hair falls in waves past my shoulders, and okay, my skin has been called flawless, and fine, my curves have been known to make men forget their own names.
Do I mind the attention? Not usually. Teenage me didn’t know there were members of the opposite sex who appreciate a voluptuous woman, and she’s still inside me somewhere celebrating.
As if clearing out rocks, Hot Guy shakes his head, then taps a worn cowboy boot on the bottom fence rail. “I’m waiting, Princess.”
Seriously?! Screw him and that deep, throaty voice.
Flicking my hair over my shoulder, I throw up a hand and start counting with my fingers.
“One, I’m not a dog, so snapping won’t work on me.
” A hawk soars overhead and settles on a nearby post as if watching our exchange.
“Two, thank you for recognizing a royal pedigree when you see one. My Tudor ancestors would be proud.” The bird of prey cocks its head, its beady eyes locked on us like it’s judging who’ll back down first. “Three, this side of the fence is county property. There are no laws prohibiting me from taking photos here.” It’s true.
I always verify that no area bylaws will prohibit me from posting certain pictures to my socials.
Arms crossed over his chest, Hot Guy quirks an eyebrow at me, so I quirk an eyebrow right back. A movement catches my eye, so I turn.
The hawk shifts on the fence post, one leg tucked under its body, its eyes sharp and judgy. Let’s go, bird. My mascara’s waterproof, and my patience is petty. I’m not backing down.
But why are this guy’s biceps so big and bulgy? And why am I even noticing them? I swore off all men eight months ago, particularly grumpy, gorgeous types who think the world should bend to their will just because they exist.
The hawk lets out a sharp cry and propels from its roost into the sky, drawing my gaze toward the setting sun.
With zero time to waste on these games, I turn to face my tripod, the ruffled skirt of my dress twirling several inches above my knees.
I walk backward to the spot lined up on my camera’s screen, the picturesque hills framing the countryside behind the ranch fencing.
My client, Clover & Lark, is a woman-owned business that’s quickly becoming a sought-after online boutique known for its sustainable fabrics.
The spring colors of the dress are complemented by the swaying grass, the special edition cowboy boots matching the earth tones of the hill country landscape.
Both are confirmation that this winding county road is the optimal place to capture my social media images.
Adjusting my brown waves to fall in front of my shoulders, I decide the shot looks perfect.
In the area for a family reunion, I arrived in Indigo Hills a few days early to scout locations for the clothing campaign—and to tour the local elementary schools.
My cousin, who has lived here about a year, won’t stop bragging about how great this small town is.
I have to admit there’s something about the Texas Hill Country that feels like I was meant to land here.