Chapter 32
Axel
Two Months Later…
The ranch is quiet as I pull up, just the distant sound of cattle and the familiar creak of the old windmill that Dad refuses to replace.
I park my truck near the main house, checking my phone one more time for messages from Sadie.
Nothing new since her morning text about Poppy's latest attempt at walking, three whole steps before a spectacular tumble that apparently had both of them laughing on the floor.
I smile at the memory of the photo she sent, Poppy's face mid-giggle, dark curls wild around her face.
Two months ago, I never would have imagined my life would look like this, planning Sunday dinners, keeping baby wipes in my truck, memorizing the lyrics to nursery rhymes that get stuck in my head for days.
And now, the velvet box burning a hole in my pocket.
The family home is unusually quiet for a weekday afternoon. Mom's probably at her book club, and Dad mentioned something about checking fence lines on the north pasture. Perfect timing, really. I need the space to think, to finalize the last details of how I'm going to ask Sadie to marry me.
I've never been the planning type, usually more of a "figure it out as I go" kind of guy. But this? This needs to be perfect. Not flashy or public, nothing that would make Sadie uncomfortable. Something meaningful. Private. Just us.
I'm so lost in my thoughts that I don't notice the unfamiliar truck parked around the side of the barn until I'm halfway to the house. Black, Texas plates, a layer of road dust coating the sides. For a second, my brain doesn't connect the dots. Then it hits me.
"You always did walk around with your head in the clouds, little brother."
I whirl around to find Aiden leaning against the porch railing, arms crossed over his chest, that familiar half smile on his face.
My brain short-circuits for a moment. He's supposed to be in Texas, running the Texas branch of the family business.
We just had a video call last week, and he didn't mention anything about coming home.
"What the hell?" I manage, shock giving way to a grin that threatens to split my face. "Did someone die that I don't know about?"
Aiden pushes off the railing, crossing the yard in a few long strides. "Nope. Just decided Colorado air is better for my complexion."
We collide in the kind of hug that would look violent to an outsider, all back-slapping and too-tight grips.
When we break apart, I give him a once-over.
He looks good, tanned from the Texas sun, maybe a little leaner than when he left, but the steady presence that defines my older brother hasn't changed a bit.
"Seriously, what are you doing here?" I ask. "The Texas branch—"
"Is running smoothly enough to be managed remotely." He shrugs, like moving back from Texas after three years is no big deal. "I'm home, Ax. For good."
The words take a second to process. "For good? As in…"
"As in I sold my place in Texas, shipped my stuff back yesterday, and I'm officially a Colorado resident again." He grins. "Try to contain your disappointment."
I punch his arm, harder than necessary. "Jackass. Why didn't you tell me?"
"And miss the dumbstruck look on your face? Not a chance." He gestures toward the house. "Mom made iced tea before she left. Said she had a feeling you'd be stopping by."
I follow him inside, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that my brother is actually home. Not visiting, not temporarily. Home.
"So what finally drove you back?" I ask as we settle at the kitchen counter with glasses of Mom's sweet tea. "The weather? The women? The crushing realization that you can't survive without Mom's cooking?"
Aiden snorts. "Maybe I just missed your sparkling personality."
"Bullshit."
He shrugs, his expression turning more serious. "It was time. The Texas branch is established. Dad's talking about scaling back his hours. And…" He pauses, taking a deliberate sip of his tea. "I heard things got interesting around here while I was gone."
I raise an eyebrow. "Define 'interesting.'"
"Mom mentioned something about you flying to Oregon on a rescue mission." His eyes, sharper than most people realize, study my face. "Said you took the company jet, security team, the works."
I tense slightly. The Oregon situation isn't something I've discussed with many people, mostly because it's Sadie's story to tell, not mine. But Aiden isn't just anyone. He's my brother, the one person besides Sadie who knows all my secrets.
"It was necessary," I say simply.
Aiden nods, not pushing. That's his way, patient, waiting for information rather than demanding it. The complete opposite of my usual bulldoze-through-problems approach.
"Must be some woman," he says after a moment.
"She is." I can't help the softening in my voice, the way my entire body relaxes just thinking about Sadie. "She's… everything, Aid."
He studies me for a long moment, his expression shifting from curiosity to something like amazement. "Holy shit," he says finally. "You're actually in love."
"Shut up," I mutter, but there's no heat in it.
"No, this is unprecedented." He's grinning now, enjoying my discomfort. "Axel Slade, perpetual bachelor, tamed at last. I need to mark this day on my calendar."
I flip him off, but I'm smiling too. "Yeah, well. Things change."
"Clearly." He leans back in his chair, still watching me with that perceptive gaze. "So when do I get to meet the woman who accomplished what half the female population of Colorado couldn't?"
"Sunday dinner," I tell him. "She's coming with her daughter, Poppy."
Aiden's eyebrows shoot up. "Daughter? You're dating a woman with a kid?"
"Yeah." I can't keep the pride out of my voice. "She's sixteen months old, smart as hell, and has me completely wrapped around her finger."
"Jesus, Ax." Aiden shakes his head, but his smile is genuine. "You really did go all in, didn't you?"
"When you know, you know." The words come out more serious than I intend.
Aiden's expression softens. "Mom said her name is Sadie? Runs that new coffee shop in town?"
I nod, taking a long drink of tea to hide the emotion that wells up whenever I talk about her.
"Sadie Calloway. She moved here with her sister, Rowan, about seven months ago."
"So, Oregon. You want to tell me what that was about?"
I hesitate, weighing my words carefully. "Sadie's ex was causing problems. Trying to take Poppy from her. We went to handle it."
"And did you? Handle it?"
"Yeah." I can't help the satisfaction that creeps into my voice. "Permanently."
Aiden nods, not asking for details. Another thing I've always appreciated about him, he understands some stories aren't his to know.
"Good." He drains his glass, setting it down with a decisive clink. "I'm glad you were there for her."
"Always will be," I say, the words a promise.
Aiden studies me for a long moment, his expression shifting as something catches his eye. He reaches across the counter, plucking something from my shirt pocket, a receipt, I realize. Not just any receipt, though. The one from the jeweler in Denver.
"What's this?" he asks, though his knowing smile says he's already figured it out.
I snatch it back, shoving it into my jeans pocket. "None of your business."
"Custom design consultation," he reads from memory, his grin widening. "Final payment for—"
"I said drop it," I growl, but there's no real anger behind it.
Aiden holds up his hands in surrender, but his eyes are dancing with amusement. "What's going on with you?" he asks, though his tone says he already knows the answer. "You're acting like a man about to do something stupidly romantic."
I can't help the smile that breaks across my face, my hand unconsciously patting the pocket where the ring box sits. "Maybe I am."
Aiden's eyes widen, and he reaches across the counter to grab my wrist. "Holy shit. You're actually going to propose."
I pull the small velvet box from my pocket, turning it over in my hand. "Tonight."
"Tonight?" He looks genuinely shocked. "As in, hours from now?"
"That's generally what tonight means, yeah." I open the box, revealing the ring I spent weeks designing, a delicate vintage-inspired setting with a center diamond flanked by tiny sapphires the exact color of Sadie's eyes. Nothing flashy or ostentatious, just elegant and timeless. Like her.
Aiden lets out a low whistle. "That's… wow. It's perfect for her."
"You haven't even met her yet," I point out.
"No, but I know you. And you wouldn't pick something like this for just anyone." He studies the ring with appreciation. "Mom's going to lose her mind."
I snap the box closed, suddenly feeling exposed. "Mom doesn't know yet. No one does."
"Until now," Aiden says, his expression softening into something genuine. "I'm honored to be the first to know, Ax."
The sincerity in his voice catches me off guard. We've never been the emotional declaration type, always hiding our deeper feelings behind jokes and casual banter.
"Yeah, well, don't get sentimental on me," I mutter, pocketing the ring. "I just need to make sure everything goes perfectly tonight."
"What's the plan?" Aiden leans forward, fully invested now.
I run through the details, the private picnic at the lake where we first kissed, the string lights I've spent the afternoon hanging in the trees, the playlist I've carefully curated with songs that mean something to us.
"Sounds like you've thought of everything," Aiden says when I finish. "But what about Poppy? You planning to include her?"
I can't help smiling at that. Trust Aiden to think of the detail I've been most worried about.
"That's the complicated part. She's too young to really understand, but she's such a huge part of our lives. I want her there, but I also want a moment that's just for Sadie and me."
Aiden nods thoughtfully. "What if I helped with that?"
"How?"
"I could watch Poppy for part of the evening. Give you two some privacy for the actual proposal, then bring her out for the celebration after." He shrugs like it's no big deal. "I'm good with kids."
"You've never even met her," I remind him.
"Kids love me," he says with complete confidence. "It's my natural charm."
I consider his offer. Having Aiden there would solve my biggest logistical challenge. And there's something right about my brother being involved in this moment.
"You'd really do that?"
"Of course I would." He looks almost offended that I'd question it. "It's not every day my little brother decides to get married."
The word hits me with unexpected force. Married. I'm going to ask Sadie to marry me. To be my wife. To let me be Poppy's father in every way that matters.
"Hey," Aiden says, noticing my sudden tension. "You're not having second thoughts, are you?"
"God, no." I shake my head emphatically. "Just the opposite. I've never been more sure of anything."
"Then what's with the deer-in-headlights look?"
I take a deep breath, trying to articulate the swirl of emotions in my chest. "I just want it to be perfect for her. She deserves perfect."
Aiden's expression softens. "Perfect doesn't mean flawless, Ax. It means right. And this"—he gestures to the ring in my pocket, to me, to everything—"this is right."
His certainty steadies me. I've been planning this for weeks, analyzing every detail, trying to anticipate every possibility. But hearing my brother's simple confidence makes everything clearer.
"Thanks," I say quietly.
"Don't mention it." He stands, clapping me on the shoulder. "Now, what time do you need me there? And do I need to bring anything? Champagne? Tissues for the inevitable tears?"
I roll my eyes, but I'm grateful for his lightening of the mood. "Seven. And just bring yourself. I've got everything else covered."
"I'll be there." He grins suddenly. "Though I have to say, I never thought you'd beat me to the altar."
"Yeah, well, life's full of surprises." I check my watch. "I should go. Still need to pick up the food and make sure everything's ready at the lake."
As I head for the door, Aiden calls after me. "Hey, Ax?"
I turn, one hand on the doorknob.
"She's going to say yes." His confidence is unwavering. "Anyone who's got you this twisted up must be pretty special. And anyone pretty special would be crazy to say no."
Relief settles over me with the feeling of having my family behind me, of not facing this massive life change alone.
It's been just me for so long, handling everything on my own terms. But this, having Aiden show up exactly when I need him, offering support without being asked, reminds me of what family truly means.
"I'll see you at seven," I say, my voice rougher than I intend.
Aiden just nods, understanding everything I'm not saying.
The drive back to town passes in a blur of anticipation and last-minute mental checklists.
I pick up the gourmet picnic basket from the catering company, double-check that the champagne is properly chilled, and swing by the florist for the bouquet of wildflowers I ordered, the same kind I gave Sadie the night after we first said "I love you. "
By the time I pull up to the lake, my hands are steady but my heart is racing.
The evening light is perfect, golden and warm as it filters through the trees.
The string lights I hung earlier today are ready to be switched on when the sun sets.
The blanket is laid out, the picnic arranged, everything in its place.
I take out my phone to text Sadie, when it chimes with an incoming message from Aiden.
"All set for 7. Don't overthink it. She loves you."
I smile, tapping out a quick thanks before pocketing my phone. I pull out the ring box one last time, opening it to make sure the ring is still as perfect as when I picked it up this morning. The diamonds catch the late afternoon sun, sending tiny rainbows dancing across my hand.
This is it. In less than an hour, I'll be asking Sadie to spend her life with me. To build a family together, me, her, and Poppy. To wake up beside me every morning and fall asleep in my arms every night.
I snap the box closed, tuck it safely in my pocket, and head back to my truck to wait for her. With each step, certainty grows in my chest, expanding until it feels like my ribs might crack from the pressure.
This is it. This is forever. And I've never wanted anything more.