Chapter 10
Joss
Brando blasts Green Day as we head to the Callahan's Farm on the outskirts of Corvid Valley.
The family is new to the area, having bought the place from the Garcias when Jose and Letty were ready to retire to their Ravenhart Mountain cabin.
The new owners wanted to continue to place orders with Corvid Valley Feed & Supply.
So I told them I would come with Brando today to go over the contract paperwork.
Turning down the music, my boyfriend looks over at me, grinning.
"What?" I ask.
"Do you realize it's almost our one-year anniversary?"
I run my hand across his thigh.
"Look at you, Mister Romantic," I tease.
"It's kind of hard to miss with Valentine's Day just two weeks away," he says with a chuckle.
I rest my head on his firm shoulder as we pull into the Callahans' driveway.
"Best thing I've ever done was allow my heart to fall for you," I say, and he squeezes my knee with his firm hand.
Once at the ranch, Brando helps the cowpokes carry the bags of feed into the barn while I go over the contract with Dirk Callahan. Two twin boys around the age of six come running out of the farmhouse when we are finishing up.
"Dad," the one in front yells as Dirk shakes our hands.
"Hey, guys. I'm almost finished," he says.
"Is that the dragon shifter?" the other boy asks, looking over at Brando with wide eyes.
His father chuckles, looking apologetically at my boyfriend.
"Sorry. They have a huge obsession with dragons, I couldn't help but let them know when I found out."
"That's no big deal," Brando says, turning to the boys. "Would you like to see me shift?"
The twins break out into cheers, and Brando looks over at Dirk for permission.
"Go for it, man. Thanks," my new customer says.
When he steps away from the truck, I watch the love of my life shift into his eggplant-colored dragon self and take to the sky, swooping around the Callahan Farm. A couple of ranch hands poke their heads out of the barn and watch him with amazement.
Looking over at the boys, my heart swells seeing how delighted they are at the sight of a dragon flying over their home.
When he lands, I bring them over to Brando, still shifted, and the two boys explore his scales and snout.
When they appear satisfied, he shifts back into his human-form, giving them both high fives.
"You just made their year," Dirk says with a laugh.
"Anytime," Brando says.
After a long day running errands in town, I step into my home to the smells of coziness and warmth.
"Are you cooking?" I call out, and my boyfriend pokes his head from the kitchen wearing an apron.
"My famous lasagna," he says, grinning at me.
"You are heaven-sent," I say, hanging up my coat as he pulls me in for a kiss.
"Everything go okay in town?" Brando asks, brushing the stray hair out of my eyes.
"Yep. And I couldn't resist. I stopped at Duskwood Winery's tasting room and grabbed a case of wine. It's in the trunk."
"That's perfect given that our one-year anniversary is tomorrow," he says, kissing my nose and grabbing the car keys from the hook.
Half an hour later, dressed in comfy sweats with my hair up in a messy bun, we sit across from each other with large glasses of Cabernet as we devour lasagna and Caesar salad.
I rest my sock-covered feet on my boyfriend's lap as he rubs the arches with his thumbs.
"We've got quite the perfect life here going for us, don't we?" I say with a contented sigh.
Brando's dark purple eyes twinkle mischievously at me as he nods, gently throwing my feet off of his lap.
"We sure do, but I have a way to make it even better," he says, reaching into his pocket, and falling to one knee.
I bolt upright in my chair as both hands fly to my mouth.
"Joss Gallagher, I think I've been in love with you within minutes of us meeting two years ago, but I, for sure, am madly and deeply in love with you now. I want to spend every one of my days with you for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?"
I launch off the kitchen chair and tumble into my fiancé, repeating yes over and over while covering his face with kisses. We giggle, lying on the kitchen floor, as he slides the diamond ring onto my finger.
"I love you so much, Brando."
"I love you too, my future wife."
We stay sprawled on the kitchen floor for several minutes, just staring at each other and grinning like idiots.
The diamond catches the overhead light, sending tiny rainbows across the ceiling.
My heart feels like it might burst from my chest, and I keep looking from the ring to Brando's face, unable to believe this is real.
"When did you buy this?" I ask, holding my hand up to get a better look at the stone.
"Three weeks ago," he admits with a sheepish grin. "I've been carrying it around, waiting for the right moment."
"This was the perfect moment," I say, leaning over to kiss him again. "Though I probably look like a mess."
"You look beautiful," he says, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "You always look beautiful."
I laugh, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "I can't believe we're engaged."
"Believe it," Brando says, pulling me closer. "You're stuck with me now, Joss Gallagher."
"Good," I whisper against his lips. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."