Chapter 25
LEXI
A s the plane touches down on the private runway, I feel sick.
“Are you okay?” Easton asks, interlocking his fingers with mine and kissing my knuckles.
“I’m nervous. It’s not something I experience often.”
“It’s home though. Your stomping grounds.”
“It is. But I left for a reason, and I had something to prove. Now, I’m back to flaunt my man?” I shake my head. “It seems ridiculous .”
“You’re not flaunting anything. I’m meeting your family before I propose. I’ll ask your mother and brothers for permission and get to know those closest to you.”
I search his face. “Do you have a death wish?”
“Some would say I do. But also, it’s Southern tradition, isn’t it?” He chuckles.
“Yes. Of course.”
“I want to give you a full ten out of five experience, considering you’re providing that for me.”
I shake my head, but I’m smiling. I think about my dad, how he’d have adored Easton and his love for vintage cars.
Dad probably would’ve threatened him to treat his little girl right.
Not that Easton even needs the warning. He’s been the perfect gentleman—other than him getting me fired, but I’ve forgiven him for that.
“I just want people to like you. What if this makes things worse?”
“They’ll love me. Believe it or not, I can be charming. Together, we’re unstoppable, babe.” He laughs. “Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Weston has set up a private meeting with Mayor Martinez at the end of the week.”
“Why?” My mouth falls open.
“I’ve decided to make a generous donation to Valentine for you, my darling. We’re discussing where the funds will be assigned. I’d love for you to help with the decision-making, unless you’d prefer not to be involved.”
I blink at him in disbelief. “Easton, that’s amazing, but you don’t have to do that.”
“I know. However, it’s being done anonymously, so no unwanted attention is brought to us or you.”
“Right.” I chuckle. “They’ll know it was you after we visit.”
“Speculation.”
We deplane, and our luggage is loaded into the limo waiting for us.
I stop walking. “We’re showing up in that? Shall we call the chief of police to give us an escort into town?”
“Too much?” he asks, watching me.
“Yes,” I whisper. “I’d like no attention. We’ll have enough to deal with already.”
The driver stares at us, holding the door open, waiting for me to climb inside.
Easton doesn’t move. Instead, he turns to the driver. “I’d like a different vehicle, please. No limo. Nothing extravagant.”
He snaps the professional on. “Yes, Mr. Calloway. I’ll send another driver. Will an SUV be sufficient, or would you prefer something else?”
Easton waits for me to speak, letting me answer.
“That would be great,” I say, smiling at the man.
He gives me a nod and unloads our luggage. Easton tips him, and the car drives away.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, knowing this will slow us down.
We’re led to the private hangar as the crew scrambles around us.
“I’ve inconvenienced everyone.”
“Please don’t apologize.” His voice is silky smooth.
He places his strong hand on the small of my back and meets my eyes.
“You are never an inconvenience, Lexi. I want you to be comfortable. Your boundaries, wants, and needs are important to me. At times, I’m out of touch.
You bringing me back to reality is welcome and appreciated at any time of the day. ”
His phone vibrates in his pocket, but he doesn’t answer. He’s focused on me and our conversation. I like being the center of his attention.
“I mean it.”
“Thank you,” I say, relaxing. “Thanks for caring and not being upset. Most men?—”
“I’m not most men.” He tilts his head, giving me a half smile. “Also, I’d never be upset with you over something so … trivial . You being you is what I want and appreciate. Honesty is the best policy, consequences be damned. Speak up if it happens again, okay?”
I nod and wrap my arms around him. He pulls me into a hug, breathing in my hair as I inhale him. We stay like this for a few minutes, and I don’t want to let him go, not when it comes so easily. Many don’t make eye contact with us, but I know they’re watching, but I’m not doing it for them.
Fifteen minutes later, a dark SUV with blacked-out windows arrives.
Easton leans close. “Is this okay? If not, say the word. I can do this with you all night. No fucks given.”
“It’s perfect,” I say with a laugh, relaxing.
Then, we force ourselves away from one another.
Easton walks to the door and opens it for me. When I’m settled, he joins me on the other side. Once I’m buckled, I reach for Easton’s hand, and he takes mine. I like how his thumb rubs across mine; it’s a simple reminder that he’s there and we’re doing this together.
The front passenger door opens and closes and my eyes widen when I see Brody in his typical garb.
“There you are.” I smile, leaning forward. “I kind of missed seeing you. What have you been up to over the past few days?”
Brody shakes his head but ignores me, per usual. It’s to be expected.
Easton clears his throat. “Are you two friends now?”
“Yeah, he hung out with Carlee and me in our apartment. Even offered him a beer while he was hanging out.” I smirk, knowing he made me lose a hundred bucks.
“Excuse me?” Easton’s brows furrow.
“Oh, yeah. He didn’t tell you?” I squeeze Easton’s hand. “I also learned he’s your cousin and a dickwad, like you.”
Laughter falls from Easton’s perfect lips and he grins. “And what else did he share with you?”
Brody chuckles, but doesn’t say anything.
“That was about it.”
I don’t mention anything else we discussed. It will be our secret.
The driver climbs in, and we exit the airport.
I glance at Easton as we leave.
“I still expect the answer to my question in two days. I haven’t forgotten, my little heartbreaker,” he says.
I’m brought back to being in the tent, when he asked me if I was genuinely anti-love.
Right now, I don’t know.
The answer should be yes , without hesitation.
However, this man has somehow burrowed himself under my skin and is swimming through my blood like poison, destroying all my opinions about love.
“Kinda feels like we’re counting down to the new year,” I say.
“In a way, we are.”
“So, today is your lucky number day?”
He nods. “Yep. Thirteen.”
“Should I expect a cheeseburger and a breakup text soon?”
Brody coughs to cover up his laughter.
Of course he knows.
He’s probably witnessed each time Easton ate alone at Frankie’s.
“Still to be determined,” Easton says, smirking.
I playfully roll my eyes.
We drive several hours to Valentine, and Easton is on his phone the entire time.
It’s late afternoon, and most shops on Main Street are still open.
In the summer, they usually stay open later, thanks to the tourists who frequent Big Bend National Park and the observatory on Mount Locke.
Things slow down in the winter, except in December, when the town transforms into a place one would find in a snow globe.
As we pass the bookstore, newspaper office, diner, and grocery store, heads turn. Maybe the SUV is too much.
“Fuck,” Easton whispers, focusing out the front windshield. “Paps are already here.”
Only then do I see them with the long-lens cameras, like they were waiting for us. I dip down in my seat, not allowing them to take a photo of me from the front windshield.
“I’m sorry,” Easton whispers.
“It comes with the territory,” I say, smiling. “No worries.”
He nods as we continue out of town and travel down the long, winding road, where most of the family ranches are in the area.
“Are we going to my parents’ place now?” I ask, unsure if I’m prepared to face my mother so soon.
I haven’t asked about our plans since it happened so fast, which might have been a mistake.
“We’re staying at the bed-and-breakfast at Horseshoe Creek Ranch. I booked it for four nights. We’ll fly back to New York on Sunday.”
My mouth falls open. “My best friend growing up works there.”
“Remi? Why are you making that face?”
It’s shock.
“Because she knows me better than Carlee.”
“This will be very interesting. I look forward to speaking with her.”
“I already told her about you.”
He smirks. “Even better.”
Remi is three years younger than me, but we became fast friends when we were kids, after I spilled purple juice on her favorite T-shirt.
Bad first impressions have followed me since I was a kid.
She was the valedictorian of her class, intelligent beyond her years, and loved to read too.
Not to mention, her family founded the town, which is their namesake.
Everyone knows the Valentine family. They’re small-town royalty.
I laugh. “Actually, I think she’s having a barn birthday party this weekend. It’s on the same property as the B & B.”
“A barn party?” He’s confused.
“It’s better than a pasture party, especially if it starts raining. That way, there’s shelter.” I try to hide laughter because he has no idea what I’m talking about.
“You’re bluffing,” he states.
“I’m not. We should attend though. Her brothers, Beckett and Harrison, always host unforgettable parties. You might get the full Southern experience while you’re here. By the end, maybe you’ll be wearing Wranglers and saying y’all and yeehaw .”
“And maybe you’ll be saying I do .”
“Still waiting for that ring,” I say, shooting him a wink as my heart beats harder when he tries to hold back a smile.
Eventually, the SUV slows and turns into Horseshoe Creek Ranch’s long rock driveway.
The farmhouse sits in the distance against the backsplash of the fading sun on hundreds of acres of land.
Summer Jones and Beckett Valentine renovated the house last year and transformed it into a bed-and-breakfast. Summer is my age and Beckett is a few years older.
They fell madly in love after nearly fist fighting one another for this property.
In the end, they both won, because they fell in love, are engaged, and now share the ranch.