Chapter 21
Alexis
I stare at myself in the mirror, nerves about going to the anniversary gnawing at my stomach.
I curled my hair into soft waves and decided to let it fall loose.
I found a cute spring dress at the local thrift shop for twenty dollars.
It’s white with pink roses all over it, the fabric flowing down to my calves, with ruffles on the straps resting on my shoulders.
I got the shoes at half price in a small store in town, white high-heeled sandals.
I put on some pink and gold eyeshadow, mascara, and dark pink lipstick.
A little blush and… yeah… I look good… I think.
A knock on my bedroom door makes me jump. I walk over, put my hand on the knob, and take a deep breath. I don’t know why, but I kind of want Dex to like this outfit.
Stupid… I know.
I sigh and open the door.
My jaw drops.
I’ve always seen Dex in T-shirts and jeans or, well… bare-chested around the house, but… damn. He’s wearing a black button-up shirt and dark jeans.
“You look…” he says, and I glance up at him. His hair is still damp from the shower, and I fight the urge to run my fingers through it. His eyes darken as they move over me, slow and deliberate, making heat curl low in my stomach. “Absolutely stunning,” he finishes, meeting my gaze.
I swallow. “Thank you.” My voice comes out hoarse, and I clear my throat, forcing a smile. “You cleaned up well too, Pan.”
I look up at him, expecting his usual smirk, but his eyes are still dark, his jaw tight like he’s holding something back.
“All right, let’s go.”
He takes my hand, and warmth shoots up my arm, settling somewhere deeper than it should. I hold on to the feeling a second longer than necessary before following him out.
What is wrong with me?
I grab my jean jacket and purse, and we make our way downstairs and outside. My eyes widen when I spot the Harley parked in front of the building. Dex steps up beside it, picks up a helmet, and offers it to me.
“Oh no.” I shake my head and start toward my car.
Suddenly, his arm wraps around my middle, stopping me, and his mouth brushes close to my ear as he leans in from behind. “You scared to ride a bike, Tinker?”
I turn, slipping out of his hold. “No. I’m wearing a dress, and I refuse to ruin my makeup on that thing.” I nod toward the Harley.
“If I promise I’ll go slow and that your makeup will still be perfect when we get there, will you give it a try?” His voice softens just slightly. “Please. I haven’t ridden in months, and I’m starting to lose my mind.”
I glance up at the cloudless sky, then back at him, and sigh. “Oh, okay,” I grumble, taking the helmet from his hands.
The smirk he gives me in return makes something flutter low in my stomach, and I hate how much I don’t mind it.
Dex swings his leg over the bike, puts his helmet on, and starts it. The engine rumbles to life, deep and powerful, vibrating through the ground beneath my feet. He turns toward me and reaches out his hand.
“I don’t know how…” I admit.
His voice comes through the helmet, clear now. “You’re good. Just swing your left leg over and sit, then hold on to me.”
He winks.
I roll my eyes. “If I fall, you’re buying me a new dress.”
His laugh crackles through the headset. “I’ll buy you ten if they all look like that.”
Heat rises to my cheeks as I climb on behind him, the reality of how close I’ll have to be hitting me all at once.
The fabric of my dress shifts against my legs as I settle onto the seat, brushing against the bike, and for a second I freeze, my hands hovering in the air, unsure where to go.
“Tinker,” he says, amusement threading through his voice, “you’ll want to hold on.”
I close my eyes for half a second before wrapping my arms around him.
Everything in me tightens.
He’s warm. Solid. Real in a way that makes my body go completely still for a second before my heartbeat kicks up, fast and uneven. The scent of cedarwood and sage wraps around me, and instead of pulling away, I find myself settling into it, my grip tightening just slightly.
“Hold on,” he murmurs.
And something about the way he says it sends a shiver down my spine.
He glances back over his shoulder. “You trust me?”
My fingers tighten against him, a flicker of hesitation catching in my chest before I answer.
“Yeah.”
I don’t know when that became true.
The bike surges forward, and the world shifts.
The wind hits first, cool and sharp, tugging at my dress, threading through my hair as we leave town behind us. The road stretches ahead, wide and open, and I find myself leaning into him just a little more as we pick up speed.
Not because I’m scared.
Because I don’t want to let go.
Wyoming in late April feels caught between seasons, patches of snow still clinging stubbornly to the shadows while fresh green pushes through the ground.
The air is crisp, but the sun warms my skin, softening everything around us as we ride past endless fields and fences that carve the land into familiar lines.
Clusters of trees break the landscape here and there, some still bare, others just beginning to bloom, until something catches my eye and I lean slightly to get a better look.
A row of trees, their branches covered in soft pink blossoms, petals shifting in the wind like they don’t belong out here and yet somehow make everything feel more alive.
“Didn’t know cherry trees grew out here,” I murmur.
My grip tightens around him as I watch them pass.
“Weeping cherry blossoms,” he says over the wind. “Mama planted them years ago. Said they made the place feel softer.”
Softer.
Yeah.
That’s exactly what it feels like.
We ride past them, but the image stays with me, something delicate rooted in a place that isn’t.
Kind of like…
I shake the thought away before it can settle.
No.
The closer we get, the tighter something pulls in my chest, and I can’t tell if it’s the ride, the way I’m still holding on to him, or the fact that I’m about to step into his world again.
Dex slows as we turn onto a long dirt road, the engine rumbling beneath us as dust lifts behind.
And then I see it.
The ranch stretches out ahead, wrapped in soft music drifting through the air, laughter carrying across the open space, the scent of flowers mixing with something sweet and warm from the food being prepared.
White string lights hang between posts, glowing softly even in the daylight, and round tables dressed in white and pink are scattered across the field overlooking the lake.
It feels like stepping into something out of a dream.
Dex brings the bike to a stop, and for a second his hand covers mine before he pulls away.
“You can let go now, Tinker.”
I pull back immediately, my heart still racing as he removes his helmet. He reaches for mine, unbuckling it with careful fingers before lifting it off, his gaze lingering on my face… then my lips.
Something shifts in his expression before he looks away.
He offers me his hand.
“Time to party, Hawthorne style.”
He smiles.
And I smile back.
We walk up the steps and the door flies open. This time it isn’t Lily Hawthorne standing there, but Jace in a dark blue button-up, jeans, and a black cowboy hat over a face that must be stealing many hearts.
“Hot damn, my brother brought the most beautiful woman to the party!” Jace takes off his cowboy hat and walks over to us.
“Tone it down, fucker.” Dex pulls his little brother into a hug.
“I missed your sorry ass.”
“Missed your stinky ass too.”
They grin at each other, then Jace turns to me and folds me into an embrace.
“Damn, she smells good too.”
Suddenly Jace lets go, and Dex pulls him back by the scruff of his shirt.
I laugh. “Nice to finally meet you, Jace.”
Jace smirks, his eyes crinkling. “The pleasure is all mine, darlin’.”
“All right, off you go.” Dex pushes him toward the door, and we follow.
Inside, candles and flowers are everywhere, making the place look like a fairytale.
“Lexy!”
Mia runs toward us, wearing the cutest white dress with pink flowers in her hair.
“You look beautiful!” she says, looking me up and down.
“Oh no, you’re one hundred percent the most beautiful one here.” I hug her.
“You look like a fairy!” She beams up at me, then turns. “Uncle Dex, doesn’t she look like a fairy?”
Dex’s eyes warm as he picks Mia up, looking me over like he hasn’t seen me yet today.
“She does…”
“She looks good enough to eat!” Jace chimes in, and Dex turns to knock him on the head.
“Watch it, little brother. Wouldn’t want to hurt those knees right before rodeo season starts again.”
Jace doesn’t seem bothered and offers me his arm to walk outside, but Dex takes my hand instead, guiding me past him and out the door, leaving Jace pouting behind us in a way that somehow still looks unfairly handsome.
“Lexy!”
Penny walks over, a lovely green dress making her look surreal, camera in hand, Cas right behind her looking just as put together.
I hear a click and realize she took a shot while Dex is still holding my hand.
Then she hugs us both. “I saw your mama, she looks so beautiful.”
Penny’s smile is infectious, and I find myself smiling too. “Where’s Summer?”
She points to a table where a three-tiered white and pink cake sits, Summer adding the final touches.
“She made that?”
Penny nods. “She’s great at baking.”
I nod. “Let’s go say hi.”
Dex’s hand settles on my lower back as he guides me toward Summer and Ethan, the warmth of it grounding in a way I’m trying very hard not to think about.
“Hey, girl! You look absolutely stunning!” Summer hugs me close.
I smile as I take her in. “You look beautiful.”
Her light blue wrap dress hugs every curve perfectly, making her eyes shine.
“Thank you.”
Ethan hugs me next. “Glad you’re here, Lexy,” he says quietly.
“Thanks.” I glance down, not used to being so welcomed and… accepted.
“Is that my big brother?” a voice calls, and I turn to find Grace.
I’ve only seen her on video calls, but in person she’s like a burst of sunlight.