Chapter 28
It’s not running away if your boyfriend invited you
Alex
I joined a call with Oliver, Casey, Tabitha, Kirsty, and Lennon first thing Saturday morning, apologizing for making them work on a holiday weekend.
I’d sent a text the evening before, letting them know I needed to take some time away and was going to work remotely from Wyoming on a part-time basis.
Everyone had been very supportive, with Lennon simply responding with approximately twenty heart-eye emojis.
Admittedly, the call was more to assuage my guilt at possibly leaving them hanging right after Jordan’s firing and the FBI investigation than making sure everything was covered.
I should have known better; my team was aces.
Casey walked me through the current project pipeline twice, Tabitha listed every system she had in place to handle my usual workload, and everyone took turns convincing me that yes, really, they could manage without me checking in every few hours or even days.
“You’re sure you don’t need me to check in daily?” I asked, even though I knew the answer. Still, I wanted to verify every backup system twice.
“Alex,” Tabitha’s voice carried that patient-but-firm tone she’d perfected for managing my control tendencies, “we’ve got this. Go be with your cowboy and try to relax for once in your adult life.”
“Right. Okay. I’ll call you Tuesday unless there’s an emergency.”
“No emergencies,” Oliver chimed in. “Tabitha’s literally making us promise not to text you unless the building’s on fire.”
I spent the rest of Saturday double-checking work handovers and making sure I hadn’t missed anything critical. Enzo and Finn cooked dinner and Dom suggested a couch movie night. It felt perfect after the nightmarish week I’d already been through.
Sunday morning, I packed; weeks of clothes folded and organized with just enough room left for the final necessities.
I shoved my phone in the pocket of my leggings before double-checking that I had all I needed out of my bathroom. I threw two more phone charging cables on top of everything just in case and zipped my bag closed.
“Ready?” Finn’s voice came from the doorway. I looked up to find him leaning against the frame, already dressed in his usual joggers and t-shirt. His duffel bag sat by his feet.
“As ready as I can get,” I shouldered my laptop bag and grabbed the handle of my wheeled suitcase. “Which is to say, I’ve planned for approximately seventeen different scenarios and I’m still worried I forgot something important.”
He stepped into the room and took my suitcase, his fingers brushing mine on the handle. “What’s the most important thing you definitely didn’t forget?”
“You,” I bit my lip to stop the grin, but it didn’t work.
Finn’s expression softened.
“Good answer,” he smiled, leaning down to kiss me. “Let’s go.”
He loaded our bags into the SUV Dom had driven him down in while I hugged Enzo tightly.
“Thank you,” I sniffed.
“Yeah, well the dummy wasn’t going to read your mind was he,” Enzo squeezed me. “I’m glad it worked out.”
I turned to Dom, throwing my arms around him next. “Thanks for driving him down.”
“Thanks for letting us crash here a couple more days before our flight leaves,” he chuckled.
Finn said his goodbyes to Dom and Enzo before opening the driver’s door for me and then climbing in the passenger’s side.
The drive north progressed in comfortable hours of shared music and quiet conversation, my hands on the wheel for most of the mountain stretches while Finn navigated or dozed in the passenger seat.
We traded playlist control back and forth, enjoying everything from classic rock and pop-punk to Taylor Swift and Green Day.
During the quiet stretches between music, Finn prepared me for the personalities I’d be meeting, the summer rhythms I’d be stepping into, the controlled chaos of tourist season and three generations living and working together on the same property.
His mom would try to feed me constantly, probably, and Belle would want to talk art and animation nonstop, which genuinely sounded delightful.
His grandma would have opinions about us that she’d share whether I wanted to hear them or not.
The landscape shifted as we climbed higher, pine forests giving way to broader valleys and familiar peaks. When we crested the pass and the valley opened up below us, I pulled over at the scenic overlook, needing a moment to take in the view that never got old.
“Wow,” I breathed, staring at the Tetons rising against the blue sky.
Finn smiled, watching my face instead of the view. “Welcome to Wyoming.”
As we got closer, North Star Ranch unfolded before us; the family compound, lodge, restaurant and barns scattered across the valley floor, all of it dwarfed by mountains that rose like walls around everything.
I pulled into the gravel drive and cut the engine, quiet settling around us.
No manufactured din, just wind and the distant sound of animals in pastures.
“Uncle Finn! Alex!” A teenage girl bounded down the porch steps ahead of everyone else, all energy and enthusiasm. “Did you really drive the whole way?”
I glanced at Finn as he climbed out and moved around to my side of the car.
He caught her in a quick hug before turning to me with a grin. “Alex, this is my niece, Belle. Belle, this is Alex.”
“Hi Belle,” I smiled, immediately charmed by her as she threw her arms around me. “Nice to finally meet you.”
“You worked on Legends of Heliox, right?” She stepped back. “Uncle Dom was in that!”
“We did,” I laughed at her rapid-fire excitement. “But I’d love to hear about what you’re working on.”
“Belle, give her a second to breathe,” Finn chuckled with obvious affection.
More people emerged from the main house, and Finn moved closer to me, setting his hand on the small of my back as he guided me toward them. “Alex, I want you to meet my parents.”
A woman with Finn’s eyes appeared, flour dusting her apron. “This is my mom, Bridget,” Finn introduced me. “Mom, this is Alex.”
Bridget pulled me into a warm hug that smelled like bread and cinnamon sugar. “We’re so glad you’re here, sweetheart. Finn’s told us so much about you.”
“Thank you for having me,” I whispered, meaning it completely. “It’s beautiful here.”
“And this is my dad, Nolan,” Finn continued, gesturing to the man beside her who offered his hand with an easy smile.
“Thanks for making the drive,” Nolan nodded, his handshake firm and welcoming. “Hope it wasn’t too rough coming over the pass.”
“Not too bad,” I replied. “Though I definitely understand why Finn wanted to take the scenic route.”
“And this is my sister Elowyn,” Finn slipped his arm around my waist, gesturing to the woman coming down the steps. “El, meet Alex.”
She stepped forward with a warm smile that reminded me of Finn’s. “Belle’s mom. Apologies for the chaos. Everyone is just so excited to meet you in person.”
I grinned. “Honestly, this is pretty manageable compared to my family gatherings.”
“These are my boys, Jack and Lucas,” she motioned behind her. They each greeted me with toothy grins.
“We’ve got you set up in the lodge,” Bridget steered us toward one of the smaller buildings once Finn had pulled our luggage out of the car. “The main house is pretty full, but we keep a couple of rooms there for family overflow. You’ll have more privacy, and it’s got a beautiful view.”
The lodge was cool and quiet as we entered. It felt refined but still homey and welcoming. Bridget led us down a hallway lined with black and white photographs of the ranch through the decades, horses and cattle and family gatherings spanning generations.
“Here we are,” she opened a door near the end of the hall and handed Finn the keycards. “You can ring room service if you need anything and if you eat at the restaurant, just charge it to the room. Family dinner’s at six at the house, but no pressure if you need to rest instead.”
She left us alone, and I stepped into the room, the intimacy of it settling around me.
Dark walls and ceiling created a cozy cocoon while the floor-to-ceiling windows surrounding the balcony door flooded everything with mountain light.
Two beds with rich walnut headboards were made up with crisp white linens.
A thick rug covered the hardwood floors in warm earth tones.
Everything was soft and luxurious in a way that made me want to sink in and stay awhile.
Finn set our suitcases near the closet, glancing around the room. “Pretty nice setup.”
“It’s gorgeous,” I ran my hand along one of the headboards, the walnut smooth and warm under my fingers. “Two beds,” I murmured, my cheeks flushing. I hadn’t given much thought to our sleeping arrangements on this trip.
“Your choice every night,” he lifted a shoulder as he moved toward where I stood by the window. “No pressure either way.”
I looked out at the Tetons rising beyond the lodge grounds, guests moving around the property below, the distant barns and main house scattered through the trees. Finn stood behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and kissing the top of my head.
“Okay,” I smiled as I turned to kiss him softly before moving to unzip my suitcase and finding something clean to wear to dinner.
I settled on the same blue jumpsuit I’d worn to Dom and Enzo’s family engagement party, taking it into the bathroom to change.
When I re-emerged, Finn had changed as well, trading his joggers and t-shirt for khaki-colored Wranglers, a light gray button-down, and his boots.
“That is one of my favorite outfits of yours,” he smiled as I emerged, pulling me into his arms and kissing me. I could get used to extra-affectionate Finn, he made me feel bolder… brighter than gold.
“I see you’ve settled into ranch-mode,” I teased gently, slipping my arms around his waist.
“When in Rome,” he grinned.
“I think you mean Jackson Hole,” I winked, pulling a laugh from him.