Chapter 31
Wes swings by the house on Wednesday afternoon. He says the ranch gets a little lonely in the cooler months with fewer events and staff, so he stopped in with today’s lunch special for me.
We sit out on the porch drinking iced lattes.
“I’m glad you’re here, Willow. Rose really missed you.”
“I missed her too—the city’s a lonely place without your best friend.”
“So you’re here for good then?”
“Unless they kick me out.” I shrug like it’s a joke but it hits a little too close to my insecurities.
He scoffs. “Then you’re a lifer.” He looks around. “Hard to leave this place once you fall in love with it. Believe me, I’ve tried.”
“Not very hard,” Dallas says with a wink, walking up the steps, surprising me.
“You’re home early.” I smile up at him and he bends to kiss me.
“Hmm. Lips are cold.”
I hold up the iced latte and take a sip. “Worth it.”
“Well, I should get back to The Shack,” Wes says, looking between us, a smirk forming. “Dal, brought you a roast beef in the fridge,” he continues.
“Thanks for feedin’ my girl, Wes. And again, the reception catering was incredible. Folks are still talking about the food.”
“Oh, and if there’s leftover cake, bring it on back,” I add.
He laughs. “I’ll check. Hey, any news on Ellie yet?”
Dallas sighs, glancing at me. “That’s why I’m here. I went to see Noah this morning, he said he’s got a date for us.”
“When?”
“Friday.”
I sit up. “This Friday?”
“Yep. He’s prepping some questions for us and will call to go through them.”
My stomach churns.
“Keep me posted,” Wes says before heading back to work.
“You went to Hideaway Springs today?” I ask when we’re alone.
“Yeah.” He removes an envelope from his jacket pocket. “I went to get something for you.”
I shift in my seat. Feeling cold, I pull my legs to my chest and fix the blanket.
“What is it?” I take the envelope from him and open it with caution, confused as I pull out several ripped pieces of paper. “Wha—what is this?”
“It’s our prenup. I never wanted it to begin with, and now it doesn’t exist.”
“Dallas, let it go.”
“No. I don’t want anything that says I don’t trust you or this marriage.
I love you, Sunset.” He bends down on one knee.
“And I want to show you how much every day.” He reaches into his shirt pocket this time and lifts a ring.
A beautiful, yellow-gold band and teardrop diamond.
“I know I already gave you a simple wedding band.” He lifts my hand.
“And you’ve got your grandmother’s ring close to your heart.
But I want you to have this. It was my mother’s.
You can wear it on your other hand, change it up, keep it safe somewhere. I don’t care, but it’s yours.”
“Dallas,” I breathe. “It’s beautiful. But I can’t take—”
“I want you to have it, Willow. Dad gave it to me when I was—well, I’d already gotten her something she had her eye on. So . . .” He holds it up. “Will you accept this ring and spend the rest of your life with me?”
“Yes,” I breathe happily. “I love it.” I take my grandmother’s ring off and move it to my other hand. Then give him my left one. Noticing as it trembles.
I shake off the memory of Eric breaking into my apartment and rummaging through my things to take his ring back.
This isn’t the same thing.
This is the real deal.
One day—there won’t be a single part of me that doubts it.
“I love you,” I whisper.
He watches me with those blue eyes of his, the kind of look that tells me he doesn’t know how he got here. But he’s happy he did. “I love you, too.”