Chapter 41
FORTY-ONE
IZZY
The second I see Dylan and Madison riding side by side, my heart feels like it will burst open and I’m running as fast as my legs will carry me, not caring that my dress is swirling at the tops of my thighs and there’s dust on my sneakers.
Madison trots with Rosie to meet me by the barn, sliding down from the small mare with a sheepish smile and watery eyes.
I scoop her into my arms, crouching to the ground, crying, holding her tight, pressing kisses into her hair, whispering how much I love her over and over again.
Buck shoves his head into the embrace, licking our tears and making us both laugh as we pull apart.
From the corner of my vision, I see Dylan take Rosie’s rein, leading her and Rusty toward the fence to secure them.
He steps back, giving me and Mad this moment, and I’m grateful for it.
I hold my daughter tight, breathing in the fruity smell of her shampoo and wiping the tears from her face.
“You OK?” I ask.
She nods, her bottom lip trembling. “I’m sorry I ran away.”
“And I’m sorry I thought for a single second that living with Grandma and Granddad was right for us.”
“I don’t like it there,” she whispers.
“Neither do I.” I smile, brushing away a stray tear from her face. She reaches up and brushes away one of mine, too. “We’ll figure this out,” I say. “But no more running away. You talk to me from now on, and I’ll talk to you. We’re a team, Mad. I’m sorry I forgot that.”
She nods, her arms wrapping around me in another tight squeeze.
I hold her close. Every ounce of fear I felt in the last few hours crashes into me at once, and I have to squeeze my eyes shut to keep from crying again.
She is my world, my reason for everything, and I will never let her feel alone again.
A throat clears, and we turn to find Travis shifting from foot to foot in the doorway of the barn, looking sheepish. “Since you’re both here now, would one of you mind showing me how these bridles are supposed to hang?”
Madison is out of my arms in seconds. She shoots me an exaggerated eye roll that has me holding back a sudden burst of laughter, before striding toward Travis like she owns the place. “I’ll show you. This way.”
Travis throws me an uncertain look before following Madison into the barn. And then it’s just me and Dylan and the weight of so many unspoken words, I don’t know where to start.
I take my time rising to my feet, brushing the dirt from my dress as I turn toward him.
My heart lurches in that now familiar way as I take him in.
Broad shoulders, strong arms, the kind of height that makes me feel small in the best possible way.
The beard I love to feel against my skin.
The thick, dark hair I love to run my hands through.
But it’s more than that. It’s the steadiness of him, the quiet strength.
The way that when he sets his mind to something, he gives it everything, whether it’s football or this ranch or—God, I hope—me.
The truth hits me, deep and absolute. For the first time in my life, I finally feel what it is to belong. To feel like I have a home. And yeah, it’s Oakwood Ranch—the beauty of the land and these horses. But more than that, it’s Dylan. He is my home.
“I don’t care if you go back to the Stormhawks,” I blurt. “If you want to be a coach, if that’s your life, then OK. We’ll make it work.”
“Iz—”
I hold up a hand, shaking my head. “No. Let me say this. I said it’s all or nothing—the ranch or football—but I didn’t mean that.
I realize now I meant us. It’s all or nothing with us.
And I want all, Dylan. I want you. No matter what you do with the ranch, it’s you I want. I’m all in. Wherever you go, I go.”
A smile pulls at his lips. “Will you be bringing your temper and your pitchforks?”
I laugh. “Never leave home without them.”
“And Madison, of course,” he adds.
“We come as a pair.” My voice catches on the emotion tightening in my throat.
“That’s good to hear.” Dylan takes a slow step forward, closing the space between us until we’re inches apart. The pull between us is electric, but I keep myself still, hold my breath, waiting for him to speak.
“Because I’m crazy for you, Izzy,” he says.
“Head over heels. Give me the eye rolls and the standing on a trailer roof in a rainstorm in your underwear. Give me your death glares when I’m doing something wrong and that little noise you make in your throat when my lips touch the side of your neck.
” He trails his thumb over the sensitive spot and I inhale sharply.
“I want it all. And I want us to live here together and run this ranch and build our life here with Madison. I’m sorry I made you doubt that.
I’m sorry that I made it hard for you to trust me—”
“And you were grumpy,” I add.
“That was both of us.” He grins and I laugh again. “It took me a bit longer than it should’ve to see it, but I’m certain now. You, me, Mad, this place, it’s all I want.”
Emotion surges through me, stealing my breath. “Really?” I whisper as he cups my face in his hands. “But football—”
“Will always be a part of who I am. I can’t pretend it isn’t. But what I really want to do is coach kids. Help those who need it find an outlet in football. And I think I can do that alongside this place. If you’re OK with that.”
My eyes rake over his face, taking in the honesty in his dark gaze, down to his lips, hovering so close to mine I swear I can taste him already. “Yeah, I can be OK with that. But this doesn’t mean I like you, Sullivan.”
His grin spreads, and he laughs, the sound rumbling through me, filling every last corner of my heart. “Don’t tell me—you tolerate me?”
“I love you,” I breathe.
The biggest smile spreads across his face as he whispers, “I love you too.”
And then he’s kissing me. Deep and consuming, like every unspoken word, every moment we’ve lost, every promise of our future is sealed between us. My hands slide up his chest, around his neck, holding him close. Knowing I never want to be anywhere else but right here.