14. Alexander
CHAPTER 14
ALEXANDER
In Cassidy’s absence, I’ve had nothing but time and I’ve sure as hell made the most of it.
Since I made the decision to win her back I’ve poured every minute of that time into this project. I also called in every favor I could wrangle from my brothers. They came through for me. That’s one thing about the Kingridge boys, we fight, but when it comes down to it we show up for each other. Standing back and looking at it now that it’s finally done, I can say the blood, sweat, and late nights have paid off… I think. But of course, none of it matters if this doesn’t end with Cassidy back in my arms.
Cassidy pulls up the gravel drive. Her Jeep rolls to a stop in front of me and my chest goes tight at the sight of her. She’s stunning with her hair pulled back in a simple baseball cap and an old sweatshirt. My heart hammers, an odd mix of anticipation and something deeper. It’s the chokehold Cassidy has had on me since the day she walked back into my life.
I open her door before she can get it open herself because I have to touch her. Having her this close again ignites me and all I want is to pull her into my arms.
She steps out, eyes searching mine, raw and unreadable. “Thank you for wanting me here,” she whispers. “After the way I ended things…”
Her voice cracks, and her eyes go glassy. But this time, the sight of her tear-filled eyes doesn’t gut me. These tears feel different somehow. There’s hope in them and I wonder if they mean that she’s changed her mind about us. I wrap my arms around her and pull her close. The moment her body molds to mine, the world tilts back into place. I know without a doubt that this is where she belongs and I never want to let her go.
She tilts her head up, her gaze locking onto mine with a raw intensity that makes it impossible to look away. Her breath trembles as she exhales, her hands tightening into fists at her sides like she’s bracing herself.
“I’m sorry, Alex,” she says, her voice thick with emotion. “For the way I handled things. For pushing you away when all you ever did was show up for me. I was scared, and I was totally out of line. I was wrong.”
A single tear spills down her cheek, but she doesn’t flinch, doesn’t blink it away. She stands her ground, vulnerable and unguarded, the way she’s never let herself be before.
Her chin lifts slightly, her throat working as she swallows. “I know now that you aren’t some dangerous distraction. And I hate myself for saying that to you. I know it must have cut deep, and I can’t take it back, but if I could, I would.” She steps closer, the warmth of her body radiating into mine. “You are the man I want by my side. Not because I need you to build a life for me, but because I want you in it. Because with you, everything feels possible.”
Her words land with the force of a storm I’ve been waiting my whole damn life to be caught in. Emotion surges through me—fierce, overwhelming, undeniable. Every wall I’ve built to protect myself from disappointment, from the fear of not being enough, crumbles under the weight of her honesty.
I cup her face, my thumb brushing away the tear tracing down her cheek. “Cassidy,” I murmur, my voice low and rough, “I love you.” The words come easy because they’re the truest thing I’ve ever known. “I have loved you for longer than I’ve even let myself admit. And I will never stop being here, never stop helping you reach your goals, never stop believing in everything you are.”
I press a lingering kiss to the top of her head, breathing her in, grounding myself in her presence. Then, with my hand firm around hers, I take a steadying breath. “There’s something I need to show you.”
I take her hand, lacing my fingers through hers, and lead her toward the stables. With every step, my pulse pounds harder. I want this to be right. I want this to be everything she deserves.
As we round the corner, the new sign comes into view. Gone is the old Buck and Whinny plaque. In its place, bold and unmistakable is a new one that reads Connor’s Club: Horse Therapy.
Cassidy stops short. Her breath catches. Her hands fly to her mouth, her eyes wide, luminous. “What…what is this?”
I squeeze her fingers. “This is your business. It’s a place to bring your dream job to life and use that degree you worked so hard to get. You own it, not the ranch and not me. You’re just renting the space here. Of course, the rent is a little unconventional.” I pause, watching her expression shift between shock and disbelief. “One loaf of banana bread a month.”
A soft, choked laugh escapes her, trembling on the edge of a sob. The sound wraps around me. It’s been too long since I’ve heard it. Then her lips curl into something unguarded and real. Her smile falters and then the dam breaks.
“Don’t cry,” I tell her.
But tears spill freely down her cheeks anyway. They shimmer in the soft light, but they’re filled with relief, gratitude, and maybe even joy. And right there, paired with them, is her breathtaking smile that hits me harder than any punch ever could. She looks at me like I make her world go around and it’s intoxicating.
Cassidy has a way of wrecking me in the best possible way. My knees damn near buckle under the weight of it all. The combination of her emotions, my emotions, and the sheer intensity of this moment is dizzying.
“Cassidy,” I whisper, my voice barely more than air, thick and strained from everything I’m holding back.
She shakes her head, pressing a hand to her chest as if trying to contain the overwhelming rush of feeling spilling out of her. “I can’t believe this,” she breathes. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”
I reach for her, my hands settling on her waist, grounding us both. She clings to me.
“I’d do anything for you,” I murmur, my voice raw with truth. “You can plan your occupational therapy workdays around your time with Connor. And he can ride anytime he wants, of course.”
Cassidy turns to me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, her breath catching in her throat. She presses a trembling hand to her lips as if holding back the tidal wave of emotion threatening to spill over.
“Alex,” she whispers, voice thick with disbelief. “Oh my God… you’re—” She shakes her head, exhaling a shaky breath. “You’re incredible. I don’t even have words. This is… it’s unbelievable.”
Her gaze sweeps over the space, awe-struck. It’s like she’s afraid to blink and find it all gone. But I’m not going anywhere and neither is this place. She steps forward slowly. Her fingers trail over the polished wood of the office desk and then move across the shelves.
I bought adaptive saddles in every size and the pads to go with them. She touches the therapeutic weighted blankets and grooming kits. It’s like she wants to commit every detail to memory. But she doesn’t need to, it’s hers now for as long as she’ll have it.
“I got every tool the internet said you’d need,” I murmur, needing to fill the silence, my voice rough with emotion. “Probably some you won’t. But I wasn’t taking any chances.”
She turns slowly, her lips parted. Her expression is so raw it damn near knocks the wind out of me. Her lip trembles and for a split second I worry I got it all wrong. Until finally, she says, “Thank you, Alex.”
I finally exhale. “You’ve worked incredibly hard to gain the independence you have now. That’s something to be proud of. But I’m asking you to let me in. I want to be a part of all you are trying to accomplish.”
Her gaze locks onto mine. Her eyes are deep and unwavering. She pulls me into something far bigger than just this moment. A flurry of emotions passes between us— trust, understanding, and peace. But most of all, I feel her surrender. The space between us disappears in a heartbeat.
Cassidy steps forward and her fingers curl into the hem of my shirt. She grips it like she needs something solid to hold on to and I keep her steady. It’s a role I’ve hoped to fill all my life. When her skin brushes mine, heat ripples through me. Then she pulls me down to meet her.
Her breath is warm against my lips and her curvy body presses flush against mine. Before our mouths lock, an explosive heat sizzles through me. I part her lips with my tongue and sink into the kiss. My hand tangled into her hair while the other presses into the small of her back and anchors her to me.
There’s no hesitation when I finally claim what’s mine. This kiss is years of longing crashing into the present. Cassidy melts, sighing into my mouth. The sound sends heat surges through me, curls low in my gut, and sets my pulse on fire.