Chapter 51
Rosie
The early afternoon heat is in full force as I approach the horse paddock, the picnic basket swinging gently from my arm. I’ve never felt so comfortable—or so happy—wearing casual clothes. I’ve never been so content in a pair of denim shorts and a simple top. And then, of course, I added cowboy boots, the ones I know Alex loves. I’ll admit, it’s a bit too hot for boots, but these are lightweight and barely come up my calves. And if it gets too warm, I can always kick them off and walk barefoot. That last thought really makes me smile, especially when I think back to the barbecue night and how much effort it took to let myself walk barefoot.
I feel like a completely different woman now.
Completely different, yet more myself than I’ve ever been.
I also feel light, as if a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders after my conversation with Dad. A weight I hadn’t even realized I was carrying. His support and understanding have given me a renewed energy, a newfound determination.
As I get closer, I see him.
Alex is there, magnificent as always, riding one of his favorite stallions. His long chestnut hair flows in the breeze, his muscular, sun-kissed arms holding the reins with confident ease. It’s a sight that steals my breath every time.
I stop for a moment, captivated by the scene in front of me. Alex is in his element, wild and free, just like the horses he loves so much. His green tank top clings to his impossibly defined frame and bronzed skin. His snug jeans hug his powerful legs, and his cowboy boots complete the perfect image of a rugged, sexy rancher.
My heart races as I watch him guide the horse with such assurance, his deep voice murmuring words of encouragement to the animal. There’s something incredibly alluring about the way he moves, the way he connects with the horses. It’s as if he’s a part of this wild landscape, as natural here as the mountains on the horizon.
I can’t hold back any longer.
I drop the basket to the ground and run toward the paddock, calling his name.
“Alex!”
I see him turn his head in my direction, a smile spreading across his face the moment he spots me. He slows the horse and steers it toward me, dismounting gracefully when he gets close enough.
“Princess,”
he says, his raspy voice sending a shiver through me. “What a beautiful surprise.”
I run into his arms, ignoring the dust and sweat. Alex pulls me against him, his body warm and solid against mine.
“I brought you lunch,”
I say, looking up at him. “I thought we could have a picnic.”
His smile widens even more. “You read my mind, princess. I was just thinking about how hungry I was.”
He lifts me into his arms, spinning me around, and I can’t help but laugh. When he sets me down, he kisses me softly, his warm, familiar lips pressing against mine.
"Beautiful," he breathes against my mouth, one calloused hand cupping my cheek.
Heat blooms across my face, but it's not from the afternoon sun. "Says the man who looks like a romance novel cover on horseback," I tease, delighting in the way his eyes darken at my words.
His rich laughter rolls across the paddock.
"If that's what you like, I might have to put on a show more often." His large hand finds mine, fingers intertwining with practiced familiarity. "But first, let's see what treasures you've brought in that basket."
As he leads me toward our impromptu feast, I catch the contentment in his profile, the easy set of his shoulders. Here, in this moment, with the mountains standing sentinel and the summer breeze carrying the scent of sage and wildflowers, I know with bone-deep certainty that I've found my place in the world—right beside this man who moves like he's part of the wild itself.