Chapter 75
Alex
After the ceremony, it's time for speeches. Rosie stands up, slightly nervous but with eyes sparkling with emotion. Her speech for her father and Maria is incredibly sweet, brimming with love and hope for their future together. Her words touch everyone's hearts, and I catch Robert discreetly wiping away a tear.
Then comes Aunt Tina's turn. As she rises with an endless-looking rolled-up scroll in her hand, I notice Maria's eyes widening almost imperceptibly. Aunt Tina begins to unroll the parchment, and continues... and continues... and continues. For a moment, I fear her speech might last until tomorrow. But when she starts speaking, all worry vanishes, replaced by growing hilarity.
A few more speeches follow, and then the reception kicks into gear. It's an outdoor event with a country-chic style. The garden is filled with white-clothed tables and golden chairs, perfectly complemented by sunflowers. The food is endless and exquisite—and don't even get me started on the wine. I hover close to Rosie, filling her plate with delicacies. I'm delighted to see her enjoying herself and curious about which of our traditional dishes she loves most.
While we're standing and sipping yet another glass of wine, it's time for Rory's performance. She's a magnificent dancer and captures everyone's attention. I even notice Diego—who I don't think is typically interested in classical dance—watching her intently. Fran whistles and applauds. Lexy films the performance. Val and Chris are lost in their own world of kisses. Max, as always, is... well, Max—with his apathetic expression, standing apart. Yet I notice he's always within eyesight, keeping Lexy in his peripheral vision. Rosie is right—there's something brewing between those two that goes beyond mere dislike.
The performance ends, and it's time for everyone to hit the dance floor. Of course, I waste no time in asking my Rosie to dance. We sway closely together, and I can't help but repeatedly kiss her temple and whisper how much I love her.
Epilogue
Rosie
A year has passed since I decided to move permanently to Sunrise Ranch, and I can barely remember my life before this. I've been living with Alex for twelve months now, and our life together is a sweet flow of days filled with love, tenderness, and passion.
Every morning, Alex rises early but never forgets to prepare my coffee. I've become an early riser too, and the rooster's crow—which I've affectionately named Giliberto—no longer disturbs me. Instead, it's become an integral part of our dawn's soundtrack.
Alex prepares breakfast before heading to work, and I follow him to the porch. We shower each other with kisses, barely able to part, until we reluctantly must. He goes to work with his beloved horses, while I remain on the porch, sipping what I now consider the world's best coffee and writing.
My first book has been published and became a bestseller. I still can't believe how fortunate I've been. I've received excellent reviews, and it particularly impressed Read_with_Amelie, a trending bookstagrammer who continues to talk about it and has sent me the sweetest messages.
Now I'm continuing the series, with endless ideas for creating new stories.
My horseback riding lessons with Alex continue. It makes me smile that my first lesson, which seems like a lifetime ago, was at dawn, whereas now we've agreed to have them at sunset. It's a more convenient hour because Alex goes to work early... but I'll never forget how I felt that first day on the horse, those first brushes with Alex, and the magnificent colors of the dawn sky—which, honestly, I had never truly seen before.
Our lessons have become the most anticipated moments of my days, an opportunity to be together, learn, and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of ranch sunsets.
Life is perfect. Sometimes I wonder if it's all a dream, but then Alex smiles at me, and I know it's real, tangible, wonderful.
The sun begins its daily descent as I make my way to the paddock for our riding lesson. The air is saturated with scents: freshly cut grass, leather saddles, the sweet hint of wild flowers dotting the fields. Alex awaits me, leaning against the fence with a smile that still makes my heart flutter like the first time.
We mount our horses and set off along the trail beside the stream. The sound of hooves on packed earth blends with the gurgling water and the chirping of birds preparing for the night. The sky above is a living painting: streaks of orange, pink, and gold merge into a masterpiece no artist could ever replicate.
Sunset light caresses everything, softening contours and giving an almost magical glow to the landscape. Alex's figure stands out against the fiery sunset sky, his body's outline made even more defined by the golden light. He rides his favorite horse, a powerful black stallion, and together they form an image straight out of a western film.
The muscles of his arms and shoulders flex as he firmly holds the reins, his body moving in perfect synchrony with the horse's. His plaid shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbows, reveals tanned, toned forearms sculpted by ranch work.
His chiseled, masculine face is partially hidden by a cowboy hat, but I can see the determined line of his jaw and the intense gaze of his eyes scanning the horizon. There's a pride in his bearing, a quiet strength emanating from every movement.
I can't help but think how lucky I am.
Suddenly, Alex pulls his horse's reins, stopping. There's something different about him, a tension I've never seen before. He dismounts with a fluid motion, but his eyes betray an emotion I can't quite decipher.
I watch, curious about what he might do next.
Time seems to slow down, each second stretching into infinity. Alex helps me dismount and then kneels before me. Tall grass caresses his legs, and the sun behind him surrounds him with a golden halo, like an angel descended to earth.
With trembling hands, Alex takes my hands.
After placing a tender kiss on each of my hands, he breaks our contact. He looks up at me, and in his eyes, I see an ocean of emotions: love, hope, a hint of fear.
He takes a small box from his pocket and opens it.
Oh my god... I can't believe it.
I don't know whether to jump for joy or cry.
He hasn't spoken yet, but that beautiful, delicate, sparkling ring leaves little to the imagination.
When he speaks, his voice is low and husky, charged with emotion: "Rosie, my love..." He pauses, as if gathering courage. "Would you like to become my wife?"
The world around me seems to stop. The birds' chirping, the stream's murmur, even the wind's breath among the trees—all falls silent. The entire universe reduces to this moment, to this man kneeling before me.
The sun appears to have halted its descent, suspended on the horizon as if it too were holding its breath, waiting for my response. The golden sunset light envelops Alex, making him seem even more beautiful, if possible.
I look into his eyes, deep wells of hope and love, and feel something bloom inside me. It's as if every moment of my life has led me here, to this perfect instant. And in that moment, I know with absolute certainty what my answer will be.
Tears blur my vision, momentarily obscuring Alex. But I don't need to see him to know he's the man with whom I want to spend the rest of my life. My heart overflows with a love so intense it takes my breath away.
And I throw myself into his arms.
The ring falls onto the grass because I'm not the most graceful person in the world... but it doesn't matter. We'll find it.
For now, we'll enjoy an endless embrace and a breathtaking kiss.
Thank you for reading the first romance of the Sunrise Ranch series.