Chapter 26
Rhylan
“Why are you driving us back to the ranch? Aren’t we getting married today? At the courthouse?” Dakota had started to panic after we’d left the city, and I grinned with my hand on her thigh.
“Oh, we’re getting married, darlin’, but not there.
I’ve got a better place in mind. One that would be far more meaningful than repeating some boring vows recited by a county judge.
” Of all the steps that I’d already done wrong, this one I was going to do right by taking us back to the same spot where she let me in—to tie the knot, and promise my wife the life she was owed.
“So the dress wasn’t necessary then? You made a big deal about looking the part, and now there won’t be anyone around to even see me?” Crossing her arms with a huff, she settled back in her seat, well aware that I was up to something but unsure of what.
“You’re right, no one will have a chance to admire you in that stunning dress except me, and that's how it should be.” I’d convinced her to wear an off-white dress she’d shoved into the back of her closet, with ruffled layers that started halfway down her thigh.
“I’m not doing this for the attention of others.
This moment is for us and our memories.”
Dakota had only worn the dress once; the summer before her college graduation, when she and Tiffany took a vacation to South Padre Island.
When I saw her wearing it on the beach, the wind catching the layers and her hair perfectly, she looked like a fucking goddess; an angel sent from heaven just for me.
I needed her to wear it for this occasion, along with her light brown Ariat boots. Because to close out our private ceremony, I was going to take her back to the house and brand my name on the sides. Just another way to claim her as my own—my wife.
We pulled up and parked in the same spot as before, only this time it was a warm sunny day—not a single cloud in the sky. Her something blue right above our heads.
Dakota had been rendered speechless, her jaw nearly hitting the dirt as she exited the truck and took in what I’d done.
The area surrounding the old cherry tree had been decorated with bouquets of white calla lilies and deep red roses, all fresh cut and arranged earlier this morning. I spared no expense in making this moment perfect. Marking this day as one she’ll never forget.
“And one more thing…” While Dakota stood beside the passenger door, I walked around to the back, uncovering a jet black leather cowboy hat with a bright red underbrim.
As I crept up behind her, I placed the hat on her head, smiling widely at just how even more perfect it made her look.
“There. Now a part of our cherry tree will always be with you wherever you go.”
Taking my bride’s hand, I led her over to a large black and white blanket that had been laid out on a soft patch of grass near the tree trunk. Before she had a chance to sit down, I fell to one knee, pulling a black velvet box with gold metal trim from the pocket of my denim jacket.
“Rhy, you’ve already—”
“The way I proposed to you was wrong. I knew I’d wanted to ask you to marry me, and it just happened in the moment, but my execution was poor.
So now I’m going to do right by you, and ask for your hand in marriage the way I should’ve from the start.
” Opening the box, I presented the ring to her.
Black tungsten carbide, inlaid with nude diamond chips accented by twenty-four-carat gold and raw obsidian fragments.
“So, Dakota Wilde, will you marry me? Make me the happiest man alive and let me call you mine?”
“It’s perfect…” Her eyes had started to water at the sight of the ring, hands clasped over her mouth, muffling the adorable squeal that came when she attempted to speak.
Giving me her left hand, she eagerly nodded, gaze glued to the ring as I placed it on her finger, then kissed the back of her palm.
“Like you.” We echoed, and she lowered to sit beside me on the blanket, while I continued to hold her hand with mine.
“And with this ring, I promise to be everything you’ve ever needed in a man. To love you unconditionally through thick and thin. To treat you with the respect you’ve always deserved, and give you the control you desire to hold.”
There was so much I wanted to say, and as I professed my heartfelt vows, I realized that I’d have to tell her everything, and not just about the MUR, but about me.
“Not a day will pass that I won’t look at you and see the most remarkable woman in the world, reveling in the fact that I get to call you mine. You bring light to the dark just as stars do at night, guiding me home like a north star whenever I feel lost.”
I’d have to confess to the years of stalking; how I knew her like the back of my hand, and why I bribed the city planning department to permit the opening of Vortex directly across from her studio.
“I’ll be your home, your protector; fighting your demons alongside you as if they were my own.”
I didn’t do any of those things to hurt her, and I hoped that when I revealed the truth, Dakota would understand instead of pushing me away all over again. That she’d know just how deep my love ran, and that no matter how hard I tried to stay away, I always came back to her.
“With this ring, I promise to heal your beautiful soul and be the reason you wake up every morning with a smile on that pretty face; no exceptions.”
I have to tell her tonight… It’s the right thing to do.
Instead of returning to the city, Dakota suggested spending the night on the ranch, in our home.
While my wife made herself comfortable on the daybed swing, watching the sun set in the distance, I poured us each a glass of her favorite red wine and joined her, bracing myself for the band-aid I was about to rip off.
“You sure do know how to spoil a girl, Rhy.” She took a deep inhale, savoring the aroma before sipping her wine, visibly melting at the taste of wild raspberry, red cherry, and pomegranate, accented by a hint of rose petal.
“Chelsea Goldschmidt, Alexander Valley Merlot… Oh my god, how did you know?”
“Dakota…” Clearing my throat, I tried to think of a way to ease her into my honesty without blowing the door completely off its hinges.
“Uh oh, not darlin’ or Wildcat? Are you about to confess to another murder I don’t know about?
” There was a bubbly giggle of sarcasm in her tone as she went in for another sip.
I was afraid of nothing—except losing her, and this might just be the reason why I would.
“Whatever you’re about to say, it can’t be any worse than knowing you’re a murderer by trade, and I’ve already come to terms with that.
Hell, I said yes and signed the certificate.
We’re officially married. I’m married to a murderer!
Yee-fucking-haw!” She held up her glass to cheers, and I left mine where it was, resting on my thigh as I sucked in my lower lip. Fuck…
“How long do you think we’ve known each other?” Starting off small. A simple, easy question.
“Umm… I don’t know? Maybe a couple of months? Maybe less?… I’m well aware that we’ve moved fast—really fast—but everything with you just feels so perfect… so right. I mean, it’s like you’ve known—”
“Because I have… Dakota.” My throat felt dry like sandpaper as I swallowed. “I’ve known you since high school…”
“That’s—” Her brows furrowed as she stared at me, utterly confused. Her eyes ran over my face several times, trying to place my features and match me to someone from her past. “Not possible… I would’ve remembered meeting someone like you. Especially if we ever—”
“Shared classes? We did. Quite a few, actually. But I wasn’t your type at the time, or worth your interest.” Those days play on repeat in my mind. How she never gave me even the slightest bit of attention. But she was popular, and I was entirely off her radar.
“And you never thought of making yourself known? Of doing something—anything to get me to notice you?”
“I was a jock with no time for a social life. I wasn’t about to put you through hell trying to hold my attention while my father forced it elsewhere. That wouldn’t have been fair to either of us, and so it was better that I remained distant, unknown.”
Dakota pressed an index finger to her lips as she recalled her high school days, finding that ‘ah-ha’ moment within a few seconds.
“Hang on… I do remember you. You were the Varsity baseball captain… The one every girl said was an unapproachable asshole who had zero interest in women… We just thought you were gay?”
“Because I only had eyes for you. Of course they’d see me that way. I wasn’t about to settle.” I couldn’t help but laugh, knowing that that was the kind of impression I’d made on her and everyone else, for that matter.
“So then… what? You waited and just appeared out of fucking nowhere to piss me off with your studio?” She was definitely still salty about the whole studio thing.
“No, actually…” I threw away a future career, got kicked out of my parents’ house, and started stalking you…
Rubbing the back of my neck, this was the part of my confession that I was dreading.
“I’ve been closer than you think… following you.
It’s how I know everything... What you like, what you hate, how you take your coffee—your favorite bottle of wine…
” I gestured to her glass, which was now empty.
“I watched you go through life, men, just waiting for the right moment.”
“Then Jaiden… you knew—” Dakota’s face morphed into one of shock, her eyes flaring wide at the realization. “You knew and—”
“I didn’t.” I had to stop her before she started making assumptions, terrible ones at that.
I already felt like the bad guy; I didn’t need her thinking it, too.
“I wish I had known because I could’ve stopped him, but that was the one time I wasn’t there and it fucking kills me…
” My heart sank with my words; with my disappointment.
“Why?”
“Because that was the year I tried to let you go. But in the end, it never worked, and I came right back; only it was too late. The damage and pain he’d inflicted was already done…
” I couldn’t meet Dakota’s gaze. Ashamed of what I’d allowed to happen to her.
“It wasn’t until you told me what he did that I went searching for him. ”
“The note… the night you left me?”
“That was for a task from Dustin that popped up at the last minute, but after I’d finished, I found out who he was and where he lived. I tried to end his life right then and there, but when I arrived at his house, he was already gone. Then I got your text, and I—”
“It wasn’t your fault.” Dakota cupped my cheek, turning my face toward hers.
“Jaiden—” I could tell she was angry, but she held it in.
A tender touch instead of a backhanded slap as I’d expected—and well deserved.
“Aside from the stalking—which we’ll get to in a minute—you couldn’t have known.
Tiffany didn’t find out until a year later, and we lived together for Christ’s sake. ”
“It still doesn’t change the fact that I could’ve stopped him; saved you. I know that what I’d done was wrong, but I fell in love with you, Dakota. I became obsessed with your perfection. No one could ever make me feel the way you do… whole. You were my home before I even knew I needed one…”
“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner? Why now? Why not just keep it a secret that you took to your grave?”
“Because that’s not what I want for us. I want a clean slate with you. I want us to be open and honest with each other so we know everything. Like you are with your sister. I don’t want to keep anything from you; not now, not ever.”
We locked eyes as Dakota set her glass beside her on the daybed, turning to fully face me and cradling my face with both of her hands. “I’m still angry that you were my shadow for all these years, but I won’t deny my heart what it needs.”
Wrapping my free arm around her waist, I pulled my girl closer, nearly spilling my glass of wine over both of us from the jerky movement.
“I'll be every bit of the most charming southern gentleman your heart could desire. There's no one else's bed I'd rather have my boots under.”
“No secrets.”
“None whatsoever, Darlin’. You’re the woman keepin’ me honest.” I felt lighter. Relieved that she was patient with me; listening, understanding, letting me tell my side of the story and explain myself before she jumped to conclusions. Dakota’s gaze held mine, no judgment, only love and affection.
“Then we won’t bother with dwellin’ on a past we can’t change, and let’s start this marriage off right…” I couldn’t agree more… “Til death do us part, Cowboy.”
“I like the sound of that, Mrs. Dakota Ross.”