Epilogue
KADE
Three months later
I rode my next show—and first without a bandana hiding my identity—a week after Chloe came home.
My whole family was there, cheering so loud I could hear them over the adrenaline pumping through me.
At the end of the night, I took home second place, but it felt like I’d won a championship buckle.
I had Chloe by my side and was riding the wave of giddy energy from my family as we walked out of the arena. What more could a man ask for?
The patio door slides open behind me, the soft woosh punctuating the quiet morning air.
I crane my neck toward it, watching as Chloe steps out.
Her hair is messy from sleep, and my T-shirt looks like a dress, hitting her mid-thigh.
She looks beautiful, and when she comes to stop beside me, I open my arms, waiting for her to climb into my lap.
When she’s settled, she takes my coffee without a word. I watch her take a sip and grimace before she hands the mug back to me.
Snuggling into my chest, she says, “You need to drink better coffee.”
Laughter rumbles in my chest, and I kiss the top of her head. “Good morning to you too, buttercup.”
She smothers a yawn before tucking her hands under her chest. “It’s too early.”
It is for her, but I’ve been awake for hours. “So why’d you get up?”
Chloe lifts her head, pouting down at me. “Because you weren’t in bed.”
God, I love her.
“I can come back up if you want.”
She shakes her head, staring out at the mountains. “No, I’m up now.”
With her settled in my arms, I can’t help but think about how good life is. Sure, there’s one thing that could make it that much better, and I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. But it feels too soon.
Although, we haven’t done anything on a normal timeline.
Hell, Chloe uprooted her life, took a job at Hartlands’ ranch and moved to Coldwater after knowing me for just over two weeks.
She moved in with me six weeks later, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Sure, we’ve argued, but we’ve solved our disagreements in a much healthier way than before.
I’ve kept my head out of my ass for the most part.
Her sleepy warmth seeps into me, and I exhale a satisfied breath as I set my mug on the arm and squeeze her close. She burrows into my chest, her breath brushing against the exposed skin on my neck.
We sit outside, content in the quiet that surrounds us before Chloe sits up and narrows her eyes at me, demanding, “Okay, out with it, handsome.”
Playing dumb, because I can’t tell her about this and risk scaring her away, I reply, “Out with what?”
She goes to move, but my hands on her legs hold her still. “Whatever is making those cogs of yours whirl.” She brushes a hand over my temple, and I capture it, pressing a kiss into her palm. “No secrets, remember?”
I look out at the mountains, my heart racing. “No secrets,” I murmur.
“So out with it.” Her voice is small, a thread of uncertainty wrapping itself around the words.
“Even if you won’t like it?” I watch her throat work, and worry floods her features before I connect the dots. “Fuck, no, it’s not bad. It would just ruin the surprise.”
She thinks over it, her gaze assessing before she nods and replies, “Yeah. Even if it would ruin the surprise.”
Her expectation fills the air, and my heart drums a little faster. I wet my lips, drawing circles on her thigh as I pick up her left hand, running my thumb over her bare ring finger.
“I was thinking about how good things are and how we don’t do things the conventional way.” She blinks back at me, patiently waiting for me to continue. “About how it might be too soon to ask, but that I don’t really care because I love you.”
Her breath catches in her throat before she whispers, “Ask what?”
“If you’ll marry me.”
Moisture pools in her eyes, and a smile stretches across her lips that could rival the Montana mountains before she throws her arms around me.
Her words are muffled against my chest when she replies, “Never too soon.” When she leans back, there’s a glint in her eyes before she hastily climbs from my lap.
“And I love you too, but this”—she motions between us—“is not how you’re proposing to me. ”
My laughter is loud as I watch after her before bolting out of my chair and chasing her into the house as her giggles fill the air.
Three months ago, I almost lost her, but now I think I might be the luckiest guy on the planet because she’s all mine and will be forever.