Page 265 of Micah

He laughs softly.

“I've been waiting all day to hear your voice.”

“I've been waiting all day to see your face.”

His thumb brushes across my knuckles.

“I missed you.”

“You saw me an hour ago.”

“Too long.”

I smile through happy tears.

“You are impossible.”

“So I've been told.”

The ceremony begins, but honestly...

I barely hear a word.

Because I'm too busy looking at him.

The man who taught me that love isn't something you earn.

It's something you're given freely.

The man who saw every flaw I'd spent years trying to hide and loved me harder because of them.

I grew up believing New Jersey was highways...

Brick buildings...

And city blocks stretching forever.

I never imagined there were ranches here.

Never imagined open pastures.

Cowboys.

Champion bulls.

Or sunsets that painted the whole sky gold.

I certainly never imagined one of those cowboys would become my husband.

But Jersey Iron Ranch is different.

Special.

Not because of the land.

Or the cattle.

Or the beautiful log cabin overlooking rolling hills.