Page 160 of Buckin' Around

I’ve sent her on a literal wild goose chase—a cow that was down in the back fields. Which buys me just enough time to turn the living room into our personal paradise. Along with the bathroom and our bedroom.

I thought about something big and fancy, but that has never been our style. Our best moments were the ones in the shabby little cottage at Brady’s. Being a firm believer of not fixing what’s not broke, I’m going old school with this.

The only thing I splurged on, apart from a charcuterie board from Smugglers, is the whole reason for tonight.

With the bull riding school in full swing and my cowboys winning events all over the emerald country, I have a good paycheck and ample savings. The lawsuit with the Silver Elite founders took a few years but we won, and my staff were compensated. So they should have been.

Another milestone I was part of. Another piece of my life I fought for. This life has turned out different than what I pictured before Ivy came along but I built it all by myself.

Riley once told me that the only things worth having are the things you create with your own hands. She was right.

Always.

Tonight, the foundations of the next incredible thing we are going to build together starts.

God willing.

I rush through the house, setting up like a man who knows he’s almost out of time.

Scattered candles lit—check.

Petals in the hallway—check.

Bubble bath run—check.

Food on the small table on the living room floor that’s now covered with way too many cushions... Also check.

Ring in my?—

The back door slams.

“Spencer, there was no cow down in the back field. If it wa?—”

Her footsteps stop.

I step into the other end of the hallway.

Now that I think about it, this feels more like a standoff, a pistol draw to the death, than something good.

How did I mess this up?

My hand slides behind my neck as heat engulfs my body.

Dammit and bollocks.

“Spence?” Riles whispers.

I clear my throat.

It’s four words, Spencer. Get your shit together.

Riles is walking toward me slowly, brows lowered. Her hands reach for her long hair, pulling it to the side as she snags her fingers in it.

When she’s merely a few feet away, I drop to one knee.

Her face contorts with surprise and emotion.

“Riles, baby.” My hands are shaking, making it almost impossible to pull the ring box from my back pocket. Finally, the thing slips from the denim and clatters to the floor.