Page 69 of The Cowboy Who Stayed

Rhett

FOUR MONTHS LATER…

If you’d told me a year ago that a busted spine and a ranch in South Dakota would lead me to the love of my life, I would’ve laughed in your face.

A year later, I’m not laughing anymore.

The snow’s coming down hard outside The Hen House, but inside it’s warm and loud and Vivica’s hand is on my knee under the table. I’m thinking tonight might be a good night to change both of our lives.

It’s been four months since we made things official. Four of the best months of my life, having such an amazing woman by my side.

You know how that one saying goes? The one that says: sometimes when you know, you know.

I’ve realized it’s true, and tonight I’m going to test that theory.

The Hen House itself is packed wall to wall, once again proving there’re only two things in Ironhaven that can drag people out in a snowstorm—an emergency and Haven’s Chicks on a Friday night.

The band is on stage warming up, the bartender is pouring drinks as fast as hands can grab them, and our usual table is full of familiar faces.

Joaquin returns with drinks after failing to flirt with the new redheaded bartender. She took his order without acknowledging his existence, and his pickup line fell flat. He passes the beers around the table and sighs taking his seat.

“Struck out again, Estrada?” Jeb asks.

“What do you think?” he grumbles.

Ricky shrugs. “Maybe she’s playing hard to get.”

“You must’ve missed the way she pretended he wasn’t there,” Jeb says.

“It’s all part of the strategy,” Joaquin says. “None of you would understand. You’re all tied down.”

Jeb casts a dubious glance around the table. Everybody’s tempted to laugh as Joaquin takes a long and disgruntled pull from his beer bottle.

Vivica sneaks a small smirk at me, her hand rubbing at my knee. The notes of jasmine in her perfume mess with my brain. Make me so distracted I’m lost in her even as we spend the evening hanging out with others from the ranch.

But can you blame me? I’m working up the nerve to do what I’ve got to do.

Our time together might not sound like long. Some people believe you need a longer window to truly get to know somebody. Others don’t think it’s possible to fall in love the night you meet somebody.

They’re allowed to their opinion, but in my eyes, their opinions are wrong.

As Vivica rests her hand on my knee and she sneaks a smirk at me, my heart pounds inside my chest. I’m overcome by how much I love this woman.

We’ve spent our time together getting to know each other. Discovering each other. Realizing how good we are together.

Evenings consist of Vivica’s legs draped across my lap as we listen to music and have conversations that go deeper than I’ve ever gone with another person.

Mornings are often us waking up to snuggles and coffee and maybe some lovemaking.

As it turns out, age doesn’t mean shit. Two consenting adults can be compatible regardless of the date on the calendar when they were born.

This past holiday season, we took things to the next level. Aunt Paula came in November and we got to show her a proper Ironhaven Thanksgiving (despite the fact that it was our first as well).

For Christmas, it was just the two of us. Otherwise known as the best Christmas of my life.

We’ve talked about the future in ways that would’ve had both of us running for hills in the past. Purely hypotheticals like where we want to be in a year, in five, and what long-term goals we have, and if we align at all.

She doesn’t flinch when we talk about what’s to come. Neither do I.