Page 135 of The Last Promise You Made

“But?”

“The NSA is all I’ve known. Leland has been more than a mentor. He’s been a friend. I brought Rory in, and now, if I walk away, I feel like I’d be letting them both down.”

Ryder didn’t say anything for a long time, but when he did, I knew he was right. “If they’re real friends, they’ll want you to be happy.”

“I need to talk to them.”

He nodded. “Not tonight. Tonight, I have plans for you.”

“You always have plans for me.”

“And I will every night for the rest of our lives. Take off those clothes, darlin’.”

And I did because I loved what he would do—what we would do to each other—once I did.

? ? ?

After another night spent in the arms of the man I loved, I talked with Rory and Leland. Leland was both happy and disappointed, saying, “I thought I’d get at least another ten years out of you, G. That cowboy is quite a bit older than you, isn’t he?”

I’d never considered the difference in Ryder’s and my ages before. Six years wasn’t all that much, was it? It didn’t matter, even if it was.

“I’ve already given him my heart. Promises I won’t break. I can’t. It would break me too,” I told him honestly.

“That county job won’t pay much. Let me put you in our consultant database. Rory can run things by you. It can supplement what you’re getting there.”

“As long as I don’t have to travel, I’ll consider it.”

When I talked with Rory, she was nothing but happy for me.

I hung up and went in search of my growly rancher, who was hardly ever grumpy these days, with my heart full and at peace. I’d have to close up my apartment in Maryland and go get my things, but there wasn’t anything there I couldn’t live without. The only things I really needed I already had.

? ? ?

Two weeks later, spring had finally sprung fully, sending the scent of magnolias into the air as flowers and trees bloomed across the ranch. With the cabins completed, the first guests due to arrive in a week, and my new job with the four counties’ cyber-crime unit starting the following week, Ryder and I had been reveling in a few unencumbered days. We’d woken late each morning, slowly getting ready, and arrived later and later at the ranch. Instead of working, Ryder took Addy and me riding, teaching us both how to handle the horses, and leading us to all his favorite corners of the property.

We often stopped by the cemetery where Natalia was now buried with a headstone that read RAVYN EOWYN HATLEY, the name she’d chosen for herself. Addy always brought wildflowers she’d collected, and we typically left her alone so she had a few quiet moments with her mama.

Every moment with Ryder and Addy felt real and poignant and sweet.

Daily movie scenes I wanted to keep forever. That I felt lucky to have made mine.

The Thursday before I was set to start my new job, Ryder stole my jeans from my hand as I was getting ready and tossed them on the bed.

He hooked me around the waist, placed a kiss on my neck, and said, “Mama and Sadie are taking you to the spa at The Beehive Lodge today. Full works. Massage. Facial. Whatever the hell else a spa day means.”

“What?” I’d barely registered his words because, like always, his kisses were sending all thoughts from my head.

“You’re going to be spoiled on your birthday,” he grunted out.

I spun in his arms so I could face him. “How did you find out?”

“You’re not the only one with sleuthing skills.”

I chuckled. “Holden told you?”

My brother and Ryder had been sending sporadic texts ever since the night at Laredo’s. It was as if my family needed someone to verify I was actually healing—as if I wouldn’t tell them the truth. At first, it had stung a bit, but after years of lying to them about what I did, it wasn’t necessarily surprising. And truth be told, I was secretly pleased my brother and the man I loved had found some common ground. I wanted my family to love the Hatleys as much as I did.

Ryder shrugged. “Maybe. Or maybe I just read the date on your driver’s license.”

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