Page 17 of Her Grumpy Cowboy

I turn to meet his gaze, taking in the mix of amusement and concern in his eyes. “Don’t apologize,” I assure him, and I mean it. “The noise, the chaos, the love - it’s all absolutely perfect.”

The laughter fades as brunch comes to an end. We clear the plates and the conversation settles into a comfortable quiet. I sit back and watch Maisey help Luke gather empty coffee mugs.

Wyatt shifts in his seat and clears his throat. His usually relaxed demeanor turns serious as he sits up straight. “Actually, before everyone leaves, I have something important to say.”

The table falls silent.

Wyatt stands and turns to face Melody. My eyes widen as he drops to one knee and pulls out a small velvet box.

Melody gasps and covers her mouth with her hand.

“Melody.” Wyatt’s voice is rough with emotion. “You crashed into my life wearing a wedding dress and then you stole my truck. That day changed everything for me. Your strength amazes me. Your kindness inspires me. And your love... your love makes me want to be a better man every single day.” He pauses and takes a deep breath. “I can’t imagine my life without you. Will you marry me and make this ranch your forever home?”

I feel tears prick my eyes at Wyatt’s heartfelt words. The story of how Melody and Wyatt met still seems like something out of a movie. Yet here they are, proof that sometimes the craziest beginnings lead to the most beautiful love stories.

Melody nods as tears stream down her face. “Yes,” she chokes out. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

The table erupts in cheers as Wyatt slips the ring onto Melody’s finger. I clap along with everyone else and feel a surge of happiness for the couple.

“They look so happy,” I say to Luke as we watch Wyatt pull Melody into a tender embrace.

Luke nods and chuckles softly. “Wyatt’s been planning this for weeks. It’s hard to keep secrets in this family.”

I turn to him in surprise. “You knew?”

“Of course,” he grins. His eyes sparkle with mischief. “But speaking of surprises, are you ready for yours?”

“A surprise?” I echo. My voice wavers slightly and I clear my throat. “What kind of surprise?”

Maisey bounces in Luke’s lap as she claps her hands together. “It’s a secret!”

Luke chuckles and ruffles Maisey’s hair. “Now, now, sweetheart. Remember what we talked about? We can’t give it away.”

Maisey nods solemnly but her eyes still dance with barely contained glee. She mimes zipping her lips and throwing away the key.

Luke stands up and I follow suit. We make our way over to Wyatt and Melody who are still basking in the glow of their engagement.

“Congratulations again,” I say warmly as I pull Melody into a hug. “I’m so happy for you both.”

Wyatt’s eyes are suspiciously moist as he hugs me. “Thanks, Jasmyn. It means a lot to have you here for this.”

Luke claps Wyatt on the back before embracing him. “Congrats, bro. And welcome to the family, officially,” he tells Melody with a grin.

After we’ve shared our congratulations Luke turns to his brothers. “We’re gonna head out,” he announces. “Got some plans for the afternoon.”

Wyatt nods knowingly. “Alright little brother. You three have fun.” He winks at me and I feel my cheeks flush.

Brody and Jace exchange glances. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Brody teases with a grin.

“That doesn’t leave much off the table,” Jace quips and the brothers burst into laughter.

Luke rolls his eyes good-naturedly and scoops Maisey up with one arm.

As we walk to Luke’s truck my mind races with possibilities. What could this surprise be?

Luke holds the door open for me as I climb into the passenger seat of his black pickup truck. The leather is warm from the sun and I settle in, breathing in the familiar scent of Luke that lingers - a mix of soap, hay, and something uniquelyhim. My stomach flutters with anticipation as he secures Maisey into her car seat in the back.

When Luke slides into the driver’s seat, he’s holding a strip of dark fabric. A slow grin spreads across his face as he dangles it between us. “Do you trust me?”

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