Page 166 of Love Me Reckless

I turn left, which brings the ski slopes, empty now, into view. My job might not be the most glamorous, but man, do I love it.

“So with you being reinstated at the ranch, and Kirilee newly single, I guess that means you’re sticking around?”

I laugh. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

“Something I’ve been meaning to ask you.” His tone has turned serious.

“Okay.”

“I know you’re not big on being in front of a lot of people, but…” He pauses to release a tense breath “…will you be my best man?”

“Shit, Zach… of course.” My chest tightens, and I rub it with my fist. “I’d be honored.”

Emotions clot in my throat. Thankfully, Zach chatters nonstop about the outdoor wedding he and Sofie are planning, giving me a moment to take it all in. For someone who lived in fear for so long, that Zach is so excited about this wedding and joining his life with Sofie’s feels so good inside me, so pure and joyful. Like a gift.

It’s proof that dreams really can come true. That it’s possible to leave the darkness behind and step into the light.

When I turn up Grayson’s driveway, Kirilee is waving at me from the deck, both arms in the air, her face lit by the golden rays of the setting sun.

I take a moment for gratitude, to savor the way her smile brightens when I step out of my truck.

I think back to that first moment I laid eyes on her across the crowded restaurant. It wasn’t long before she caught me looking. I was ready to shy away, brush off the feelings stirring inside me. Back then I was an outsider, looking in. She had every right to scowl at me, put me in my place.

Instead, she smiled. And I’ve been falling for her ever since.

Kirilee leans over the railing. “You are not going to believe this!” she screams.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

SAWYER

One month later

I pullin front of the little green house and park behind the realtor, who jumps out of her SUV to greet us. She’s holding a SOLD placard and a set of keys.

“Morning!” she calls, stepping through the deep snow.

“Good morning!” Kirilee calls out as she steps down from the truck, her eyes fixed on the front of the house.

The realtor sets the keys in Kirilee’s palm and wades through more snow to slide the SOLD placard into place on top of the listing sign.

Kirilee clasps the keys and shoots me a smile. “Can we go inside?”

I laugh. “It’s yours, isn’t it?”

She gives me an excited little wiggle. “It is!”

The realtor walks with us, rattling off the improvements the sellers made as part of Kirilee’s offer, including a critical plumbing upgrade and an assessment from an electrician. There’s still plenty of work to do, but that only seems to make Kirilee more excited.

Grayson and Kirilee made a proposal to their parents aboutrestructuring the family business. They are still in negotiations, but Kirilee is no longer burdened with saving Finn River Ranch thanks to a generous donation and a few key ideas from Jonah Burgess that helped Grayson refine his plan. That and Kirilee’s discovery that Birch planned to build fifty windmills on the undeveloped northern acreage of Finn River Ranch and use tax cuts to make it look profitable. Apparently, Birch plans to sell the Grayhawk house, and I heard from Grayson that he’s already relocated to Wyoming.

After the night in Grayhawk, Kirilee asked if she could stay with me for a while, and of course I said yes. Though I worried it would be too crowded for her or even too harsh of an adjustment from the lifestyle she was used to, she said it’s been like joining a big family. I would have understood had she wanted to find her own place, or move back into her bungalow, but having her close to me and becoming part of my world has felt pretty incredible.

I’ve never felt happier to come home at the end of the day. Waking up with her in my arms is even better.

“It was so great meeting you both,” the realtor says after the debrief. “Good luck with your project!”

We shake hands, and the realtor high steps back out to her car, leaving Kirilee and I alone in the empty rooms.

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