Page 49 of The Bull Rider & the Wedding Planner

Cassie felt like part of the family. She’d never felt so complete, so loved. They’d had a quiet graveside service for her mom on the twenty-third. Her siblings, their spouses, and her nieces and nephews had come, as well as all the Colevilles that were around, the Lillywhites, and a few other people from town.

It was good to see her family. She’d promised to keep in touch better and spend time with them now that she was back in Montana to stay.

She and Easton were going to work on expanding her business throughout the nation after the new year. The Coleville/Chevron, Coleville/Lillywhite double wedding was elite and successful enough to establish her as a planner too big for a single market. From now on, she could pick and choose her events and attract clients who would be happy to work remotely in order to get the best. She didn’t mind making a trip or two before the event and she’d never miss being at the wedding, but she didn’t want to be away from Easton and Presley. Easton promised they’d travel with her.

Walking out onto the loft and down the stairs, she was in awe of the snow and wind battering the large windows. Wow. Would Easton be able to get here?

Easton had traversed six years of hard feelings and distrust to get her back. He’d make it here for Christmas morning.

The door beeped as someone typed in the code. She backed away, still sometimes instinctively afraid after the nightmarish experience with Baxter. He was in prison awaiting trial with no bail. He’d killed her mom, the security guard, his therapist, and they were compiling evidence to prove he’d killed his first wife and his grandmother.

The door pushed open and a man covered in white burst in.

“Cass!” Easton called out. He shook himself like a bear and shuddered. “I almost got buried trying to get to you.”

He pulled off his coat and set it by the door, then shoved the door closed behind him.

Cassie grinned and rushed to him. “I knew you’d battle the blizzard to get to me. My hero.”

“Fighting through a little storm makes you realize what an epic hero I am?”

“You rescued me from Baxter, healed my heart and my loneliness, and proved your loyalty and love. You are an epic hero.”

“Not to flex or anything, but I am quite the charming and superior hero, aren’t I?” He flexed his muscles, his cocky grin lighting up his handsome face, but then his blue eyes turned serious. “I will always come for you, my sweet but sassy Cass.” Of course, her Easton started to sing. She didn’t know the song, but she loved it immediately. “‘All that bends and all the breaks. Worth the wait and all the heartache. The answer to the prayers that I prayed. It was always, it was always you.’”

His husky voice reverberated through her, his mint, citrus, and pine scent titillated her senses, his blue eyes mesmerized her, and the words to his song touched her heart.

He wrapped her up and kissed her good and long. Wet snow dripped from his hair and down her neck.

She pulled back and shivered. “Brr!”

He rubbed at her neck with his wet head.

“Stop, you.” She giggled and tried to push him away.

He wrapped his hands around her waist, lifted her into the air, and grinned up at her. “Sorry, beautiful.”

“You are not.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling like she was ontop of the world.

“No, not really.” He carried her easily to the carpeted living area, set her on her feet, and cradled her face in his hands. “‘Take my hand and let me make you mine,” he sang. “‘I’m through waiting, wasting my time.’”

Cassie lit up from the inside out. She did recognize this song. It was a wedding song from Parmalee.

A wedding song?

Easton took her hand and dropped to one knee in front of her. “… ‘Take my name and make me yours.’”

“Easton?” she whispered, her heart thundering against her ribcage.

He grinned cockily up at her. “Of course you’ll say yes to your ideal and ultra-handsome cowboy, and to the most important question of your life, but I wanted to do this thing right.” He pulled a large, glittering round diamond set in white gold out of his pocket.

“Oh my.” Cassie felt faint. “It’s beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as you.”

“So sappy, my love.”

“Only for you.” He grinned and took her hand in his. “Cassie Johnston. Will you complete my life, make me the happiestandmost charming man on earth, and marry me?”

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