Page 130 of Relentless

“In this weather?” Oakleigh’s terrible memories of the accident had faded, but she still felt herself digging in her heels.

“Why not in the barn?”

He pulled her in close again, brushing a wayward strand of blonde hair off her brow and tucking it behind her ear.

“Because.”

Oakleigh felt every resistance fleeing her mind as she felt secure in his embrace.

Crew at least advised to take the Jeep, blasting the heat all the way down the rugged dirt road leading to the South Pasture. The bright arena lights were already illuminating the snowy patch of earth. Oakleigh couldn’t help but be frustrated that the place still brought her just the slightest touch of unease.

“Why are we doing this again?” Oakleigh asked. “It’s flippin’ freezing, Crew.”

“Just trust me,” he reassured, pulling on his cowboy hat. He went around to the driver’s side and opened her door in the gentlemanly way she had become accustomed to. Offering his sturdy forearm, she took it as she stepped out onto the icy ground. She wrapped her arm in his, walking together to the metal fence.

Ducking through the rails, Oakleigh took in the sight around her. Despite her efforts, the empty, quiet arena still brought to mind the vivid memories of the night she had nearly lost him. She found herself so distracted that she hardly noticed Crew offering her the bundle of rope.

“Love?” he prompted, jarring her from her thoughts. “You all right?”

Oakleigh nodded, taking the bundle from his hands. She unwound it, and went to the haybale in the middle of the patch of dirt. “Let’s get this over with.”

Her warm breath puffed a cloud into the cold night air.

“Here goes nothing,” she declared, whirling the rope over her head. She finally let it go, flinging it toward the hay bale, missing it entirely.

“Why am I so bad at this?” she exclaimed.

A sprinkling of snowflakes began falling around them. She felt Crew wrap his strong arms around her, taking her wrist.

“Like this,” he whispered in her ear. His warm breath sent a charge of electricity through her.

Focus Oaks.

She steadied herself again, and spun it over her head. Feeling his rough, ranch-worn palms guiding her, she released the rope. It landed on target this time, perfectly looping around the hay bale. She felt a sense of satisfaction as she pulled the rope tight.

“Crew!” she practically squealed in delight, flipping around to give her cowboy a tight celebratory hug.

Her breath escaped.

Crew was down on one knee, his eyes cast up at her with an open ring box in his hand. There was an intense yearning and dedication in his blue eyes that she’d never seen in him before, even in the fiercest competition.

“Crew,” she stammered, throwing her hands out to encompass the arena. “Here?”

“This is where you saved me, Oakleigh,” he breathed. “Here in the blood and dirt.” He paused as he considered. “We got through the worst together here, and we made it through.”

She looked down at the snow beneath her feet, feeling another wave of guilt over one of the worst decisions she had ever made. “And then I left.”

“I never doubted you,” Crew replied. He had forgiven her, and she had always known he meant it.

“So —” He grinned, sending warmth through Oakleigh as she looked down at him. “You going to let me freeze out here, or are you going to marry me?”

Pulling her gloved fingers across her damp cheeks, she swiped under her runny nose before it could freeze to her face. She was thankful there were no cameras, because she was certain she did not look evenslightlycute.

Oakleigh nodded through her tears.

“Yes! Of course,” she announced, savoring the smile that spread across Crew’s still battered, yet chiseled features. He leaped to his feet and swept her into his arms. She felt the softness of his lips brush hers as she settled into the warmthof his touch. It was all even more perfect than she could have ever imagined it would be.

Interrupting their moment together, she heard the sound of someone’s voice off to the side of the arena.

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