Page 191 of Burn the Wild

Exhaling, she looks out over Main Street. “I want this, Ford,” she breathes, pressing herself against me. “I want all of this with you.”

My fist throbs, my heart hammers, but I’ve never been so goddamn happy.

I take her in my arms. “You’ve got it, baby.” I lean down and kiss her like the world’s on fire. Then I pull back from the kiss. “Marry me.”

Those stunning green eyes widen. “Getting kinda sentimental, aren’t we?”

“I’ll do it proper; I’ll do it right.” I cup her cheek. “Build you a Georgia mansion.”

“I don’t need a Georgia mansion.”

“You’re not living in a garage, Reese.”

A stubborn tilt of her chin. “Maybe I want to live in a garage with all its wonderful smells.”

I growl at her. “You gonna argue with me or tell me yes?”

She dances her fingers up my chest. “Maybe I like making you sweat.”

“Now ain’t the time for that,” I tell her sternly. “It’s time to let me love you. For the rest of your life.” I slip my fingers into her hair, cupping the nape of her neck. “When I count my top five home runs, I count you, Reese. I thank fuck every day that I found you.”

Her eyes soften, fill with tears. “Yes. I’ll marry you.” She touches my cheek, smiling. “You’re the greatest love song I’ve ever sung, Country Boy.”

I pull her into me, crushing our mouths together.

A clap of thunder rumbles through the air, and Reese squeals.

And then the gray, growling sky opens up and unleashes.

Davis winces, big fingers on his brow as he leans back against the counter. “I’m dying.”

“You’re hungover,” Dakota admonishes. Dark head dipping, she sticks a pie in the oven.

Outside, the storm roars. Fortunately, it’s chased off any remaining paparazzi. Inside, we’re toasty warm and crammed inside Dakota’s kitchen for an all-day brunch. As if good food and more drink will take everyone’s minds off the shadows settling over the ranch.

“Face it, brother,” Ford says. “After we hit forty, it’s all downhill from there.” He holds me in his arms, stroking a hand over my own.

I laugh. “Speak for yourself, Country Boy.”

Both Ford and Davis bark a laugh.

Keena stretches out on her dog bed. Wyatt, Fallon, Ruby, and Charlie are playing trucks with Duke on the living room rug.

I’ve never felt so content. So happy. Everyone has good things coming their way, me included. Ford and I—we’re getting married. We have a future. This is the last day I’ll ever be beholden to Gavin.

With a growl, Charlie drops into a chair. “Next year, we ain’t drinkin’.”

Ruby laughs and kisses his temple. “Next year, we don’t drinkso much.”

“Or start fistfights,” Davis adds.

Ford snorts.

“Food,” Dakota announces, slamming a platter of cinnamon rolls down.

Everyone lunges like we’ve been starving for days. We eat standing around the breakfast bar like hungover heathens. Wind rattles the windows. It’s chaos. Duke’s crying, Keena is barking, and Wyatt and Fallon are arguing, but all I can do is smile.

“Oh my gosh,” I breathe. “It’s a madhouse.” I look up at Ford. “I want one just like it.”

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