Page 33 of Marrying the Billboard Cowboy

The voice, dripping with condescension, clawed at his eardrums, severing the tether of their intimate bubble. His eyes flew open, locking onto the source—a figure poised with one hip cocked, blonde curls cascading over shoulders bared by a dress that glinted like fool’s gold.

Jenny.

Her lips twisted into a smirk, her gaze flitting between him and Kaitlyn with unveiled disdain. That smug expression, once a familiar sight in his life, now spurred a visceral reaction deep within him. His chest tightened, his pulse thundered, and his hands, just moments ago gentle and tender on his wife, balled into fists at his sides.

“Sorry,” Zeke muttered, unable to keep the growl from his voice. He didn’t wait for Kaitlyn’s response before stepping forward, a desperate protective instinct propelling him.

“Jenny,” he said, the name tasting bitter on his tongue, “that’s enough.”

“Aw, did I hit a nerve, Ezekiel?” Jenny cooed, unfazed by his approach. “I’m just stating the obvious. It’s so... altruistic of you to bring her here.”

Kaitlyn’s hand brushed against his arm, a feather-light reminder of her presence. Her touch was soft and steady, a stark contrast to the agitation that bubbled beneath his skin.

“Look,” Zeke said, his voice low and steady, despite the churn of emotions inside him. “Why don’t you just—”

“Move along,” someone finished for him. He glanced to the side to find Nora St. James, her voice carrying a steel edge that didn’t surprise him at all. He’d been about to say something a lot harsher, but the sentiment was the same. He didn’t care to see Jenny Caldwell again ever.

Nora crossed her arms. “Leave them alone, Jenny. You chose your path.”

The air seemed to shift, charged with the tension of the standoff. Zeke’s heart hammered against his ribs, not with fear or doubt, but with the resolve to stand between Kaitlyn and anything—or anyone—that threatened her peace. He’d promised himself he’d protect her, be it from the cold or from people like Jenny. And he intended to keep that promise, no matter what.

Zeke squared his shoulders, feeling the weight of Kaitlyn’s gaze as he faced down Jenny. “I expect you to show my wife the respect she deserves.” His voice resonated with an authority that echoed off the barn walls, silencing any remaining nearby conversations.

Jenny’s lips curled into a sneer, but Zeke didn’t waver. He could feel Kaitlyn beside him, her quiet strength mingling with his own, creating a united front against the spiteful intrusion.

“Your wife, huh?” Jenny said, her tone dripping with disbelief. “That’s rich, Zeke.”

He took a step closer, effectively cutting off Jenny’s view of Kaitlyn. “You’re right about one thing. It is rich—rich in ways you’ll never understand.” The words spilled from him with a possessiveness that clutched at his chest, surprising even himself. He had claimed Kaitlyn as his own, not just in name butwith every protective fiber in his being. Jenny might be marrying a billionaire, but she would never understand true riches.

Zeke turned slightly to glance at Kaitlyn, searching for any sign of discomfort and ignoring Jenny as Nora finished telling Jenny off. Kaitlyn’s eyes met his, dark and wide, a silent thank you shimmering within them. But as he held her gaze, uncertainty gnawed at the edges of his heart. Was this enough? Did she see the depth of his care for her, the tender emotions that went beyond mere friendship?

Zeke’s chest heaved with the effort of restraint, the heat of anger still simmering beneath his skin as Jenny scoffed and disappeared into the crowd. The celebration, with its merry lights and festive decorations, felt suddenly distant, the joyous atmosphere a stark contrast to the turmoil in his heart.

He turned to Kaitlyn, the need for reassurance gnawing at him like a persistent hunger. Her dark eyes met his, pools of calm in the midst of his storm. He searched them, looking for a flicker of uncertainty, a shadow of doubt that might mirror his own insecurities. But there was none—only the quiet strength that had first drawn him to her.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice rough around the edges. It wasn’t the question he wanted to ask, but the words to express his deeper fears eluded him.

Her hand found his, a small gesture that spoke volumes. “I am now,” she replied, her voice carrying the hint of sass he adored so much. “Thanks to you.”

A bashful smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, dispelling some of the tension that had tightened his shoulders. Zeke squeezed her hand, the simple touch grounding him, pulling him back from the edge.

“Let’s get some fresh air,” he murmured, offering Kaitlyn a reassuring smile while hoping it would mask the storm of doubts whirling inside him. He led her through the throng of dancerstoward the barn doors. They stepped out into the crisp night, the chill of Colorado winter nipping at their faces.

“Thank you,” she said softly as he led her around the small porch at the front of the event barn.

He wanted to reply, to tell her that it was he who should be grateful, for the hope she’d unwittingly brought into his once solitary existence. But the words lodged in his throat, a mix of fear and longing clogging the path to confession.

Zeke felt the memory of the imprint of her body against his, and the echo of his own unresolved longings. He appreciated her, liked her, more than he dared admit. But did she feel the same? Friendship wasn’t love, and love was what Zeke found himself craving with an intensity that startled him.

He released her hand reluctantly, the warmth lingering on his skin.

“Zeke,” Kaitlyn murmured as they walked, her breath forming clouds in the cool air. She stopped and faced him, the moonlight casting her features in relief, etching her determination in silver and shadow. “You are so much more than I ever hoped for in this crazy arrangement.”

Zeke’s pulse quickened, her admission stirring a whirlwind of emotions he’d kept at bay. There it was—the reassurance he craved. But what did that mean? Was she talking about the kiss? Or the fact that she was now married to one of the richest men in ranching? Was he too much, too needy?

“Katie,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, “I never imagined that stupid billboard would lead to the biggest blessing in my life. I...” He hesitated, his own vulnerability holding him back.

Zeke knew that sometimes faith meant taking the leap without seeing the whole staircase. He’d taken that leap once, and it had ended up with him in a heap on the bottom step. He didn’t want to fall again.

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