Page 38 of Marrying the Billboard Cowboy

Her voice was nothing but a whisper over the sound of the fire. “My head knows that. But my heart? If it hadn’t been for that crazy billboard…”

“You would have survived, Marvel. But you’re here now. I’ve got you. And as much as I want to track that miserable loser down who left you high and dry… I’m too grateful that you’re mine. Stetson is mine. And nothing is ever going to change that.”

“Do you mean it?”

“Every word,” Zeke confessed, letting his solemn words sink into the silence.

Kaitlyn shuddered next to him, her eyes closing and a look of peace settling over her face. He had to touch her.

He stood up, brushing his hands against his jeans, and extended one to Kaitlyn. “Would you dance with me under the stars?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if too loud a sound might shatter the delicate moment.

Kaitlyn’s lips curved upward in a smile that reached her eyes, lighting them up with a spark that had been absent for too long. She placed her hand in his, the contact sending a jolt of warmth through Zeke’s body. They stepped onto an impromptu dance floor beside the bonfire, its flames casting a soft glow on their faces.

He led her into a slow two-step, moving to the rhythm of a gentle melody. The world fell away, leaving only the two of them, the music, and the heavens bearing witness. Her hand was small but sure in his, and when he placed his other hand lightly on her waist, Kaitlyn moved closer, trusting him to guide her.

“You know, if you squint just right at the fire, it almost looks like a choir singing carols.”

Kaitlyn tilted her head, humor lighting up her dark eyes. “I think your Christmas spirit is making you see things, Mr. Reynolds.” Her voice carried a lilt of mirth he hadn’t heard before.

“Perhaps,” he chuckled, shifting closer to share her warmth. The firelight danced across her features, deepening the lines around her eyes as she smiled. “But I’d rather have an overactive imagination than none at all,Mrs. Reynolds.” His heart surged at the recognition of her belonging to him.

They swayed together, each step bringing them more in sync as the song played on. Zeke marveled at the way she followed his lead, her movements tentative at first, but gaining confidence with every beat. The scent of pine from the surrounding woods mixed with the smoke from the fire.

“True.” Her gaze lingered on the flames for a moment longer before meeting his. “And what does Ezekiel Reynolds imagine for himself? What’s your grand dream?”

Zeke paused, the question catching him off guard. He usually kept his dreams close, afraid of the consequences of revealing them. But tonight, under the watchful eyes of countless stars, he felt the urge to share. “A future where this ranch isn’t just a business. I want to bring families together with nature and festivities–and food–that mean more than just a simple vacation for them.” He looked over her shoulder to the expanse of land beyond the ring of the light from the fire. “I want my kids to grow up here the way I did. To love and respect the land, but free to follow their dreams.”

Her expression softened, and he could tell his words resonated with her. “That’s beautiful,” Kaitlyn whispered.

“I think so,” he admitted, allowing vulnerability to seep into his tone. “Your turn. What about Kaitlyn Reynolds? What are the aspirations hiding behind those thoughtful eyes?”

She drew in a deep breath, contemplating the night sky as if it held her dreams spelled out in constellations. “I used to dream about stability, a proper home where my son wouldn’t have to worry about where we’d sleep each night.”

“You’ve got that,” he stated firmly.

Her soft smile melted him. “Yeah, we do. I’m just not sure where to go after that. I’ve never let myself think beyond the basics. Maybe it’s just to find a place where we belong. To build a life where love trumps fear.”

“Love has a way of doing that,” he said softly, their shared laughter from earlier still echoing in his heart. “Turning the tables on our fears.”

“Does it?” Kaitlyn turned to him, hope mingling with the pain of past betrayals in her eyes.

“Absolutely. Love’s the one force that redeems us all, in the end.”

As the song drew to a close, Zeke couldn’t resist the pull any longer. He leaned down, his breath mingling with Kaitlyn’s. Her gaze locked onto his, dark eyes wide with an emotion he hoped mirrored his own. With a tenderness that overwhelmed him, he pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that was both a question and an answer.

Kaitlyn responded, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as if to anchor herself to the present. The kiss deepened as the last chords of the music faded into the night, their hearts beating a new rhythm together. The chill of the evening air was forgotten, replaced by the warmth that radiated between them.

When they finally parted, the world seemed to hold its breath. The crackle of the fire and soft murmurs of nocturnal creatures slowly filtered back into his awareness. He pulled away from her and led her back to the chairs.

The flickering shadows danced across Zeke’s broad face as he stoked the bonfire, casting glimmers of doubt in his eyes. Each crackle of the flames underscored a question that gnawed at his insides—a fear that dug deeper with every shared laugh and touch. He had laid bare parts of his soul to Kaitlyn under these stars, but now, vulnerability tugged at the edges of his certainty.

He was falling hard. And he meant every single word of what he’d promised to Kaitlyn–his wife. His feelings went far beyond protectiveness. But he couldn’t help the fear that she didn’t feel the same way.

She’d said multiple times that she had come for stability. That she was desperate and he’d been an answer to prayer. He’d fallen in love with someone who only wanted him for the life he could give her. Again.

“Beautiful night,” Kaitlyn murmured, her voice threading through the crisp air. She tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear as she gazed at the stars, oblivious to the storm brewing within him.

“Beautiful,” he agreed, his words steady despite the turmoil in his heart. He wasn’t looking at the sky. He watched the way the firelight played upon her features, highlighting her resilience and the hope he’d seen flicker in her eyes earlier. It was one thing to be her safe harbor, another entirely to be just another stopover on her journey.

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