Page 179 of Forever To Me

And when he leans in, pressing his lips to mine, slow and sure and heartbreakingly sweet— I know he’s right.

Because this? This is forever.

Epilogue

Walker

Six months later.

The barn smells like fresh hay and saddle leather, the late afternoon sun streaming through the wide doors, painting everything in golden light.

It’s perfect.And I need everything to be perfect today.

Stormy and Maximus are already saddled and waiting, their tails flicking lazily, ears twitching as they watch me pace like a man seconds away from losing his damn mind. Winnie gives me a look. "Hey, your kid will be home later, and she'll take you on a ride. I'm sorry, girl."

Violet should be here any minute. I run a hand down Maximus’s neck, muttering mostly to myself. “You think she’s gonna say yes?”

Maximus blinks at me.

Stormy snorts.

I check my watch. Four o’clock sharp.

And right on cue, I hear the familiar sound of boots on dirt, followed by the unmistakable voice of the love of my life.

“Alright, Asher,” Violet calls as she steps into the barn, hair red hair glowing in the sunlight, eyes filled with love. “Are we going for a ride?”

She looks good.Boots, jeans, that green flannel I love on her, and the curious smirk that drives me crazy in the best way. Yeah, this woman is it for me. The love of my love.

I hook my thumbs in my belt loops, trying to look casual even though my heart is pounding like a drum.

“Just figured we could go on a ride,” I say. “You and me.”

She eyes the already-saddled horses. “A spontaneous horseback ride?”

I shrug. “Something wrong with that?”

She narrows her eyes. “You’re up to something.”

I smirk. “Just get on the horse, Red.”

She steps closer, Stormy nudging at her shoulder affectionately. As she runs a hand down the mare’s neck, my chest tightens.

Because this right here? Seeing her with her horse, part of this life, part of my life? It feels like everything I’ve ever wanted.

I clear my throat. “You coming?”

She rolls her eyes but grins, throwing one last suspicious glance at me before swinging herself onto Stormy’s back.

I do the same with Maximus, and then we take off.

Just the two of us.

We leave the barn together, side by side, the rhythmic sound of Stormy and Maximus’s hooves against the dirt road filling the air.

It’s quiet, the kind of peaceful that only exists out here—with the open Wyoming sky stretched above us, the warm wind on our skin, and the entire damn world at our backs.

Sheleans forward in her saddle, adjusting the reins. “Okay, I’ll admit, this is nice.”

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