Page 17 of Redemption in Misty Mountain

His hand tightens around mine, his pulse pounding so hard I swear I can feel it thrum beneath my own skin.

I swallow back the anxiety clawing at my throat. “It’s true.”

The air shifts. Something breaks open between us.

Dawson's eyes shine, filling so fast with tears that stun me. He doesn’t even try to fight it. He lets the tears spill freely and his face is raw with emotion.

“It’s true,” he whispers like he needs to hear it again, to believe it with his whole being. “Holy shit, it’s true.”

His hand drops, sliding gently over my belly. His touch is tentative at first, then firm and more sure. His fingers brush my skin and something inside me unravels.

Tears sweep across my cheeks. “Dawson, I love you so much. Thank you for coming here. I don’t know how you found out but I was on my way to you. I’ve packed up my whole life?—”

“I love you, Rosalie. Nothing was going to keep me from getting to you. I never dreamed I’d be lucky enough to have two chances with you,” he says, voice breaking. “But I’m all in. You and this baby are the best things that ever happened to me.”

“I don’t know where we’ll live or how?—”

“I’ve got us covered.” A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Let me get this damn hat off and show you what I’ve been working on.”

CHAPTER 12

DAWSON

I getRosalie in the truck and grip the wheel like it’s the only thing keeping me tethered. She chatters about the pregnancy. She tells me that she’s counting down the days until she can drink coffee again without feeling like a traitor to her own body. Then she talks about the last six weeks on the godforsaken ranch. I hate the thought of my girl with a bunch of asshole cowboys, but I keep my mouth shut.

She’s mine again. And my world feels right.

I answer at least fifty questions about Cat who Rosalie still insists on calling Garth. Meanwhile, my pulse pounds in my ears, drowning out everything except the sound of her beside me. I take in the cadence of her voice. The way she huffs every time I dodge one of her more pointed inquiries and the way she’s here… With me.

I’ll never take her for granted again.

I keep my focus because I can’t get off this ranch fast enough. Not because I want to leave Kingridge, though I sure as hell do. But because I need to get her to where we’re going. It isn’t finished yet, not even close, but I hope it’s enough to prove to her that I’ve changed.

I’m not the man who let her slip away before.

I punch the address into my phone and my stomach tightens. It’s my first time visiting this place too, and the thought twists something sharp in my chest. I barely glance at the screen before pulling onto the road.

Rosalie is beside me, close enough for me to reach out and trace my fingers over the back of her hand. I do and the quiet satisfaction settles in my bones. I know she thinks she’s gearing up for a drive back to Misty Mountain, but I don’t want to ruin the surprise. When I ease onto the shoulder fifteen minutes later, she looks at me with wide eyes.

“What? What’s wrong? Do you want me to drive for a while?” Rosalie turns, brows knitting together.

I let out a slow breath. The silence between us thickens. It’s weighted with something unspoken.This is it.

“No,” I say, gripping the wheel. “We’re pretty much there. This is where we were heading.” I hit the brakes, then make a left, guiding us onto a dirt road. The truck bounces as I search for the mile markers.

“What?” Rosalie’s jaw falls open, but I keep my eyes on the path ahead.

Dust billows in the rearview mirror, thick and golden in the late afternoon sun. The land stretches out before us, open, raw, and flat as hell. Then finally, I see it. My heart slams against my ribs as I kill the engine.

Adrenaline pushes me forward before I can say a word. I shove open the door, rounding the truck before Rosalie can start firing questions my way. I pull her door open and gesture outward.

“Welcome to Plot 78.” I put my arm up. “Look at the mountain.”

She turns to me, her brow furrowed, eyes flashing with skepticism.

“Dawson, sweetheart,” she says, voice slow and measured. “Have you completely lost your mind?”

I huff out a laugh, shaking my head. “I think I might have, yeah.”

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