Page 35 of The Rancher's Code

“They’re beautiful, Amber,” Dylan replied, not sparing a glance up at the sky.

“The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” I stared back at Dylan, before kissing him all over again, the fireworks exploding all around us.

13

DYLAN

“He’s going to disown me.”

“I mean, probably not.”

“He’s going to pull the CEO role right from underneath me.”

“Possibly, but that’d be extremely cruel.”

“He’s going to use you against me. I can just fucking feel it.”

“Cole…” We’d been in Cole’s bedroom since last night, spending the night together after the wedding. I’d wanted to do more than sleep, but I was too exhausted post wedding planning, and Cole was too wound up from declaring his affection for me publicly. Instead, we’d cuddled close until we’d both passed out, my head resting on Cole’s chest the whole night.

I looked up at Cole now, one of my hands running through his hair. “I want you to think about the worst thing that can happen.”

“That’s all I’ve been thinking about since last night…”

“I’m serious. I want you to catastrophize. Like, earth ending stuff,” I replied. “So, not just you not getting CEO but the entire ranch burning down. The city being overtaken by zombies.”

“You’re not really helping here, baby.”

“Imagine it,” I pressed. “The absolute worst thing.”

“Okay, okay…” Cole sighed. “I’m imagining Amber, Shane, and Levi getting their brains eaten by a zombie right in front of me. I’m imagining the ranch being turned into someone’s plaything, where they can pretend to be a cowboy when they feel like it and just let everything else go to shit…”

He kept his eyes on mine. “And… I’m also imagining you not being around anymore. Just completely out of my life.”

“Good.” I smiled.

“Good?”

“Now, I want you to think about you not being CEO…” I let my words trail off. “When you compare what you’re feeling right now, to what you were feeling a few seconds ago…”

“It doesn’t seem so bad…” Cole smiled a little now too. “Still sucks, though.”

“Ooh, what if your dad makes me the next CEO?”

“I think you’d be incredible at it… but I’d still have to take it from you.”

“Yeah?” I smirked. “Do your worst, cowboy.”

“Maybe I will.” Cole pulled me in close for a kiss, and I lost myself in him, somehow falling into him even more.

My stomach was in knots.

All the Strattons had assembled in the main house for Joseph’s big announcement, even Amber and her new husband delaying their honeymoon. He’d gathered the family under the pretense of deciding who would be the next CEO of the ranch, but since he wasn’t in the room yet, I was worried he’d changed his mind.

Maybe no one would get to be CEO.

And all because of me.

Would Joseph really punish Cole like that? I grimaced at the back of the room, feeling like running off into the woods. I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to forgive myself if I somehow ruined Cole’s future. What would he do if he weren’t running this place?

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