Page 31 of The Outlaw's Code

“They’ll understand.” I playfully shrugged. “It’s normal, I think. The honeymoon period and all that.”

“I think it’s a little more serious than that,” Shane replied as he walked over to me. “I have a feeling we’re going to be that annoying couple who’s all over each other, all the time.”

“I promise not to be annoying around your family, at least.”

Shane laughed at that. “Are you serious? They’re some of the worst offenders. They’re all disgustingly in love with their partners.”

“Disgustingly in love, huh?”

“You know what I mean.” Shane offered me a quick kiss. “Hey, you need to get dressed, too.”

“Why? Do you need my hand with something?”

“Something like that,” Shane said, his tone vague. “Wear something sturdy, good for the elements.”

“Are you taking us surprise camping or something?”

“I’ll tell you more when we get there.” Shane turned to leave the cabin. “I’ll be waiting for you in the car.”

“But if you wait to tell me when we get there, how am I supposed to know what to wear—Shane!” I called out for him, but it was already too late. I shrugged, heading for the closet, quickly searching through my clothes. I decided on a comfortable jacket, layering it with a shirt underneath. I pulled on a pair of work boots, and soon made my way to Shane’s car, with him already waiting in the driver’s seat.

“Where are we going, Shane?”

“You’ll know when we get there.” There was a light smile on his face as we headed towards the nearest trail.

“Is that the Yellowstone River?Over there?” I pointed out my window, amazed at the view. We were clearly heading away from Stratton Ranch, but not too far, since I could still see it in the distance behind us. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

When I looked over at the driver’s seat, Shane simply nodded. He then turned up the radio, the car filling with old school country, men singing about thunder and lightning,relationships that were so powerful they shook the world underneath them. He seemed nervous about something, his grip on the wheel a little too tight, his eyes staring straight out at the road.

I leaned back in my seat, concern filling my features. A part of me wondered if Shane was taking me somewhere remote so I wouldn’t make a scene, just so we couldtalk. My stomach roiled as I thought about him wanting to put the brakes on our relationship, wanting to slow down until he was more comfortable with?—

No.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. I knew that Shane wasn’t like that. He was open, honest and direct, traits that I loved about him. If Shane wanted to talk to me, he would’ve just done it back at the cabin, no need for any of the dramatics.

I let the music float over me then as I took in the view from the road. It really was beautiful out here, wherever Shane was taking us. About half an hour later, Shane came to a complete stop, right beside a cluster of tall trees. I hopped out of the car right after him, following him to a clearing just beyond the trees, a seemingly unending amount of acreage suddenly revealing itself to us.

“Whoa.” It was all I could think to say as I looked around the clearing, a sense of awe washing over me. I’d seen plenty of beautiful country before, but somehow this felt different. My gaze went up to the sky, spotting an impossible blue, which matched the just as impossible green of the trees behind us, the Yellowstone River off in the distance only adding to the majesty that surrounded us on all sides.

“Do you like it?” Shane’s voice was quiet, his nerves showing.

“How could I not?” I shook my head. “This place is… perfect. Is that why you brought me out here? Because you wanted me to see it?”

Shane let out a deep sigh. “I’m so happy you like it, Calder. Because it’s… what I bought.”

“Wait. What?” My eyes went wide. “Oh, my God. Shane, this is your land?”

I couldn’t contain my excitement, my arms wrapping around him. “Shane! You did it! This was your dream! You really made it happen. You did it.”

Shane wrapped his arms around me, tight. “It’s going to be a lot of work, getting everything ready, setting up structures. I’ll also need to figure out the logistics of where the barns will go, where I’ll put the horses?—”

“Yeah, but you already know what you’re doing. You’ve got this.” I pulled away from him, wanting to look at his face. “And it’s not like you have to do everything alone. Your dream doesn’t have to just beyourdream, Shane, now that we’re together.”

“You’d really help me? Because you don’t have to, Calder. You never said you wanted any part of this?—”

“I’m saying it now,” I cut him off before pressing a soft kiss against his lips. “I want to be a part of this, Shane. I want us to build something that’s ours.”

“I want us to build something that’s ours, too.” He grinned against my mouth. “It feels like the only thing I’ve ever really wanted, in a long, long time.”

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