Page 112 of Wylder Ranch
“Hear me out,” she blurts, like I’d have objections to raising my daughter in the place where I was raised. I want nothing more than Everly to be a part of Burlington life, to witness it change through the seasons and not just as a visitor during the holidays. But not if the cost is Haven giving up her dream of living in her childhood home and running her store. “I don’t have family here. I have Saylor, Joe, and Martha, but Saylor doesn’t have kids, and Joe and Martha are my parents’ age. I don’t have siblings, so I have no nieces or nephews. You have all that. Everly has aunts and uncles and Max. I want that for her. I want her to have this big family experience I didn’t.”
My mouth opens, but I don’t know what to say. I agree with everything she’s said, but hearing the words come out of her mouth and the implications of what she’s saying are overwhelming to the point that my heart beats erratically.
“And . . .”
“There’s more?”
“Yes.” She nods. “And I will sell you the ranch on the terms you put forward. That it all goes into a trust for Everly. But we have to have it valued properly, and I’ll take the average.”
“Okay—”
“There’s one other thing.”
“Name it. Whatever you want, you can have it.” I grin. I feel like I’m getting so much out of this. I’ll give her anything she asks for. And while I’m ecstatic I wouldn’t have to tell my mother I was leaving Valentine Nook, I truly would have been happy living anywhere with Haven, as long as we visited every few months.
She picks at a crack in the paint on the wood siding. “We do a full renovation.”
“Easy. Done.”
“And make the house big enough for your entire family.”
“Oooh.” My face twists in a grimace. “I take it back. Do we really want somewhere my entire family can crash? Miles is so messy.”
“That’s the deal.”
“Hmm.” I scratch through my beard. “How long do I have to get back to you?”
Her face drops in horror, and she jabs a finger into my ribs. “No time.”
Her fingers niggle into my side so hard that I drop Everly’s bottle. “Okay.” My hands shoot up in surrender. “You drive a hard bargain, Ms. Wylder. But I accept your terms. Now you have to do two things for me.”
“What?”
“First, a kiss,” I say, puckering my lips to hers. “Second, go get dressed. We’re goingout.”
Everly’s babblingto herself when I stop walking and turn Haven toward the store entrance. She takes one look at the large security guard standing at the door, then turns to me with a frown.
“What are we doing here?”
“We’re going in,” I reply, guiding her inside when the door is held open for us.
She sets one foot on the plush carpet and spins back around to me, confusion all over her face.
“Alex?”
The store is empty except for two assistants with identical smiles, each standing in front of velvet trays containing rings and loose gemstones of all sizes, cuts, and carats. Technically, this place shouldn’t be open at all on New Year’s Eve, but the owner sponsors the Aspen polo team, and I managed to get Miles to pull some strings.
I was telling the truth about that server. I don’t care about him in the slightest. But one of his comments did get me thinking, nevertheless. She’s not wearing a ring.
Leading her over to the counter, I take her hand. It’s going to be weird doing this in front of two other people, but fuck it.
“It’s New Year’s Eve and I—we—have spent the majority of this year by ourselves when we could have been together. We have a daughter, and we have a renovation project.” I wink, making her laugh. Fuck, Iloveher laughter. “And we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together?—”
“Alex—”
“Before the year is out, I want to make it official. I want to start tomorrow with my future set out as permanentlyas I can. You’re mine, and I’m yours. That means you and me together, with Everly. Our family.” Wrapping my arms around her, I tug her close enough so all I have to do is dip my head to meet her lips. “So, Haven Wylder, what d’you say? Will you marry me?”
Next to us, one of the store assistants sniffs loudly.
