Page 83 of Breaking the Cowboy's Rules

“And now you are free and clear of your family, career and past.”

“Starting to feel that way,” she admitted. “But I’m not sure free is the word I would use,” she admitted. “My heart got tangled up one night in a bar with a cowboy.”

“Not cutting you or your heart free,” Bodhi said.

“So…” She tried to calm her heart and her breathing so she could think. “What does this mean for us?”

“As long as there’s an us, anything goes,” he said. His earnest gaze searched hers. “Would you be willing to head back to the party with me, make an honest man of me?”

“Really?” she questioned. “Even knowing who I am?”

“Because of who you are.”

He sounded so certain. “You’re sure?”

“Never more sure of anything,” he said, and not a doubt colored his voice. “I want to finish the tour. I’d be in Marietta for another week. It’s about five more weeks of travel, then a month and a half break and then the finals. After that, we can do what we want. Go where we want.”

“Will you take the genetic test?” she asked, tracing the lines on his palm. “I shouldn’t have pushed so hard,” she admitted. “I will support you either way,” she said. “Your choice, but I like to know what I’m facing, to best prepare.”

“Funny, not funny story,” he said, pulling her close to him as they walked back up Plum Hill toward the party. “I’ve been called a bastard by more than a few people in my life,” he said, “but apparently I literally am one. I don’t need the test because my father was not biologically my father. And I strongly suspect I have a half sister who looks to become a full sister-in-law. Who knew?”

“Bodhi.” Her mind reeled. He loved her. He wanted to stay together. He wasn’t sick. And his cockiness that she loved layered with his sweetness were back in full force along with his infectious promise of fun. “You’re not making any sense.”

“I know.” He kissed her knuckles and walked them back to the inner circle where his cousins and their fiancées chatted. “But this next part makes total sense.”

“Second time’s the charm,” he told his family and he dropped down to his knee in front of Nico.

“You got balls, Ballantyne,” someone shouted from the back of the crowd, and the twitters of laughs mixed with the shushes to respect the reverent moment.

“Nico, from the moment I met you, you got me. You understood my humor, my determination, my crazy, and my heart. I want to be your best friend and your partner, your lover and the man you can rely on in happy times and in struggles.”

“Yes.” She nodded. “Absolutely yes.”

“I was getting to the asking part.” He smiled up at her, and Nico heard outbreaks of laughter behind her. “And you’re supposed to say ‘yes and,’ according to the rules of improv.”

She laughed. Those rules.

“Who would have thought a podcast could have such power?”

“No more long drives without me,” Bodhi said.

“Sounds like there were going to be long drives for the next few weeks from what you were saying earlier, but maybe we’ll stick to music. Or news.”

“Or maybe cooking or circus clown classes. It doesn’t matter as long as we do it together.”

“Then yes, Bodhi, I would love to marry you and have as many adventures as we choose.”

Bodhi pulled a ring from his pocket and slid it on her finger.

“Wow,” she breathed, looking at the round-cut, large solitaire sapphire mounted in a platinum setting and offset by diamonds. “It’s beautiful.”

“Bowen and Beck went for more traditional rocks. I went for one the color of my eyes so that you’ll always feel me with you.”

“It’s beautiful,” she said, brushing her fingers along his cheek. He was real. Healthy. Hers to love and care for. “Wow,” she breathed, finally looking at Bodhi and all of her new family. So many riches of love and history, and she could share in it all. Blend hers and Bodhi’s story with all of the Ballantynes’. “Best detour I ever made.”

“Best game I ever played and best prize I ever won,” he murmured against her lips.

There were various cheers and claps and congratulations, and then Ben Ballantyne whistled again loud and clear.

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