Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
“You’re safe now,” I tell her, my voice low and steady. “Here, with me and Carson, you’re safe. No one’s ever going to take that away.”
She opens her eyes, and the vulnerability in them is like a punch to the gut. “You’re so overprotective, Cal,” she whispers, her lips curving slightly. “But it’s not suffocating. It’s… grounding.”
“Overprotective,” I repeat with a wry smile. “Yeah, I guess I am. But can you blame me? I’ve never had a piece of my heart walking around outside of my body before. And now I’ve got two—Carson and you.”
Her lips part in surprise, and I see the words hit her, sinking deep. I lean forward, resting my forehead against hers, needing her to feel how serious I am.
“You’re not just a mail-order bride,” I murmur, my voice barely audible. “You’re not some temporary fix to get through the loneliness. You’re my forever, Layla. Mine.”
Her breath hitches, and for a moment, we’re frozen, the air between us heavy and crackling with something neither of us can ignore. Then she moves, her hands slipping from mine to cup my face, her touch so soft it sends a shiver down my spine.
“Say it again,” she whispers.
I grin, my lips brushing hers as I repeat the words that have been clawing their way out of my chest for weeks. “You’re my forever.”
And then she kisses me, soft and hesitant at first, like she’s afraid she’ll break if she pushes too hard. But I’m not afraid. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her flush against me as I deepen the kiss, pouring every ounce of emotion I’ve been holding back into her.
Her fingers tangle in my hair, her body melting into mine like she’s finally found where she belongs. I lower her onto the couch, my hands framing her face as I pull back just enough to look into her eyes.
“I love you,” I say, the words coming out gruff and unpolished, but real. “I love you so damn much.”
Tears spill down her cheeks, but she’s smiling, her hands gripping my shirt like she’s afraid I’ll disappear. “I love you too, Cal. More than I’ve ever loved anything.”
Her words are my undoing. I kiss her again, slow and deep, savoring every moment, every sigh and shiver. This is everything I never thought I’d have, and I’m not letting it go. Not now, not ever.
When we finally break apart, both of us breathing hard, I rest my forehead against hers, my hands stroking her hair. “You’re staying,” I tell her, my voice rough with determination. “This is your home now.”
She nods, her smile growing. “I know.”
I press a kiss to her forehead, then her nose, then her lips, unable to stop myself. “Good. Because I don’t think I could let you go even if you wanted me to.”
“I don’t want you to,” she whispers, her voice trembling with emotion. “I want to be here, with you and Carson. I want to build a life here, with our family.”
Our family. The words settle over me like a balm, soothing the parts of me I didn’t even know were raw. I pull her closer, holding her like she’s the most precious thing in the world—because she is.
And for the first time in years, I feel whole.
Epilogue
Layla–one month later
The barn glows with a warm, golden light as the sun dips behind the mountains, casting a pinkish hue over the lake in the distance. Fairy lights twinkle in the evergreens like the stars themselves decided to come down and bless the occasion. The scent of pine fills the crisp evening air, mingling with the soft murmur of laughter and clinking glasses from the guests gathered outside.
I stand just behind the barn doors, my bare toes brushing against the smooth wood floor. My dress, light as air, swirls around my legs with the mountain breeze. The crown of wildflowers atop my head feels like the most natural thing in the world, like I’ve always belonged to this land, to this man waiting for me at the end of the aisle.
“Ready?” Ridge, Cal’s friend, grins as he steps back from adjusting the barn doors.
I nod, my heart pounding in my chest. “Ready.”
The doors creak open, revealing the breathtaking scene before me. Rows of wooden benches are filled with Cal’s friends and the tight-knit community that’s welcomed me like one of their own. Strings of lights loop above their heads, casting a soft glow that makes everything feel almost dreamlike.
And there he is.
Cal Walker, riding in atop the wild mustang he’s been training for months. The horse moves with raw power and grace, but it’s Cal who holds every ounce of my attention. Broad shoulders clad in a white button-down shirt, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing those strong forearms I’ve come to adore. His hat is perched low, shadowing those piercing eyes, but even from here, I feel the intensity of his gaze locking onto mine.