Page 73 of Live, Ranch, Love

When Wyatt kisses me this time, it’s everything we’ve said repeated with the press of lips and the twist of tongues. It’s desperate yet tender, impassioned yet soft. It makes me feel like every time I ever doubted or questioned myself was so silly, because right now, wrapped in Wyatt’s embrace, I feel invaluable.

“Oh, there’s one more thing I’d tell my younger self,” Wyatt interrupts our kiss to say. He presses his lips to each corner of my mouth before explaining. “I’d tell him that if he ever gets a gorgeous, crazy redhead by the lake at night, he should definitely invite her to skinny dip with him.”

I’m already jumping up and pulling my top over my head as I run down the deck, yelling, “Last one in has to clean all the guesthouses!”

thirty

Aurora

“And this one?” Wyatt asks, rubbing his thumb over where the word grateful is tattooed across my hipbone, above my bikini bottoms. His head rests against my stomach, my fingers playing with his silky curls rhythmically as the afternoon sun beats down on us.

Perfection would be the best word to describe this moment. The world around us is so still, save for the occasional whisper of the breeze between the blades of grass in the pasture and the odd whinny from the horses grazing nearby after our ride. But I also can’t wait for when we head back to the stables and can give the horses a brush down—one of my favourite little peaceful activities to do these days. I’ve started spending more time with the horses now I feel more confident riding, and I hadn’t realised how soothing being around such majestic, strong creatures could be.

I don’t even try to hide my glee when I see butterflies pass by, reminding me that this is exactly where I’m supposed to be. I feel at utter peace, just me, the beautiful ranch I live on, and the man who somehow has managed to help me feel strong over the last month or so.

The man who has helped me build a home here.

I honestly couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Sometimes I forget that I’ve only been at Sunset Ranch for almost two months. The past week, since the last trial run of the retreat ended, has just felt so natural. Waking up to the brush of Wyatt’s lips against my forehead before he heads out to work on the ranch. Getting sun-kissed from our lunchtime horse riding sessions together. Even my writing has been flowing, words and ideas coming to me so easily as I describe the way Sunset Ranch has helped me believe in myself more.

I’ve always tried to romanticise life as best as I could, exactly how Auntie Grace taught me, but doing so comes so easily here on Sunset Ranch. The picnic blanket providing us comfort feels like we’re floating on a cloud and the warm rays of golden sunlight bathing me make me feel weightless. Without a care in the world. I’m almost tempted to say that I feel like old Rory again.

“Princess.” Wyatt pokes me in my hip, twisting his head around to face me now. “You better not be falling asleep on me there.”

“I’m still here, don’t worry,” I chuckle, even though our ride together did tire me out more than I expected. I lift my head slightly to catch his midnight eyes for a moment. They look all glazed and blissful, just like they usually do when he wakes me up in the morning, peppering my body with kisses.

I let out a content breath. “That one is to remind me that there are always things to be grateful for in life, no matter the situation.”

“What are you grateful for right now?” Wyatt mumbles into my skin, sounding far too close to sleep for someone who just made a jab at me for possibly dozing off. Though, in his defence, he has been working out in the hay meadows all morning.

I stroke my fingers over his hair softly, admiring the dark lashes lying over his shut eyes, the strong angle of his jaw covered in stubble, and his solid body, half-naked beside me. Everything about him speaks strength and toughness, yet I know where his softness lies. I can see it in the gentle brush of his fingers against my skin, the subtle curve of his lips, and the way he’s purposefully taking some of his weight on his folded arms, not leaning it all on me.

“I’m really grateful that I got to meet such great friends like Sawyer and Wolfman.”

One of Wyatt’s eyes shoots open.

“And Duke?”

He frowns.

“What?” I laugh, biting down on my lip.

“You’re supposed to say me.”

I roll my eyes and poke his back. “Don’t be so full of yourself… Besides, that’s obvious, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, true. You’re obsessed with me.” Wyatt grins too proudly and wraps his arms around me, hugging me overly tight. Even if he’s right, I can’t be the first to admit it.

“If you say so.” I shrug, a pretty pitiful attempt at nonchalance considering how much I’m smiling at him. But he’s grinning back, and that just makes me powerless. “Okay, your turn now, I’ve told you about mine.”

I purposefully ruffle his hair to wake him up a bit. He’s been resting on me in just his jeans, toned back glistening under the sun, baring those mysterious tattoos I’ve still yet to decipher.

“Fine, fine. Which one first?”

“I’m guessing the Roman numerals are birthdays or something?” I surmise, running my fingers down the list. His skin breaks out in goosebumps in response.

“Yup, the whole Hensley clan.”

God, I just love how much he cares for his family. Even if he does shove Cherry about most of the time and complain about his parents, there’s an undeniable undercurrent of love for them in everything he does. I’d be honoured to call him family.

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