Page 83 of Saddle and Bound

I also feel light, as if a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders after my conversation with Dad. A weight I hadn’t even realized I was carrying. His support and understanding have given me a renewed energy, a newfound determination.

As I get closer, I see him.

Alex is there, magnificent as always, riding one of his favorite stallions. His long chestnut hair flows in the breeze, his muscular, sun-kissed arms holding the reins with confident ease. It’s a sight that steals my breath every time.

I stop for a moment, captivated by the scene in front of me. Alex is in his element, wild and free, just like the horses he loves so much. His green tank top clings to his impossibly defined frame and bronzed skin. His snug jeans hug his powerful legs, and his cowboy boots complete the perfect image of a rugged, sexy rancher.

My heart races as I watch him guide the horse with such assurance, his deep voice murmuring words of encouragement to the animal. There’s something incredibly alluring about the way he moves, the way he connects with the horses. It’s as if he’s a part of this wild landscape, as natural here as the mountains on the horizon.

I can’t hold back any longer.

I drop the basket to the ground and run toward the paddock, calling his name.

“Alex!”

I see him turn his head in my direction, a smile spreading across his face the moment he spots me. He slows the horse and steers it toward me, dismounting gracefully when he gets close enough.

“Princess,” he says, his raspy voice sending a shiver through me. “What a beautiful surprise.”

I run into his arms, ignoring the dust and sweat. Alex pulls me against him, his body warm and solid against mine.

“I brought you lunch,” I say, looking up at him. “I thought we could have a picnic.”

His smile widens even more. “You read my mind, princess. I was just thinking about how hungry I was.”

He lifts me into his arms, spinning me around, and I can’t help but laugh. When he sets me down, he kisses me softly, his warm, familiar lips pressing against mine.

"Beautiful," he breathes against my mouth, one calloused hand cupping my cheek.

Heat blooms across my face, but it's not from the afternoon sun. "Says the man who looks like a romance novel cover on horseback," I tease, delighting in the way his eyes darken at my words.

His rich laughter rolls across the paddock.

"If that's what you like, I might have to put on a show more often." His large hand finds mine, fingers intertwining with practiced familiarity. "But first, let's see what treasures you've brought in that basket."

As he leads me toward our impromptu feast, I catch the contentment in his profile, the easy set of his shoulders. Here, in this moment, with the mountains standing sentinel and the summer breeze carrying the scent of sage and wildflowers, I know with bone-deep certainty that I've found my place in the world—right beside this man who moves like he's part of the wild itself.

Chapter 52

Alex

"You're beautiful," I murmur again, unable to hold back the words even though I've already said them. I could repeat it endlessly while admiring the freckles that dust her nose and cheeks. I adore those freckles. And her copper hair gleaming in the sunlight.

We head toward the picnic basket, hand in hand. I sit on the grass and pull Rosie close, unwilling to lose contact even for a second. As we eat the delicious food she prepared, I can't stop touching her. I'm only vaguely aware of what I'm eating because my attention is completely captured by this stunning woman. I caress her arm, tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, kiss her shoulder. Between bites, I can't resist kissing her again, deeper this time.

Before I know it, we're lying in the grass, Rosie on top of me, her hair surrounding us like a copper curtain. We laugh together, happy and carefree.

"My girl," I whisper, stroking her face. "My wonderful girl." It sounds so right. Rosie is my girl, my partner, my future. I've never felt anything like this for anyone else. With her, everything feels perfectly aligned.

I've never been particularly good at forming bonds. Probably because I've always felt somewhat alone. I went through dark times after being truly alone following my father's death... but Chris and his family showered me with love. I'll never be grateful enough for that. Chris welcomed me as a younger brother and always took care of me. He made sure I was okay and didn't lose my way.

He gave me a family and friends. But that's where my connections ended. I struggled to consider his family as my own. His parents always treated me like their son, but it took me a while to adjust. It took me time to consider Rory as a sister. It took me time to consider the other guys as my friends too. I never had trouble considering Chris my brother... because he always was. But I never sought out a girl who could be my girl. I don't know if it was fear or because I didn't know how to connect... but Rosie got to me immediately.

Now I can say with absolute certainty that love at first sight exists... because that's what this was. That's exactly why I felt so confused. Looking at her now, her eyes shining with happiness, I know with certainty that I'll never let this woman go. This is where she belongs, in my arms, on this ranch, in my life. And I belong to her, completely and irrevocably.

Rosie catches my gaze, and I can pinpoint the exact moment something exciting crosses her mind.

"Alex, if you don't have much work left to do... could we continue my riding lessons?" Her suggestion makes me smile, taking me back to our first ride together. It had started as a joke, a way to tease her, but it had transformed into something much deeper.

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